Dyadic EMDR: A Clinical Model for the Treatment of Preverbal Medical Trauma

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on the dyadic experience of Preverbal Medical Trauma as a factor in sharpening understanding of symptomatic behavior in young children. It highlights the connection between implicitly encoded relationship memories and the development of the child-caregiver attachment relationship before, during and following the medical trauma. Literature relating to the effects of early trauma on the child’s neuropsychological development is discussed, together with a closer look at the unique effect of early medical trauma on the attachment system. A dyadic psychotherapeutic treatment model is proposed, anchored in the EMDR Protocol and the attachment relationship. The case example provides a structured guide to processing of the early medical trauma and treatment of present symptoms, with a suggestion for future research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.