EMDR informed Coaching

Coaching differs from therapy in that it is typically sought by individuals who are already functioning well and simply want to enhance the quality of their lives. However, there are many techniques from therapy that can be used to enhance coaching outcomes. EMDR (Eye Movement desensitisation and reprocessing) informed coaching is one such example. In this article, I am going to present an overview of how EMDR can be used to enhance life-coaching, performance coaching, and executive coaching.

EMDR in a coaching context

First off, let’s establish the context in which coaching occurs. In the diagram below, we see how (generally) coaching focuses on the needs of people and groups who are already functioning well (as opposed to struggling with a mental health difficulty) and who want to improve their lives in a particular way. I say ‘generally’ because the rules may sometimes be blurred a little, but as a general rule of thumb referring to wellbeing spectrum presented below, coaching focuses on people who feel that they are functioning from at the levels of “languishing” to “thriving” and want to improve things in a non-clinical sense.

EMDR was initially developed as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and it is an incredibly powerful treatment for the condition. So much so that it is increasingly being used to treat a range of other mental health problems like problematic anxiety, phobias, complex-PTSD and depression.

For a comprehensive overview of how EMDR works, see my EMDR article here, but to summarise, it is based on a model called “adaptive information processing (AIP).” AIP suggests that current ongoing psychological difficulties are influenced by unprocessed memories of events from the past. By desensitising to these memories using a process of bilateral stimulation (eye movements, hand taps, or electronic buzzers that stimulate the left and right hemispheres of the brain), we are able to reduce the influence of those unprocessed memories on the present, which then positively impacts future functioning.

So, let’s consider how EMDR would work with a well-functioning coaching client. EMDR uses a three-pronged approach which lends itself well to coaching. The three-pronged approach is essentially considering the relationship, and focus on, the future, present and past factors that are appropriate to the coaching process. As with normal coaching, we begin with establishing our goals for the process. What do we want the end outcome of coaching to be, look like and feel like?

We then need to establish where we are currently – what are we already doing well that supports this future functioning, what resources do we already have, what do we need more of? At this stage in EMDR informed coaching, I will be considering if there are other EMDR based preparation techniques that can enhance the coaching process. In EMDR as a therapeutic tool, we spend a fair amount of time on resource development, largely to ensure that the client can tolerate working with traumatic memories. In EMDR informed coaching, in which functioning is already established, it can be assumed (although not taken for granted) that my coaching client is already endowed with many resources to support them in achieving their goals.

Lastly, and this is where EMDR informed coaching differs from traditional coaching, we consider what the relevant memories are that need to be addressed to support goal fulfilment. There are two ways that I use to do this – History taking interview and the “floatback technique.”

The history taking interview is an important part of developing an understanding of what memories may be relevant in supporting goal attainment in coaching. Often, coaching clients will identify very clear memories that are getting in the way of their goals. As an example, a client who wishes to become more assertive at work may link her difficulties with this to a memory of being bullied at school.

Sometimes however, the client may not be able to identify a relevant memory in relation to their goal attainment, despite identifying a clear barrier. In such cases, we use a floatback technique, which is also sometimes called an affect bridge. The floatback is an incredible tool in EMDR based coaching, in that it invites us to trust the central nervous system to show us where the problematic memory originates. In practice, I would invite you to imagine a recent time when the challenge presented itself. I would get you to notice the emotion that was present and to identify any negative beliefs about yourself that arise when the emotion is present. Holding that information together, I would then invite you to allow your mind to “floatback” in time, into your childhood story, and let me know if anything at all comes up.  This is the interesting part. Typically, through the floatback, our minds will throw up an event or two from childhood that is relevant to the problem. These then become our targets for processing.

Case Conceptualisation in EMDR informed Coaching

Linking all of the bits of information relating to our future goals, current challenges and unprocessed memories can get complicated and there can be a risk sometimes of losing focus. To address this, we develop a case conceptualisation, also called a formulation. Because coaching typically aims to be motivating, empowering and energising, we approach case conceptualisation lightly and collaboratively. We ensure that we are focusing on only what is needed to achieve the desired goals, rather than getting bogged down in what is ‘wrong’.

That said, case conceptualisation enhances efficiency in EMDR focused coaching, so I always have some idea of how the future, present and past link together as I work with clients. There are lots of different approaches to case conceptualisation, but my favourite is the comprehensive model developed by Ines Santos (2019; 2022) presented below.

EMDR case conceptualisation tool. Santos, I. (2019). EMDR case formulation tool. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 13(3),
221–231.

What do we mean by processing unprocessed memories in EMDR informed coaching?

If you’re really interested in this, you can again look at some of my other write-ups on EMDR, but I’ll present a summary here. The idea is that some experiences in our lives, due to the intense emotions associated with them, sometimes require additional cognitive processing to integrate them with our views of self, the world, and others, and to relegate them to the past rather than perceiving them as currently threatening or emotionally charged.

The emotions tied to unprocessed memories can be activated by current triggers. This can lead us to feel, think, and behave in ways that were relevant at the time of the event, rather than in ways that are appropriate for the present situation. This is of course particularly relevant when we are trying to make positive changes in our lives but seemingly finding ourselves getting stuck. We may know what we want from our goal, it may be connected to our values, and yet there is something deeper that is getting in the way of achievement. The EMDR AIP model would suggest that this is related to a memory that has not yet been fully processed.

When we process the memory, we are desensitising to its emotional intensity, installing alternative, more adaptive beliefs, and releasing visceral components of the event that show up inexplicably as we try to take action. This is all done using the eye movements, tapping and/or buzzing that is characteristic of EMDR.

Summary:

EMDR offers an exciting extension to coaching methods, enabling us to address and overcome the underlying origins of barriers to goal achievement. If you would like to find out more, or perhaps experience EMDR based coaching, then please get in touch at [email protected] or at [email protected]

George Maxwell

Coaching Psychologist (assocMISCP)
BABCP Accredited CBT Therapist and Supervisor
EMDR association accredited EMDR Practitioner