Video 007 Flash Forward

Use this solution 

When a client fears a catastrophic future event rather than a past one, and where anticipatory anxiety is the predominant symptom.  Usually this procedure takes place during the third prong of the three pronged EMDR therapy process..

It may be that anticipatory anxiety is the predominant issue the clients brings. In which case ask, “Construct an image of your worst case scenario associated with the anticipatory anxiety.” Start EMDR on this image.

Originator

First published description in a clinical context by Romain (2013). See also Logie and De Jongh (2014).

Video production

Matthew Davies Media Ltd, Llanidloes, Powys.
www.matthewmedia.com

What this covers

Case is of a woman who had an on/off relationship with a jealous and violent man.  Though past traumas have been successfully resolved, she has catastrophic fear of a future event - that he will return and kill her.  Video provides an understanding of where this fits into the standard three pronged approach in EMDR therapy: first, dealing with the past; second, dealing with present; third, dealing with future concerns.  This video demonstrates the Flash forward process in dealing with an irrational future fear in the present.  The key difference between and Flash forward and Future templates is that the former is about resolving anticipatory anxiety in the present, i.e. in the second prong.  Future templates, on the other hand, are about building skills to meet future challenges and are regarded as being part of the third prong.

How long

9.18 minutes.

Related videos

See Video 005 and compare with Video 008.

Go to ‘Take-away’?

For aide-mémoire to use in a client session.


Take-Away Section

+ Wrap up

  • See Video 004 for use of LOUA (Level of Urge to Avoid) in processing the initial accident with John, the RTA survivor. Flash could also have worked here.
  • Compare this video with Video 008 on Future templates.

+ Aide-mémoire for Flashforward

You can copy and paste this text into a Word document, and can edit it, adding any additional text you might find helpful.

  1. Explain the process and, if the client asks, the difference between this protocol and installing future templates, or especially if you plan to do the latter at some point.
  2. Have the client identify the worst thing that can happen in their future – get an image or a thought if no image comes up. It is important at this point to go to the very worst thing that can happen. In the case shown, the therapist accepted 'Bill might break into my house' as the worst image. If the therapist had said 'What's the worst thing about that?' and so on until the client can go no further the actual flashforward target might have been 'I could die' or 'my children might be left motherless'. Logie and de Jong suggest that the therapist can then say 'Which is worst, dying or living and your children being without a mother?' to gain the flashforward.
  3. Use the standard wording to get the NC 'What words go best with that picture (or image) that expess your negative belief about yourself now?'
  4. Get the PC using standard wording 'When you bring up that picture (or incident) what would you like to believe about yourself now?' The PC must be generalizable such as 'I'll survive'.
  5. Get VOC on the PC
  6. Have client identify the emotion when holding the worst thought/image together with the NC
  7. Get a SUD reading.
  8. Identify the body location for the emotions.
  9. Follow with desensitization, and the rest of the standard protocol making sure to stay out of the way and using interweaves only when necessary and if no change has happened after the last set of BLS. Even a change of 'I feel a bit better now' (as in the video) should be followed with 'Go with that' and BLS until no change is happening.