The EMDR Doctor Podcast

69. Flying Blind - ways to help unspeakable shame. Blind to therapist protocol in EMDR therapy

In this episode, Dr. Caroline Lloyd explores the highly effective "Blind to Therapist" EMDR protocol. Sometimes, the shame attached to a traumatic event is simply too excruciating or unspeakable for a client to verbalize. Instead of spending months or years trying to get a client to narrate their trauma, therapists can use the Blind to Therapist protocol to provide immediate relief. Dr. Lloyd breaks down how to set up this protocol and its various applications beyond shame.   Key Points: • Tackling Unspeakable Shame: Why traditional talk therapy can stall when dealing with profound shame, and how EMDR offers a faster path to relief. • What is the Blind to Therapist Protocol? A walkthrough of how to use standard EMDR processing (identifying Negative/Positive Cognitions, emotions, body sensations, and SUDs) while the client keeps the specific image or event entirely private. • Additional Uses for the Protocol:        o Confidentiality Constraints        o Vicarious Trauma        o Cultural Issues        o Communication Barriers        o Translator Confidentiality   Resources Mentioned: • Upcoming Webinar: ‘Shame in Clinical Practice [https://www.emdrdoctor.com.au/training]’. Learn more about the role and function of shame, how to identify it, and practical suggestions for working through it. Happening June 4th (Available as an on-demand webinar for future listeners). • Consultation & Supervision: Need help implementing the Blind to Therapist protocol? Book a supervision session [https://www.emdrdoctor.com.au/consultation] with Dr. Lloyd.   Contact and Feedback: • If you’ve been affected by trauma, or if you want to discuss how EMDR can help you heal from past wounds, get in touch with Dr. Lloyd at emdrdoctor.com.au [https://www.emdrdoctor.com.au/] . • Appointments for consultation or supervision, with Dr. Lloyd, can be made via Halaxy [https://www.halaxy.com/book/appointment/caroline-lloyd/location/799391]. Remember, healing from trauma is a journey — you don’t have to do it alone.   Subscribe & Stay Connected: • Be sure to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode. Each week, we dive into the powerful ways EMDR therapy can help you heal, grow, and reclaim your life. If you’ve found today’s episode helpful, share it with someone who could benefit from this information. • See me in person over on my YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@CarolineLloyd-n8y] — it’s a great way to connect face-to-face, learn more about EMDR, and get a sense of how we might work together in therapy.' Join me, Dr. Caroline Lloyd, as we unpack trauma, explore the science of EMDR, and share real stories of recovery and resilience.

68. Mothers in EMDR therapy

In this episode, Dr. Caroline Lloyd reflects on the many experiences Mother’s Day can bring, including non-traditional mothering, caring for aging mothers, and grief after early loss. Drawing on her work providing group EMDR with the Australian organization Mums Matter, she describes how group EMDR involves minimal trauma disclosure, uses bilateral stimulation and distress ratings via chat, and supports each person’s brain to process toward adaptive, positive beliefs. She discusses common themes such as miscarriage and perinatal loss, emphasizing that mothers remain mothers after loss, and discusses how EMDR can reduce trauma related to loss and grief.   Main Theme: Mother’s Day reflections and how EMDR supports mothers through trauma and loss.   Key Points: • Reflection on the many different experiences of motherhood, including; traditional and non-traditional parenting, step-parenting, same-sex parenting, single mothers, caring for ageing mothers, and grief connected to losing a mother or becoming a mother in difficult circumstances • EMDR group work with ‘Mums Matter [https://www.mumsmatter.com.au/]’, an Australian low-cost counselling service focused mainly on mothers. • A major theme in the groups was perinatal loss and miscarriage. Mother’s Day can be especially painful for women who have experienced these losses. • EMDR can reduce trauma, but it does not remove grief. Once trauma is processed, grief may feel more visible and may still need to be worked through. • EMDR works well in groups because it doesn’t require people to share their trauma in detail. Instead, it offers a process that helps the brain naturally work through distress and reconnect with more adaptive beliefs. Upcoming webinars [https://www.emdrdoctor.com.au/training] for clinicians on treating Shame (June 4th), Dissociation (July), and Dissociative Identity Disorder (August).   Resources Mentioned: • EMDR Therapy for Trauma: If you're in Australia and want personalized support, Dr. Lloyd’s individual or group therapy sessions may be right for you. • EMDR Doctor Membership: If you’ve worked with Dr. Lloyd before and need ongoing support, check out the EMDR Doctor Membership page for monthly opportunities to continue EMDR therapy. •Mums Matter [https://www.mumsmatter.com.au/]   Contact and Feedback: If you’ve been affected by trauma, or if you want to discuss how EMDR can help you heal from past wounds, get in touch with Dr. Lloyd at emdrdoctor.com.au [https://www.emdrdoctor.com.au/]  Appointments for consultation or supervision, with Dr. Lloyd, can be made via Halaxy [https://www.halaxy.com/book/appointment/caroline-lloyd/location/799391]. Remember, healing from trauma is a journey — you don’t have to do it alone.   Subscribe & Stay Connected: • Be sure to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode. Each week, we dive into the powerful ways EMDR therapy can help you heal, grow, and reclaim your life. If you’ve found today’s episode helpful, share it with someone who could benefit from this information. • See me in person over on my YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@CarolineLloyd-n8y] — it’s a great way to connect face-to-face, learn more about EMDR, and get a sense of how we might work together in therapy.   Join me, Dr. Caroline Lloyd, as we unpack trauma, explore the science of EMDR, and share real stories of recovery and resilience.

67. Granparents in EMDR therapy

In this episeode we explore the the role of grandparents in clients’ lives, within the EMDR framework. Sometimes, intergenerational trauma can span generations, with clients aiming to break the cycle for their own children. While, for many clients, grandparents represent love, kindness, protection, and stability, often contrasting with a parent’s traumatic experiences. Grandparents may provide a different kind of support—less immediate responsibility, more unconditional love, and a sense of safety in the present moment. Factors beyond age and life stage (e.g. financial stress and life transitions) influence parenting quality, but the grandparent-grandchild bond can be a powerful source of positive attachment.   Main Theme: The negative impacts of social media addiction and how EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy can help overcome it.   Key Points: • For many clients, grandparents represent love, kindness, protection, and stability, often contrasting with a parent’s traumatic experiences. • Intergenerational trauma can span generations, with clients aiming to break the cycle for their own children. • Grandparents may provide a different kind of support—less immediate responsibility, more unconditional love, and a sense of safety in the present moment. • Factors beyond age and life stage (e.g., financial stress, life transitions) influence parenting quality, but the grandparent-grandchild bond can be a powerful source of positive attachment.   How EMDR Can Help: • Resourcing: Use positive life experiences and relationships, especially with grandparents, to bolster clients’ self-worth and safety before addressing trauma. • Reinforcing existing bonds: Highlight memories of being loved and protected by grandparents to enhance a client’s sense of self (worthy, capable, safe). • In-session work: When processing distressing memories, incorporate imagined grandparent support (e.g., “What would your grandma say?”) to create a sense of immediate support, even though it’s imaginative.   Upcoming webinars [https://www.emdrdoctor.com.au/training] for clinicians on treating Shame (June 4th), Dissociation (July), and Dissociative Identity Disorder (August).   Resources Mentioned: • EMDR Therapy for Trauma: If you're in Australia and want personalized support, Dr. Lloyd’s individual or group therapy sessions may be right for you. • EMDR Doctor Membership: If you’ve worked with Dr. Lloyd before and need ongoing support, check out the EMDR Doctor Membership page for monthly opportunities to continue EMDR therapy.   Contact and Feedback: If you’ve been affected by trauma, or if you want to discuss how EMDR can help you heal from past wounds, get in touch with Dr. Lloyd at emdrdoctor.com.au [https://www.emdrdoctor.com.au/training] Appointments for consultation or supervision, with Dr. Lloyd, can be made via Halaxy [https://www.halaxy.com/book/appointment/caroline-lloyd/location/799391]. Remember, healing from trauma is a journey — you don’t have to do it alone.   Subscribe & Stay Connected: • Be sure to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode. Each week, we dive into the powerful ways EMDR therapy can help you heal, grow, and reclaim your life. If you’ve found today’s episode helpful, share it with someone who could benefit from this information. • See me in person over on my YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@CarolineLloyd-n8y] — it’s a great way to connect face-to-face, learn more about EMDR, and get a sense of how we might work together in therapy.   Join me, Dr. Caroline Lloyd, as we unpack trauma, explore the science of EMDR, and share real stories of recovery and resilience.

66. I'm addicted to social media, can EMDR help me?

In this episode, we examine the potential for EMDR to tackle the pervasive problem of social media addiction and its impact on daily life. Constant scrolling can erode focus, disrupt sleep, provoke anxiety, and fuel a cycle of comparison that harms self-esteem. The rapid influx of information can also shorten attention spans and reduce cognitive clarity. As social media addiction often masks underlying stress or past trauma, an EMDR practitioner can help by addressing root memories, building healthy coping skills, and setting boundaries. Addiction protocols can target urges to scroll, triggers, and negative beliefs (for example, “I’m weak”), providing a pathway to regain agency and improve overall well-being. _________________________________  In This Episode, You’ll Learn: * The "problem" with social media * Negative impacts on the brain * Basic strategies tro cut back * How EMDR can help Key Highlights: * Processing the underlying traumas or difficult memories * Establishing healthy coping strategies and boundaries.  * Using addiction protocols to target the urge to scroll, the triggers, and any negative core belief Resources Mentioned: * EMDR Therapy for Trauma: If you're in Australia and want personalized support, Dr. Lloyd’s individual or group therapy sessions may be right for you. * EMDR Doctor Membership: If you’ve worked with Dr. Lloyd before and need ongoing support, check out the EMDR Doctor Membership page for monthly opportunities to continue EMDR therapy. * Upcoming webinars [https://www.emdrdoctor.com.au/training] for clinicians on treating: * Shame (June 4th) * Dissociation (July) * Dissociative Identity Disorder (August).   Contact and Feedback: If you’ve been affected by trauma, or if you want to discuss how EMDR can help you heal from past wounds, get in touch with Dr. Lloyd at emdrdoctor.com.au [https://www.emdrdoctor.com.au/] . Appointments for consultation or supervision, with Dr. Lloyd, can be made via Halaxy [https://www.halaxy.com/book/appointment/caroline-lloyd/location/799391]. Remember, healing from trauma is a journey — you don’t have to do it alone.   Subscribe & Stay Connected: * Be sure to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode. Each week, we dive into the powerful ways EMDR therapy can help you heal, grow, and reclaim your life. If you’ve found today’s episode helpful, share it with someone who could benefit from this information. * See me in person over on my YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@CarolineLloyd-n8y] — it’s a great way to connect face-to-face, learn more about EMDR, and get a sense of how we might work together in therapy.   Join me, Dr. Caroline Lloyd, as we unpack trauma, explore the science of EMDR, and share real stories of recovery and resilience. ___________________________________________________

65. EMDR for Adoption Trauma

In this episode, we explore the complex nature of adoption trauma, and how EMDR and other therapies can support healing. Adoption can involve multiple layers of loss, identity challenges, and attachment disruptions—not just for adoptees, but for all members of the adoption triad (the adoptee, adoptive parents and birth parents). As well as early separation trauma, and ongoing feelings of difference and identity struggles, adoptees may also face additional challenges such as family complexity, infertility-related trauma in parents, and higher vulnerability to abuse. Adoptees are at increased risk of anxiety and depression, PTSD, disenfranchised grief and suicidality… but adoption trauma is treatable. EMDR can help process both explicit memories, and implicit or preverbal trauma, while group therapy can be especially powerful by reducing isolation and fostering shared understanding. Adoption can involve deep, layered psychological wounds—but with approaches like EMDR and supportive group therapy, meaningful healing is possible   In This Episode, You’ll Learn: • What is adoption trauma? • How might adoptees, and the adoption triad, be impacted by adoption trauma? • How can EMDR and other therapies help healing?   Key Highlights: • Adoption trauma is real and often complex • Early experiences can shape lifelong beliefs and emotional patterns • Healing is possible with the right therapeutic support, including EMDR • Connection and shared understanding are valuable parts of recovery   Resources Mentioned: • EMDR Therapy for Trauma: If you're in Australia and want personalized support, Dr. Lloyd’s individual or group therapy sessions may be right for you. • EMDR Doctor Membership: If you’ve worked with Dr. Lloyd before and need ongoing support, check out the EMDR Doctor Membership page for monthly opportunities to continue EMDR therapy.   Contact and Feedback: If you’ve been affected by trauma, or if you want to discuss how EMDR can help you heal from past wounds, get in touch with Dr. Lloyd at emdrdoctor.com.au [https://www.emdrdoctor.com.au/] . Appointments for in-clinic consultation for clients, or consultation/supervision for therapists, can be made with Dr. Lloyd, via Halaxy [https://www.halaxy.com/book/appointment/caroline-lloyd/location/799391]. Remember, healing from trauma is a journey — you don’t have to do it alone.   Subscribe & Stay Connected: • Be sure to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode. Each week, we dive into the powerful ways EMDR therapy can help you heal, grow, and reclaim your life. If you’ve found today’s episode helpful, share it with someone who could benefit from this information. • See me in person over on my YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@CarolineLloyd-n8y] — it’s a great way to connect face-to-face, learn more about EMDR, and get a sense of how we might work together in therapy. Join me, Dr. Caroline Lloyd, as we unpack trauma, explore the science of EMDR, and share real stories of recovery and resilience.