EMDR Therapy Session Progress Note

Client Name: Sipho Ndlovu

Date: 14/05/2024

Preparation Phase Completed: Yes

Presenting Issue or Memory

Image

• Most Disturbing Image: Seeing the hijacker's gun pointed directly at the driver's side window at the traffic light.

Negative Cognition

• Negative Cognition: "I am helpless and going to die."

Positive Cognition

• Positive Cognition: "I survived and I am safe now."

Validity of Cognition (VoC)

• VoC Rating: 2

Emotions

• Emotions Experienced: Intense fear, panic, helplessness.

SUDs

• SUDs Rating: 9

Location of Body Sensation

• Body Sensation: Tightness in the chest and a hollow feeling in the stomach.

Desensitize

• Desensitization Process: Utilised bilateral eye movements (24 passes per set). Client initially reported increased heart rate and vivid recall of the glass shattering. After 4 sets, distress began to decrease, with client shifting focus to the moment the perpetrators drove away.

Processing and Checking for New Channels

• Processing Notes: Feeder memory emerged regarding feeling trapped during a childhood house robbery. Addressed briefly with 3 sets of eye movements; client returned to original target and reported SUDs dropped to 1 (ecological, due to ongoing court case).

Installation

• Positive Cognition Validation: Client confirmed "I survived and I am safe now" still fit. Initial VoC at installation was 5, increasing to 7 after 3 sets of bilateral eye movements.
• Installation Process: Paired original target memory with the PC using slow bilateral eye movements to strengthen the adaptive belief until VoC stabilised at 7.

Body Scan

• Body Scan Results: Client held the target memory and PC in mind while scanning the body. Reported residual tension in the shoulders. Completed 2 short sets of eye movements; tension resolved completely.

Closure

• Debriefing the Experience: Client expressed relief and noted the memory now feels distant, like watching an old movie rather than reliving it. Advised that processing may continue between sessions and to use the TICES log if needed.
• Future Work: Re-evaluate current target at the start of the next session and proceed to process the secondary trigger (driving at night).

Notes

• Observations or Issues for Future Sessions: Client tolerated bilateral stimulation well without dissociative symptoms. Monitor sleep patterns and nightmare frequency over the coming week.