Distance Training in Developing a Secure Self
This distance program, Imaginal
Nurturing, Ego States, and Attachment: An Integrated
Approach to Early Deficits, is a continuing education program
for EMDR therapists working with adults. It is the most up-to-date (2010)
material I offer. It is not simply a video of a workshop you were unable
to attend, but rather was created specifically for distance learning.
In it, you will have the opportunity to "sit in on" segments
of numerous sessions with a client who generously allowed some of her
sessions to be videotaped to foster the learning of other therapists in
the Developing a Secure Self approach. Many other clinical examples are
given throughout the training. There are also two experiential
segments so you have some personal experience of what you will
be asking clients to do.
The format consists of:
6 DVDs of lecture with slides
a 53-page manual supporting the DVD content
1 CD providing two experiential segments
There is a test included with the manual for those applying for CE hours (cost of processing the test is $35). The program is approved for 12 hours with NASW and the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and is under review by EMDRIA.
This program has the advantage of allowing you to proceed at your own pace, in your own time and space. No need to get overloaded with masses of material being squeezed into two days! It also makes much more sense ecologically than travelling some distance to attend a workshop and allows continuing education to be more economical. You may wish to reduce costs further by using the program within a study group. In this case, one person can order the complete program and others can simply order their own manuals.
Content Differences from 2002-2008 Trainings
Since my early trainings, both the approach and my teaching of it have changed, becoming more fully developed and fine-tuned. Imaginal Nurturing began in 2000 as an intervention, but over time has evolved into an ego state approach that is integrated into the whole of therapy from the conceptualization of the client and the therapeutic relationship to the therapy itself.
In my earlier trainings, I offered sample guided imagery scripts to facilitate the participant's transition into working in this way. What I have found is that many therapists stayed with the scripts and used them simply as an intervention rather than as a stepping stone to relating directly and responsively to the younger ego states of the client. There is now more emphasis on the therapeutic relationship and on DSS as an over-all ego state approach that differs from other such methods which are trauma and/or pathology based. I have made changes in the training to better facilitate the incorporation of DSS into the practice of participants.
There are new videotapes of clinical work demonstrating both the therapeutic relationship as one of attachment and of incorporating Imaginal Nurturing into EMDR therapy.
Comparison with the 2009 Workshops
The program is similar in content to that of the trainings given in the fall of 2009 (Toronto and Vancouver). These trainings received very high evaluations from participants, e.g. in Vancouver:
Content (average) 4.92 (range from
1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree)
Presenter (average) 4.93
Overall workshop (average) 4.95
Some therapist responses to Developing a Secure Self Trainings
"An amazing workshop in every respect! April's work, to me, represents a very skilled approach to ego state therapy.... As a clinician/psychologist practising for almost 20 years, I can count on one hand the workshops that have changed my practice. April's is now one of them." ~ Hilary Searles, PhD
"I enjoyed your workshop and have recommended it to many people. The materials and the concepts were fabulous. You seem like a master clinician as well.... Thanks again for the great workshop. (Just to put this in perspective, I have never written a thank you after a workshop and I have been doing them for 30 years." ~ Carol Lindquist, PhD
"You have made an incredible contribution to our field. Thank you!" ~ Sherri Gonzales, MA MFT
The Contents of the Distance Training Program
The six DVDs are divided into chapters ranging from 20 to 48 minutes to allow you to more easily make use of the program in convenient blocks of time:
DISK#1
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2.: Early Research and Attachment Classification
Chapter 3: Attachment and Self Structure
Chapter 4: The Therapeutic Relationship as an Attachment Relationship
DISK#2
Chapter 5: Therapy and the Child
Chapter 6: Imaginal Nurturing Introduction
Chapter 7: More Principles of Imaginal Nurturing
Chapter 8: Still More Principles of Imaginal Nurturing
EXPERIENTIAL COMPONENT CD
DISK #3
Chapter 9: Basic Imaginal Nurturing 1
Chapter 10: Basic Imaginal Nurturing 2
Chapter 11: The Retrieval, Traumatic Memories as Movies, and Straight
Talking
DISK #4
Chapter 12: Introduction to Newborn Imaginal Nurturing
EXPERIENTIAL COMPONENT CD
Chapter 13: Newborn Imaginal Nurturing Example
Chapter 14: Infants and Attachment Imagery
DISK #5
Chapter 15: Attachment Processing
Chapter 16: Exploration Imagery
DISK #6
Chapter 17: Incorporating the DSS Approach
Chapter 18: The Relationship to EMDR - Phase 1
Chapter 19: The Relationship to EMDR - Phases 2-8
The accompanying 53-page manual includes the Nurturing and Encouraging Messages sheet and the Therapy Lifeline, both of which may be copied for clinical use. They are not bound with the rest of the manual to facilitate this use.
Technological Requirements for the Distance Training Program
The training program requires only the use of a DVD player and a CD player.
Continuing Education Hours
The program is currently approved by the National Association of Social Workers and the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for 12 CE hours. It is under review by EMDRIA. The test required for CE hours is sent out with the manual and is to be submitted with a payment of $35. upon completion. It requires your signature confirming that you have completed the program in its entirety and have written the test yourself. 80% is the grade required to receive CE credits. In order to be able to answer the questions on the test you need to have seen the entire program of DVDs and used the CD.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this program.