EMDR On-The-Spot: From Dementia and Beyond – Expanding Access, Enhancing Inclusion, and Bringing EMDR to the Moment of Need.

Description

EMDR On-The-Spot: From Dementia and Beyond

Expanding EMDR Beyond Trauma Memories – Bringing Therapy to the Moment of Need

Presented by Dr Jonathan Hutchins & Dr Khyati Rawal

🎥 This event will be recorded for later viewing

Book HERE

Most EMDR therapists are trained to work with past traumatic memories. But what if EMDR could also be used to help clients process the distress that is happening right now?

The On-The-Spot EMDR Method challenges the traditional view that EMDR must begin with historical trauma memories. Instead, it provides clinicians with a practical framework for using EMDR to target the immediate emotional experience that is overwhelming the client in the therapy room or within their current environment.

Originally developed through clinical work with people living with dementia, the method has evolved into a flexible approach that is now being used across a wide range of services, including crisis teams, inpatient units, community mental health, neuropsychology, older adult services, neurodiversity, acquired brain injury, and work with carers.

Rather than waiting until clients are ready to revisit the past, the On-The-Spot Method enables therapists to intervene at the point of greatest need—helping clients process immediate distress, reduce emotional overwhelm, and regain psychological flexibility whilst remaining grounded within the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model.

Whether a client is overwhelmed by an interaction earlier that day, struggling with intense emotions in the session itself, or unable to engage in traditional trauma-focused work, this approach offers practical ways of using EMDR that many clinicians have never previously considered.

Through demonstrations, clinical examples, case discussions and practical teaching, this workshop will encourage therapists to rethink how EMDR can be applied—not simply as a trauma therapy, but as a versatile psychological intervention that can be used wherever emotionally distressing experiences are occurring.

This workshop has been awarded 3 CPD Credits by the EMDR UK Association.

Workshop Aims

By attending this workshop you will:

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the workshop participants will be able to:

1. Rethink When EMDR Can Be Used

Understand how EMDR can be used not only for historical traumatic memories but also for immediate emotionally activating experiences that are causing distress in the present.

2. Understand the On-The-Spot EMDR Method

Describe the origins, theoretical rationale and clinical development of the method and explain how it remains grounded within the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model.

3. Identify Appropriate Clinical Opportunities

Recognise situations where immediate EMDR interventions may be clinically appropriate, including distress occurring within the session, recent emotionally significant events, crisis presentations and emotionally overwhelming experiences.

4. Apply Practical Present-Focused EMDR

Develop an understanding of how to safely target the client's current source of distress using practical On-The-Spot techniques, including the "Dominating Issue of the Week" framework.

5. Expand EMDR Across Clinical Settings

Consider how the method can be integrated into dementia services, neuropsychology, crisis teams, inpatient care, community mental health, older adult services, neurodiversity, acquired brain injury and work with carers.

6. Increase Accessibility

Understand how the approach may increase access to EMDR for clients who struggle with traditional trauma-focused protocols because of emotional overwhelm, cognitive challenges or the immediacy of their distress.

7. Practice Safely and Ethically

Develop confidence in clinical decision-making, understanding contraindications, pacing, safeguarding and ethical considerations when using immediate EMDR interventions.

8. Transform Your EMDR Practice

Leave with practical ideas that can immediately broaden your clinical use of EMDR, enabling you to respond more effectively to clients' distress in the moment rather than waiting until they are ready to process historical memories.

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is suitable for:

Why Attend?

✔ Learn a practical and innovative adaptation of EMDR developed from real-world clinical practice.

✔ Gain skills that can be immediately applied within dementia, neuropsychology, crisis, inpatient, and community services.

✔ Increase confidence when working with clients who present with cognitive, attentional, communication, or emotional regulation difficulties.

✔ Explore how EMDR can be delivered in a more accessible, flexible, and inclusive way.

✔ Develop a deeper understanding of adapting EMDR whilst maintaining fidelity to the AIP model.

The workshop recording is available to those who cannot attend on the day and it will be available for a period of up to 3 months after the event.

Join Dr Jonathan Hutchins and Dr Khyati Rawal for an engaging and clinically focused workshop exploring how EMDR can be adapted to meet the needs of clients who may otherwise struggle to access trauma-focused therapy.

EMDR On-The-Spot: From Dementia and Beyond – Expanding Access, Enhancing Inclusion, and Bringing EMDR to the Moment of Need.