Dyadic EMDR: A Clinical Model for the Treatment of Preverbal Medical Trauma

ABSTRACT This paper focuses on the dyadic experience of Preverbal Medical Trauma as a factor in sharpening understanding of symptomatic behavior in young children. It highlights the connection between implicitly encoded relationship memories and the development of the child-caregiver attachment relationship before, during and following the medical trauma. Literature relating to the effects of early trauma on the child’s neuropsychological development is discussed, together with a closer look at the unique effect of early medical trauma on the attachment system. A dyadic psychotherapeutic treatment model is proposed, anchored in the EMDR Protocol and the attachment relationship. The case example provides a structured guide to processing of the early medical trauma and treatment of present symptoms, with a suggestion for future research.