Nature as metaphor for healing

Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants (Milkweed Editions, 2013) beautifully demonstrates the benefits of cooperation. About goldenrod and aster flowers, she writes: “Their striking contrast when they grow together makes them the most attractive target in the whole meadow, a beacon for bees. Growing together, both receive more pollinator visits than they would if they were growing alone.”

Having more bees, and more pollen, helps these flowers survive. Growing together mutually benefits both flowers, “a question of science, a question of art, and a question of beauty.” (Kimmerer, 2015). In a similar way, I have found the combination of EMDR and IFS to be mutually beneficial.

Connecting with others in the field who have successfully blended these two models led me to Syzygy Institute, founded by Bruce Hersey and Michelle Richardson. As their website explains, the meaning of Syzygy “in terms of astronomy, [means] the nearly straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies… in our context, the gravitational system is the natural healing and the bodies in alignment are EMDR Therapy, IFS Therapy and Coherence Therapy.”

Similar to flowers that grow together to attract more bees, something magical happens by combining EMDR and IFS therapy. Connecting these evidenced-based models provides greater flexibility to understand our inner worlds and heal the trauma we find there.

When embracing the central IFS concept of “multiplicity of mind,” we ask permission from all parts within the inner world. Without this wisdom, we can sometimes fail to hear quieter parts that get pushed aside by the louder parts with more urgency. In addition to welcoming all parts to voice any concerns, IFS also provides language to understand this internal landscape and befriend our parts. In this process, we un-blend. We have more access to Self-energy.

With a critical mass of Self-energy, the potential of EMDR reveals itself. The use of “bi-lateral stimulation” (BLS) increases the Self-energy within our system. BLS facilitates Adaptive Information Processing (AIP), the internal processing network within our bodies that naturally heals—even our most horrible memories. However, when something overwhelms us (when we feel threatened or unable to keep ourselves safe), our bodies focus on protection. Internal processing becomes garbled.EMDR focuses on the mind-body connection, which heightens somatic experiencing and awareness.

As we become aware of parts, and help these parts relax and un-blend, Self-energy increases. And once there a critical amount of Self-energy, BLS can facilitate healing. Originally eye movements but now much more, BLS includes tapping and the use of buzzers or alternating sounds (anything that rhythmically alternates our attention right and left). In addition to helping protectors un-blend, BLS also helps exiles unburden. In some ways, Self-energy and AIP describe a similar concept: There is healing energy within all our bodies.

Both of these models reaffirm that it’s the therapist’s job to create safe space, an attuned relationship. In this supportive environment, clients can tap into their internal healing system. Whether you call this healing network Self-energy or AIP, we seem to be hardwired for healing. EMDR focuses on memories, and IFS focuses on parts. By combining the two models, EMDR reprocessing (with bilateral stimulation) can help with exploration of the intentions and memories of parts.

As a phase-based model, EMDR helps create a map for our work. It provides a framework of eight phases. These eight phases are: (1) History taking and treatment planning, (2) Preparation, (3) Assessment, (4) Desensitization, (5) Installation, (6) Body scan, (7) Closure, and (8) Reevaluation. And these phases are nonlinear. Clients will sometimes return to past phases, which makes history taking, treatment planning, preparation, and body scans paramount.

Whether we are building coping skills or reprocessing trauma memories, these models suggest that we do have a map of where we are in the trauma healing. We can use an IFS map to better recognize how much Self-energy we have access to in a given moment and to understand what parts are saying. From my perspective, any effective intervention is welcome as we do important healing work. Modalities that are compatible should be explored. I can confirm that the alliance of these two models brings out the best in each model in my work with clients.

To come full circle, EMDR and IFS have become my goldenrod and aster. Their proximity and cooperation demonstrably help access healing networks. All that matters to clients is the healing. There’s a magical aspect to our capacity for healing, and it’s an honor to helps them fully recognize their amazing inner gifts.