Table of Contents 
                                               
                                              Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................................................................... ix 
                                              Preface ........................................................................................................................................................................ xi 
                                              Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. xiii 
                                              Chapter 1 The Challenge of EMDR Trauma Treatment ......................................................................................... 1 
                                                    Adaptive Information Processing ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 
                                                    Definition of Trauma ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 
                                                    My Early Experience with EMDR .............................................................................................................................................................. 1 
                                                    My Paradigm Shift ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 
                                                    My Take on Childhood Wounding ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 
                                                    Foundational Stability versus Foundational Instability .................................................................................................................. 4 
                                                    Preparing Clients with Childhood Wounding for EMDR ............................................................................................................... 5 
                                                    Importance of Assessing Readiness ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 
                                                    Other Factors Relevant to Treatment Success ................................................................................................................................... 7 
                                                    Chapter 1 Summary ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 
                                              Chapter 2 Ego State Theory and Therapy Overview .............................................................................................. 9 
                                                    Ego State Theory Overview ........................................................................................................................................................................ 9 
                                                    Healthy Ego States ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 
                                                    Wounded Ego States ................................................................................................................................................................................. 10 
                                                    Types of Wounded Ego States .............................................................................................................................................................. 11 
                                                    Olivia: An Example of How Ego States Form ................................................................................................................................... 12 
                                                    The Self-System ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 
                                                    Storage of Wounding Experiences ...................................................................................................................................................... 14 
                                                    Executive Control ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 14 
                                                    Getting Triggered ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 
                                                    Resourcing ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 
                                                    Talking to Wounded Parts ...................................................................................................................................................................... 16 
                                                    Overview of DNMS Stabilization .......................................................................................................................................................... 19 
                                                    Alternating Bilateral Stimulation (ABS) for Stabilizing Wounded Parts ............................................................................... 20 
                                                    Chapter 2 Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 
                                              Chapter 3 Treating Adults Wounded in Childhood ............................................................................................. 23 
                                                    Attachment Styles ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 23 
                                                    Childhood Wounding from Unmet Developmental Needs ...................................................................................................... 24 
                                                    Types of Childhood Wounding Graphed on a Grid ..................................................................................................................... 25 
                                                    Little or No Childhood Wounding ....................................................................................................................................................... 27 
                                                    Nonprimary-Caregiver Relational Trauma Wounding ................................................................................................................ 27 
                                                    Nonrelational Trauma Wounding ........................................................................................................................................................ 28 
                                                    Attachment Wounding without Trauma Wounding .................................................................................................................... 29 
                                                    Nonprimary-Caregiver Trauma + Attachment Wounding ........................................................................................................ 30 
                                                    Primary-Caregiver Trauma + Attachment Wounding ................................................................................................................. 31 
                                                    Stabilization Interventions before EMDR .......................................................................................................................................... 33 
                                                    Stabilization Interventions after EMDR .............................................................................................................................................. 33 
                                                    Chapter 3 Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................... 34 
                                              Chapter 4 Getting a History .................................................................................................................................... 35 
                                                    Getting Acquainted .................................................................................................................................................................................... 35 
                                                    Getting a Genogram .................................................................................................................................................................................. 35 
                                                    Getting a History ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 36 
                                                    Taking a History with Empathy and Attunement .......................................................................................................................... 39 
                                               
         iv          Ego State Therapy Interventions to Prepare Attachment-Wounded Adults for EMDR 
          Listening for Positives................................................................................................................................................................................ 39 
          Managing Intense Emotions ................................................................................................................................................................... 40 
          Assessing Foundational Stability .......................................................................................................................................................... 41 
          Sample Client-Therapist Dialogue: Getting a History .................................................................................................................. 42 
          Chapter 4 Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................... 65 
         Chapter 5 Introducing DNMS Ego State Therapy to Clients .............................................................................. 67 
          The Main DNMS Ego State Therapy Concepts ............................................................................................................................... 67 
          Sample Client-Therapist Dialogue: Introducing Ego State Therapy ...................................................................................... 69 
          Chapter 5 Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................... 72 
         Chapter 6 Mobilizing Healing Circle Resources ................................................................................................... 75 
          Protocol Overview ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 75 
          Nurturing and Protective Adult Self Resources .............................................................................................................................. 76 
          Spiritual Core Self Resource ................................................................................................................................................................... 80 
          Ten Steps to Mobilizing Healing Circle Resources ........................................................................................................................ 82 
          Pairing the Resource Team with a Scent, Object, or Music ....................................................................................................... 87 
          Resourcing Complications and Processing Blocks ........................................................................................................................ 88 
          Sample Client-Therapist Dialogue: Mobilizing Healing Circle Resources ......................................................................... 103 
          Chapter 6 Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................. 113 
         Chapter 7 Mobilizing Provisional Resources ...................................................................................................... 115 
          Mobilizing Provisional Resources ....................................................................................................................................................... 115 
          Three-Star Rating Scale Caveat ........................................................................................................................................................... 118 
          Establishing a Provisional Resource Team ...................................................................................................................................... 118 
          Caveat About Naming Provisional Resources ............................................................................................................................... 120 
          Iffy Resources .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 120 
          Formal and Informal Ways to Mobilize Provisional Resources .............................................................................................. 120 
          How Provisional Resources Compare to Healing Circle Resources ..................................................................................... 121 
          Resourcing Complications and Processing Blocks ...................................................................................................................... 121 
          Sample Client-Therapist Dialogue for Mobilizing a Team of Provisional Resources ................................................... 125 
          Chapter 7 Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................. 130 
         Chapter 8 Establishing a Special Safe Place ........................................................................................................ 131 
          What Is a DNMS Special Safe Place? ................................................................................................................................................ 131 
          Establishing a Special Safe Place ........................................................................................................................................................ 131 
          Other People in the Special Safe Place ............................................................................................................................................ 133 
          Warning: Special Safe Place Is Not Exile .......................................................................................................................................... 133 
          How to Use the Special Safe Place to Manage Stress ............................................................................................................... 133 
          Sample Client-Therapist Dialogue: Establishing a Special Safe Place ................................................................................. 134 
          Chapter 8 Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................. 135 
         Chapter 9 Setting an Effective Therapy Goal ...................................................................................................... 137 
          Discovering the Importance of an Effective Therapy Goal ...................................................................................................... 137 
          Two Types of Therapy Goals ................................................................................................................................................................ 138 
          Checking for Objections to the Therapy Goal ............................................................................................................................... 138 
          Inviting Parts to Talk about Their Objections ................................................................................................................................ 139 
          Validating Wounded Parts’ Objections to the Goal ................................................................................................................... 139 
          Suggesting an Alternative Goal........................................................................................................................................................... 140 
          Checking for Objections to the New Goal ...................................................................................................................................... 141 
          Inviting Wounded Parts to Settle In .................................................................................................................................................. 141 
          Sample Client-Therapist Dialogue: Setting an Effective Global Therapy Goal ................................................................ 141 
          Sample Client-Therapist Dialogue: Setting an Effective Session Therapy Goal .............................................................. 143 
          Chapter 9 Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................. 145 
          
           Table of Contents                                v 
           Chapter 10 Nurturing Interventions .................................................................................................................... 147 
            Status Categories of Wounded Parts ............................................................................................................................................... 147 
            Selecting a Target Issue ......................................................................................................................................................................... 147 
            Planning the Invitation............................................................................................................................................................................ 148 
            Connecting to Resources ....................................................................................................................................................................... 149 
            Inviting Wounded Parts to Approach the Resources ................................................................................................................ 149 
            Welcoming Parts and Starting a Dialogue ..................................................................................................................................... 150 
            Connecting Wounded Parts to the Resources ............................................................................................................................. 152 
            Getting the Story ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 152 
            Full Contextual Validation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 153 
            When Parts Refuse to Talk to Us ........................................................................................................................................................ 153 
            Working with Very Triggered Parts ................................................................................................................................................... 153 
            Working with Intrusive Parts ................................................................................................................................................................ 154 
            Strengthening Positives with ABS ...................................................................................................................................................... 155 
            Sample Client-Therapist Dialogue: Nurturing a Currently Triggered Part ........................................................................ 155 
            Sample Client-Therapist Dialogue: Nurturing a Recently Triggered Part ......................................................................... 159 
            Chapter 10 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 163 
           Chapter 11 Providing Needed Information ........................................................................................................ 165 
            Ways to Provide Needed Information ............................................................................................................................................. 165 
            Metaphors to Explain the Processing ............................................................................................................................................... 169 
            Scripts and Metaphors to Validate and Empathize .................................................................................................................... 170 
            Scripts That Fill In Missing Information ........................................................................................................................................... 172 
            Scripts That Clear Up Misunderstandings ...................................................................................................................................... 174 
            Neural Networks, Ego States, and How We Make Interpretations ...................................................................................... 178 
            Chapter 11 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 180 
           Chapter 12 Managing Enmeshment .................................................................................................................... 181 
            What is Enmeshment? ............................................................................................................................................................................ 181 
            Enmeshment Reversal Intervention ................................................................................................................................................... 181 
            Octopus Pictures Intervention ............................................................................................................................................................. 182 
            Other Helpful Interventions .................................................................................................................................................................. 183 
            Present-Day Enmeshments ................................................................................................................................................................... 183 
            Sample #1 Client-Therapist Dialogue: Managing Enmeshment ........................................................................................... 183 
            Sample #2 Client-Therapist Dialogue: Managing Enmeshment ........................................................................................... 184 
            Chapter 12 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 185 
           Chapter 13 Orienting to Present Time ................................................................................................................. 187 
            Invitation to See Evidence of the Present ....................................................................................................................................... 187 
            Adult Body Intervention ......................................................................................................................................................................... 189 
            Filling in Lifespan Details ....................................................................................................................................................................... 190 
            Explaining Sharing Adult Body with the Resources .................................................................................................................... 191 
            When Parts Protest Orientation to the Present Time ................................................................................................................ 192 
            A Caution about Fictional Rescues .................................................................................................................................................... 192 
            A Caution about Retrievals ................................................................................................................................................................... 193 
            Sample #1 Client-Therapist Dialogue: Orienting to Present Time ....................................................................................... 193 
            Sample #2 Client-Therapist Dialogue: Orienting to Present Time ....................................................................................... 194 
            Chapter 13 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 195 
           Chapter 14 Explaining about the Harmless Recording ..................................................................................... 197 
            Significance of Important Life Events Getting Recorded ......................................................................................................... 197 
            Types of Wounding Messages ............................................................................................................................................................ 198 
            Mental In-Box ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 198 
            
         vi          Ego State Therapy Interventions to Prepare Attachment-Wounded Adults for EMDR 
          Explaining about the Harmless Recording ..................................................................................................................................... 199 
          Metaphors to Explain about the Harmless Recording............................................................................................................... 199 
          Sample #1 Client-Therapist Dialogue: Explaining about the Harmless Recording ....................................................... 200 
          Sample #2 Client-Therapist Dialogue: Explaining about the Harmless Recording ....................................................... 201 
          Chapter 14 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 203 
         Chapter 15 Wrapping Up a Session ..................................................................................................................... 205 
          Coming Out of Trance ............................................................................................................................................................................. 205 
          Checking for Changes in the Wounded Parts’ Reactivity ......................................................................................................... 206 
          Inviting Wounded Parts to Settle In .................................................................................................................................................. 206 
          Getting the Adult Self Front and Center Again ............................................................................................................................ 207 
          Checking In with the Adult Self ........................................................................................................................................................... 207 
          What to Expect Next ................................................................................................................................................................................ 208 
          Sample #1 Client-Therapist Dialogue: Wrapping Up a Session ............................................................................................ 208 
          Sample #2 Client-Therapist Dialogue: Wrapping Up a Session ............................................................................................ 209 
          Chapter 15 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 210 
         Chapter 16 Controlling Reactive Parts ................................................................................................................ 211 
          What are Controlling Reactive Parts? ............................................................................................................................................... 211 
          Encountering Controlling Reactive Parts......................................................................................................................................... 212 
          Building Rapport with Radical Acceptance .................................................................................................................................... 212 
          Mimicking Reactive Parts ....................................................................................................................................................................... 215 
          Mimicking Reactive Parts versus Old Harmless Recordings ................................................................................................... 215 
          Caution About Persuading Controlling Parts to Change Jobs ............................................................................................... 216 
          Clarifying Common Terminology ....................................................................................................................................................... 216 
          Sample Client-Therapist Dialogue: Working with a Controlling Reactive Part ............................................................... 217 
          Sample Client-Therapist Dialogue: Working with a Mimicking Reactive Part ................................................................. 223 
          Chapter 16 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 227 
         Chapter 17 Attunement ......................................................................................................................................... 229 
          Detecting Subtle Signals of Distress ................................................................................................................................................. 229 
          Following Up on Subtle Signals of Distress ................................................................................................................................... 229 
          Paranormal Signals ................................................................................................................................................................................... 230 
          Misattunement ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 231 
          Being Authentic, Animated, and Accepting ................................................................................................................................... 232 
          Getting Hidden Information by Asking the Body ........................................................................................................................ 232 
          Confusion Is Our Friend .......................................................................................................................................................................... 233 
          Holding a Mental Picture ....................................................................................................................................................................... 236 
          Window of Nurturing Attunement .................................................................................................................................................... 237 
          Attuned Grief Processing ....................................................................................................................................................................... 238 
          Keeping Track of Who We’re Talking To ......................................................................................................................................... 240 
          Challenges in Talking to Wounded Parts ........................................................................................................................................ 241 
          System-Wide Announcement .............................................................................................................................................................. 243 
          Talking to Parts Indirectly ...................................................................................................................................................................... 244 
          Chapter 17 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 244 
         Chapter 18 Overcoming Processing Blocks ........................................................................................................ 245 
          Importance of an Effective Therapy Goal ........................................................................................................................................ 245 
          Detecting a Concern ................................................................................................................................................................................ 245 
          Eliciting a Concern .................................................................................................................................................................................... 246 
          Validating a Concern ............................................................................................................................................................................... 247 
          Handling Blocking Concerns ................................................................................................................................................................ 247 
          Resource-Related Concerns .................................................................................................................................................................. 249