OVERVIEW
Unlock the power of safety and connection to heal the unresolved trauma driving your client's protective patterns.
Join us for a deep dive into S.A.F.E. EMDR, Somatic and Attachment Focused EMDR with its creator, Deb Kennard. In this video, Deb explores the “concept of The Answer,” which frames our personality patterns as adaptations originally developed to survive and connect, but which later become compulsive barriers to our authentic selves. She discusses the importance of embodying trauma-informed principles, noting that trying to “help” can sometimes be violent if it overrides a client’s internal protectors. Learn how using “invitations” instead of “commands” and maintaining compassionate assumptions can create the safety necessary to release the tension of trauma. Deb also shares personal insights from her Vipassana meditation retreats and emphasizes why therapists must understand their own “Answer” to effectively help their clients.
Topics Covered:
- About the Book: EMDR for Anger Management
- S.A.F.E. EMDR and It's Foundational Principles
- Example of Protective Mechanisms/Adaptations
- The Concept of The Answer
- Foundational Principles of S.A.F.E. EMDR
- The Risk of Directness
- Compassionate Assumption & Healthy Boundaries
- Parts Work Perspective: Role of Compassion in Therapy
- The Nature of Anger and Trauma
- The Importance of Understanding Your Own Process
SPEAKER
Deborah Kennard is the founder of the Personal Transformation Institute and creator of the SAFE EMDR approach Somatic and Attachment Focused EMDR, a trauma-informed approach to EMDR. She is also the author of EMDR for Anger Management: Somatic and Attachment-Focused Skills to Heal the Unresolved Trauma That Drives Your Chronic Anger, a practical guide for using EMDR to heal underlying fear and trauma. Her teaching blends deep clinical insight with a grounded, compassionate presence, helping clinicians create the safety and connection necessary for real healing. Deb continues to lead advanced trainings, consultation groups, and international workshops, supporting a growing community of trauma-informed therapists practicing the SAFE EMDR approach.
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