Handout-Ecker-Bridge.. - Coherence Therapy

The Key to Therapeutic Breakthroughs:Unlocking the Emotional BrainBruce Ecker, MA, LMFT & Sara K. Bridges, PhDEmotional LearningsSCHEMA• If I show any vulnerabilityI'll be attacked.• The only way to get anyattention is to do somethingreally bad.• If I try for what I really want,the world will crush it, so Ibetter not try for or even feelwhat I really want.SYMPTOMS GENERATED• No vulnerable emotion,lacks intimacy, loneliness• Provocative, aggressive oremotionally volatilebehaviors• Passivity, underachieving,emotional disconnectionCOHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEMemory Reconsolidation• Overturned the model of one-time consolidationand indelibility of emotional learning that wasbased on a century of extinction research• 1997–2000: Conclusive detection• Synapses unlock (de-consolidation) for about5 hours before they re-lock (re-consolidation)COHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEMarkers of Schema Erasure• Non-reactivation. A specific emotional meaning andbodily emotional activation is no longer triggered by cues.• Symptom cessation. Behaviors, emotions, thoughts andsomatics driven by that emotional activation disappear.• Effortless permanence. Non-recurrence of symptomsand emotional activation continues without counteractive orpreventative measures of any kind.Therapy follows same process & yields samemarkers as in reconsolidation researchCOHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEPsychotherapy Networker SymposiumMarch 23, 2013www.CoherenceInstitute.org© 2013 Coherence Psychology Institute, LLC

The Key to Therapeutic Breakthroughs:Unlocking the Emotional BrainBruce Ecker, MA, LMFT & Sara K. Bridges, PhDMemory Reconsolidation as a Frameworkfor Psychotherapy IntegrationSame core process is evident inAEDP, Coherence Therapy, EFT,EMDR, IPNB…and maybe all other therapiesof transformational change?COHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTECore Process for Schema Erasure1.2.3.Reactivate the target emotional schema.Guide a contradictory experience. This unlocks (de-consolidates) the target schema’s s memory circuits.Repeat contradictory experience in juxtaposition withtarget schema. This re-writes and erases target schema.COHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEPreparation for Core ProcessA.B.C.Symptom identification. What / when: specificbehaviors, emotions, thoughts, somatizations.Retrieve underlying emotional schema.Implicit ExplicitFind contradictory experience.COHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEPsychotherapy Networker SymposiumMarch 23, 2013www.CoherenceInstitute.org© 2013 Coherence Psychology Institute, LLC

The Key to Therapeutic Breakthroughs:Unlocking the Emotional BrainBruce Ecker, MA, LMFT & Sara K. Bridges, PhDTherapeutic Reconsolidation ProcessA. Symptom identificationB. Schema retrievalC. Find contradictory experience1. Reactivate target schema2. Evoke contradictory experience in juxtaposition3. Repetitions of step 2V. Verification of erasure LearningObjective COHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEJuxtaposition Experience ExampleSymptom: Compulsive changing of jobs for 35 yearsTarget learning:Staying in one jobmakes anyone utterlymiserable and dead,just like Dad.Contradictory experience:These teachers stay inone job and love theirwork and feel so alivein it. LearningObjective COHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEMany Therapies Congenial to TRPSuch as…AEDPCoherence TherapyEFTEMDRFocusingGestalt TherapyHakomiIFSIPNBNLPSETIRCOHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEPsychotherapy Networker SymposiumMarch 23, 2013www.CoherenceInstitute.org© 2013 Coherence Psychology Institute, LLC

The Key to Therapeutic Breakthroughs:Unlocking the Emotional BrainBruce Ecker, MA, LMFT & Sara K. Bridges, PhDCoherence Therapy MethodologyExplicitly guides the steps of theTherapeutic Reconsolidation Process1. Retrieval into awareness of non-consciousemotional learning/schema generating the symptom(TRP steps A-B)2. Transformation (disconfirmation & dissolution)of that learning/schema via juxtaposition experiences(TRP steps C-1-2-3-V)COHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTESymptoms DispelledAggressive behaviorAgoraphobiaAlcohol abuseAnger and rageAnxietyAttachment-pattern-basedbehaviors & distressAttention deficit problemsCodependencyComplex trauma symptomologyCompulsive behaviorsCouples’ problems ofconflict / communication / closenessDepressionFamily and child problemsFidgetingby Coherence TherapyFood / eating / weight problemsGrief and bereavement problemsGuiltHallucinationsInaction/indecisionLow self-worth, self-devaluingPanic attacksPerfectionismPost-traumatic symptomsProcrastination / InactionPsychogenic / psychosomatic painSexual problemsShameUnderachievingVoice / speaking problemsCOHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEwww.CoherenceTherapyCoherenceTherapy.org• Free articles, case examples• Online short courses• Practice manual• Books• DVDs of sessions by Bruce Ecker, LMFT• Long-distance training & certification pgmCOHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEPsychotherapy Networker SymposiumMarch 23, 2013www.CoherenceInstitute.org© 2013 Coherence Psychology Institute, LLC

The Key to Therapeutic Breakthroughs:Unlocking the Emotional BrainBruce Ecker, MA, LMFT & Sara K. Bridges, PhDSymptom CoherenceCoherence Therapy’s s model ofsymptom production / symptom cessation Symptom happens because it isemotionally necessary for avoiding suffering,according to at least one implicit learning or schema. Symptom stops happening as soon as theunderlying learning or schema that makes thesymptom necessary, no longer exists.COHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTECase Example: Compulsive UnderachievingVIDEOCOHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTECase Example: Compulsive UnderachievingVIDEOCOHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEPsychotherapy Networker SymposiumMarch 23, 2013www.CoherenceInstitute.org© 2013 Coherence Psychology Institute, LLC

The Key to Therapeutic Breakthroughs:Unlocking the Emotional BrainBruce Ecker, MA, LMFT & Sara K. Bridges, PhDCase Example: Compulsive UnderachievingVIDEO“I’m m still your daughter, and that’s s what’s s most—ahm—well, see, it’s not most important to me.”“Mom, it’s not most important to me to be yourdaughter. It’s s most important to me to be myself.”COHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTECase Example: Compulsive UnderachievingJuxtaposition ExperienceStaying familiar ismost importantbecause Mom’s s rageat me is unbearable.Being myself ismost important.Mom getting upsetwith me is workable.• Both feel real• Both cannot possibly be true Learning Objective COHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTECase Example: Compulsive UnderachievingVerification of schema dissolutionVIDEOCOHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEPsychotherapy Networker SymposiumMarch 23, 2013www.CoherenceInstitute.org© 2013 Coherence Psychology Institute, LLC

The Key to Therapeutic Breakthroughs:Unlocking the Emotional BrainBruce Ecker, MA, LMFT & Sara K. Bridges, PhDCoherence Therapy Methodology• Symptom identification• Retrieval of schema that issymptom’s s emotional necessity• Find contradictory knowledgeABC• Transformation:Guide juxtaposition experience 1-2-3• Verify dissolution of schema V COHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTECase Example: Compulsive UnderachievingJuxtaposition ExperienceStaying familiar ismost importantbecause Mom’s s rageat me is unbearable.Being myself ismost important.Mom getting upsetwith me is workable.Empathy for both sides equallyCOHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEWhy Juxtaposition Is Non-Counteracting No attempt to build up desired conditionor suppress the unwanted condition Therapist favors neither knowing,empathizes with both Client is guided to stay fully in touchwith symptom-requiring schemaCOHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEPsychotherapy Networker SymposiumMarch 23, 2013www.CoherenceInstitute.org© 2013 Coherence Psychology Institute, LLC

The Key to Therapeutic Breakthroughs:Unlocking the Emotional BrainBruce Ecker, MA, LMFT & Sara K. Bridges, PhDDiscovery Processin Coherence Therapy• Goal: Symptom-requiring schemacomes into client’s s direct experience• Starting point: Identify symptomin concrete specifics• Work in scene of symptom’s s occurrence• Therapist’s s compass: Listen for / head forhow symptom is emotionally necessaryCOHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEDiscovery Processin Coherence Therapy• No counteracting—no attempts to get symptom to stopor get symptom-requiring schema tolose power• No attempts to dispel distressCOHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTE LearningObjective Discovery Techniquesin Coherence Therapy• Symptom deprivation• Sentence completion• Overt statement• Imaginal interaction• First time• ExceptionsCOHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEPsychotherapy Networker SymposiumMarch 23, 2013www.CoherenceInstitute.org© 2013 Coherence Psychology Institute, LLC

LearningObjective The Key to Therapeutic Breakthroughs:Unlocking the Emotional BrainBruce Ecker, MA, LMFT & Sara K. Bridges, PhDDISCOVERY TECHNIQUESSymptom DeprivationSYMPTOM: PROCRASTINATION• “Imagine actually starting to do the task…”• Client encounters some form of task distresspreviously avoided unconsciously• Full unpacking of the task distress thenreveals the original suffering and emotionallearning making procrastination necessaryCOHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTE LearningObjective DISCOVERY TECHNIQUESOvert StatementSYMPTOM: PROCRASTINATION• Declarative sentence expressing emergingemotional truth in gutsy phrasing• “If I’m I m successful, Dad will tear me down,so I better not actually write my thesis.”COHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTE LearningObjective DISCOVERY TECHNIQUESSentence CompletionSYMPTOM: PROCRASTINATION• Invite client to “try out saying this first halfof a sentence, and just let it complete itself.”• “The problem is, if I actually write my thesisand successfully complete my program—”COHERENCEPSYCHOLOGYINSTITUTEPsychotherapy Networker SymposiumMarch 23, 2013www.CoherenceInstitute.org© 2013 Coherence Psychology Institute, LLC