Phase 4 of 8
Desensitization
Setup Script
"Remember that this is not happening now and you are safe. I am right here with you. Let whatever happens happen, just notice what is coming up for you. Any thoughts, images, emotions and body sensations. Remember that there is no right or wrong, just watch what is coming up and notice them as you would observe the scenery from a moving train. You can use your stop signal if needed."
Beginning Processing
"Now I am inviting you to hold in your mind and body:
• The image
• The negative belief: [state NC]
• The emotions: [state emotions]
• That you feel in your [body location]
And I am going to [client's preferred BLS method] for you to follow."
Begin bilateral stimulation: 24-36 passes (~30 seconds)
Between Sets
After Each Set:
"Let's stop, take a breath, let it go… What are you noticing now?"
or
"What is happening now?"
Continue Processing:
"Go with that."
or
"Notice that."
Resume BLS (24-36 passes)
Return to Target
"When you go back to the original incident, what do you get now?"
"On a scale of 0-10, how disturbing does it feel now?"
Processing Guidelines
Stay Out of the Way
Processing continues spontaneously unless:
- • Information processing stalls
- • Two consecutive negative responses
- • Client shifts into hypo/hyper arousal
- • Client uses stop signal
What Clients May Experience
- • New images or memories
- • Different emotions (sometimes intense)
- • Body sensations shifting
- • Insights or new thoughts
- • Nothing noticeable (this is okay)
Understanding Interweaves
What Are Interweaves?
Interweaves are strategic therapeutic interventions used only when processing becomes stuck. They introduce new information or perspectives to help restart the client's adaptive information processing system. Think of them as gentle "jump starts" that provide what the client needs to continue processing on their own.
Signs Processing is Stuck
Looping
- • Same material repeats 2-3 sets
- • SUD not changing
- • Returning to same emotion/image
Blocking
- • Client reports "nothing" or "blank"
- • Sudden dissociation or numbing
- • Avoidance of specific material
Abreaction Stall
- • Intense emotion not shifting
- • Client overwhelmed for extended time
- • Hyper/hypo arousal persists
Feeder Memory
- • Earlier memory driving current block
- • Core belief preventing integration
- • May need to target earlier memory
Before Using an Interweave, Try:
- • Changing BLS speed, direction, or type
- • Adjusting set length (longer for cognitive, shorter for emotional)
- • Adding auditory or tactile BLS
- • Asking client to verbalize what they're seeing
Types of Interweaves
Cognitive Interweaves — Introduce new information or perspective
Use when client is stuck in irrational beliefs or distorted thinking:
"Whose fault was it really?"
"If this happened to a child you know, would you blame them?"
"Is it over? Are you safe now?"
"Where are you right now? Look around this room."
"What choices did you have as a child?"
"What options were available to you at that age?"
Emotional Interweaves — Access or validate blocked emotions
Use when emotions are blocked, minimized, or client is intellectualizing:
"What would you want to say to them if you could?"
"If your body could speak right now, what would it say?"
"It makes sense you would feel that way."
"Any child in that situation would feel [emotion]."
"It's okay to feel angry about what happened."
"What would it be like to let yourself feel that?"
Somatic Interweaves — Release body-held trauma
Use when body sensations persist or defensive responses are stuck:
"What does your body want to do right now?"
"If your hands/feet could move freely, what would they do?"
"Push against my hands" (for fight response)
"Imagine your legs running you to safety" (for flight)
"Feel your feet on the floor right now."
"Notice where your body feels calm or neutral."
Attachment, Parts & Unmet Needs — Repair developmental wounds
Use when attachment wounds, younger parts, or unmet needs block processing:
"What does that younger part of you need to hear?"
"Can your adult self go comfort that child?"
"What is this part trying to protect you from?"
"Can you thank this part for trying to keep you safe?"
"What did you need then that you didn't get?"
"Imagine receiving what you needed from a safe figure."
"Imagine a nurturing figure providing what was missing."
"What would it feel like to receive that care now?"
Quick Checklist
- 1 Remind client of safety & stop signal
- 2 Activate target (image + NC + emotions + body)
- 3 Begin BLS (24-36 passes)
- 4 "What do you notice?" after each set
- 5 "Go with that" — continue
- 6 Return to target when needed
- 7 Check SUD when client reports calm
- 8 Continue until SUD = 0 or ecological
When to Move to Phase 5
Continue Phase 4 until:
- ✓ SUD = 0, or
- ✓ SUD is ecological (as low as realistic)
Clinical Notes
- • Trust the process — avoid leading
- • Incomplete sessions need Phase 7 closure
- • High abreaction not always necessary
- • Watch for looping or blocking patterns
- • Use interweaves sparingly
- • Document channel changes during processing