EMDR in the treatment of Pain and Persistent Physical Symptoms (PPS) with Mark Grant MA, Clinical Psychologist

Description

Over 100 years ago medically unexplained symptoms (or Hysteria) stimulated the development of modern psychology. It’s now well known that persistent physical symptoms (PPS) can be a product of simple trauma, ACEs and/or attachment betrayal, even if the patient is also suffering from a diagnosable injury or illness.

Chronic pain and PPS represent both a problem and a symptom. Pain/PPS has to be regulated, a challenging but essential therapeutic aim. Combining EMDR with Hypnosis is a powerful way to do this. Once the patient has adequate regulation skills, the traumatic memories that maintain their pain (including unconscious learned bodily responses) can be reprocessing, leading to improved mind-body communication at the deepest levels of the nervous system.

Given its efficacy with PTSD, and growing research regarding its application to pain, EMDR offers a promising approach. However, the visceral nature of pain, co-morbid health problems and dissociative processes demand significant enhancements to the original trauma protocol, together with an integrated approach. It will also be shown that chronic pain/PPS always involves a dissociative component (not necessarily structural) and that working with dissociative phenomena through EMDR and/or ego state therapy is a vital third rung of treatment.

*Mark will be presenting Live from Australia*

In this 13.5 hour workshop (90 minute pre-recorded session plus 4 x 3 hour. live sessions) you will learn how to apply EMDR to the treatment of chronic pain and PPS in a trauma-informed, integrative client-centred way. This workshop will provide process-driven practical, experiential tools, grounded in AIP theory. This material will be illustrated through case-histories, videos, demonstrations and experiential activities.

Dates:

This workshop is suitable for clinicians who have at least a basic training in EMDR.

 Key Learning Outcomes

Part 1 - Tuesday 8th September 2026

1. Understand the historical recognition of pain/PPS as a symptom of trauma over the last 100 years and implications for treatment

2. Formulate a trauma-informed case conceptualization for pain/PPS patients

3. Learn 3 key treatment elements of an integrated approach with EMDR

4. Learn how to assess whether patient is ready for EMDR

5. Recognize and address dissociative phenomena associated with pain/PPS

Part 2 - Tuesday 22nd September 2026

6. Learn 10 ways in which EMDR treatment of pain differs from EMDR treatment of trauma

7. Identify different EMDR target possibilities when treating pain/PPS

8. Learn 12 resourcing strategies for patients with pain/PPS

9. Learn how and when to transition between EMDR and other therapeutic interventions

Part 3 - Tuesday 6th October 2026

10. Learn 4 key ego states typically present in pain/PPS patients

11. Learn how to recognize ego states in the body

12. Learn how to integrate ego states to improve healing

13. Learn how to develop and energize future templates for pain/PPS

Part 4 - Tuesday 20th October 2026

14. Recognize role of hypnotic phenomena in EMDR treatment of chronic pain/PPS.

15. Learn how to address blockages in EMDR processing

16. Learn adjunctive strategies and tips for managing treatment resistant pain

Mark Grant (MA) is an Australian clinical psychologist with 30 years’ experience treating out-patients of multi-disciplinary medical practices presenting with a wide variety of physical and mental health complaints. Mark was an early adopter of EMDR as an efficient method for catalyzing the healing resources of the human nervous system, but soon recognized that the frequency with which chronic pain was associated with complex trauma demanded a more comprehensive approach. This led him to integrate EMDR with somatic approaches and hypnosis (including ego state work). He has authored several research papers, a treatment manual (‘Pain Control with EMDR’) a self-help book (‘Beyond Pain’ (due mid 2026)) and the ‘Healing Trauma’ app series. The latter were the subject of the first RCT regarding apps based on EMDR. He is often invited to speak at conferences and seminars and has worked in global crises points such as Ukraine and Israel. He was the chair of the EMDR Association of Australia from 2000 – 2008. He is a member of the ISTSS and the Australian Society of Hypnosis. He maintains an active private practice in Melbourne Australia.

The webinar fee includes handouts, CPD certificates and access to each recording (x4) of the webinar for 3 months after the event.

If for any reason you miss one of the 4 live sessions you will be able to catch up on video recording before the next live session.

EMDR UK Association - 12 CPD Points Awarded

For further information please contact info@emdrconsultancy.com