Flicking through the index after this book arrived from Amazon, seeing chapters about getting the basics of EMDR right from the start; planning and preparation; selecting the target memory for treatment; and managing the client's many and varied responses to processing, I began to feel excited that at last, I had discovered a textbook that would meet my needs as a reader and a therapist, and I'm delighted to say that I was right. Before too long, I was ploughing through the pages, making notes and finding useful and practical ideas that I could apply straight away to my practice (and I'm an EMDR practitioner, with about six or seven years experience of using EMDR). I think perhaps for the first time ever, I read a clinical textbook straight through, from cover to cover, including the Appendices, with their excellent sections detailing the Theoretical Background to the AIP Model (always good to have spelt out clearly again) and Client's Experiences of EMDR: In their Own Words.
The book is structured really well, written in a style that is easy to engage with and that walks you clearly and supportively through the eight phases of EMDR. Each chapter is liberally littered with boxed-off Case Examples, Common Pitfalls and Warnings ("Whatever You Do, Don't Do This ...") that allow the reader to take the formal guidance (that is an essential part of the text as it guides you in understanding the "How and Why of EMDR") and relate this to the context of the practicing EMDR therapist. It's a brilliant way of engaging the reader in the process of understanding this powerful therapeutic technique as well as ensuring that, as they integrate EMDR into their practice, the reader is more likely to "get it right" from the start. And if you, the EMDR therapist, can apply your learning more effectively and usefully for your clients as a result of the ideas this book offers, then clearly it is a win-win situation all round.
If you are looking to improve your practice and understanding of EMDR, this book offers you an incredibly rich resource that will continue to give and give with each visit to its pages. It is an expensive book, I know, but, even given its premium price, you get incredible value for money, as the learning you will take away from it will repay itself over and over again as you find you are a more effective EMDR therapist for your clients. Now that's worth investing in, isn't it?