New Considerations

This chapter explores the dimensions of ethical treatment of complex trauma and dissociation with EMDR therapy, situating it within a framework guided by the standard of care. Historical and contemporary tensions in the field related to ethical and effective treatment of this population are discussed alongside associated literatureand treatment and practice guidelines. This chapter proposes grounding EMDR therapy within a robust, multilayered theoretical framework that honors the complexity of dissociative experiences. Comprehensive treatment of persons with dissociative disorders is unavoidably integrative and requires dynamic conceptualization skills. A discussion of the scope of treatment - symptom-reduction or issue-focused, in contrast to comprehensive treatment - sets the stage for a more nuanced approach to EMDR therapy.