I felt like during basic EMDR training the concept of interweaves was this mysterious-we-can’t-talk-about-it-here-bring-it-up-in-consultation topic. It was pitched as something potentially complicated and additional training would 1000% be needed for it. Spoiler alert: interweaves are not necessarily like that. (As always, if you would love to do a training on interweaves, do it!)

Interweaves can be just about any other intervention from another therapy modality or a cleverly placed question at the right time especially during Phase 4 reprocessing. Interweaves can be used when processing becomes blocked or stuck. This is commonly referred to as “looping.”

Why use an interweave?
There are many reasons why a clinician might use an interweave. First, an interweave may be introduced if the client becomes stuck in reprocessing (i.e., looping). For example, if a client is reprocessing an abusive situation from childhood and isn’t reporting any changes in the body or additional images, an interweave for this may sound like, “Can you imagine a situation in which this would not be your fault? Go with that.”

A second interweave that can be introduced is by changing the BLS. This can look like changing the intensity and speed of the taps or eye movements. This can also look like changing the length of the BLS sets.

Third, an interweave may be introduced if there is a lack of information or knowledge. This can look like introducing psycho-education to the client to hopefully promote a shift in the reprocessing. For example, when reprocessing a freeze response during an assault, the clinician may say, “When our body and brain detect that we are in danger, we may respond in 4 ways: flight, fight, freeze, or fawn. Freezing is our body recognizing that other options are not safe. Go with that.”

Fourth, lack of generalizing can be addressed through an interweave. This may come up when the client cannot connect to the adult perspective. One of my favorite approaches to help with this includes asking the client, “How old were you during the memory? *wait for response* How old are you now? Go with that.” This sometimes helps create space for the child part and adult part.

A final way in which an interweave may be introduced includes when the session is running down on time. This may look like, “What is a positive thing you may take away from today? Go with that.”

The biggest thing to remember with interweaves is to always know your WHY behind doing it. Ask yourself, “What is coming up in the reprocessing that may necessitate an interweave?” or “Would this be helpful to the client’s reprocessing?”

But wait! What if the interweave doesn’t work?!
Don’t sweat it! Now you know that’s not the direction that processing needs to go. Go with that!

Favorite Interweaves
Some interweaves that I’ve learned from consultation and different trainings (check out Michelle Morrisey’s website for future trainings, her book, and this podcast episode too!) include the following:

“If it feels safe, imagine Younger You with you right now with your adult self. Is there something Adult You can offer or provide to Younger You at this moment?”

“Watch the memory play out like a movie or on a screen. Notice what comes up.”

“What do you notice in your body right now?”

“What emotions are coming up for you at this moment?”

“Allow your mind to float back to a time where you might have felt that way before.”

TL;DR
–Interweaves can be a question, psycho-education, imagery, concepts from other therapy modalities, questions, or changes to the BLS to help the client with their reprocessing.

–Interweaves can be used to help clients become unstuck, connect parts, or help promote a deeper understanding and move closer to adaptive meaning making.

–Know WHY you are using an interweave.

–An interweave might not land with the client and that’s okay! Go with that!

If you are curious to learn more about EMDR or are interested in beginning your EMDR therapy journey, please reach out to me via the Contact Me page on my website. You can also learn more about EMDR as well as additional EMDR therapists in your area by visiting the EMDR International Association’s website here.

Reminder: these blog posts are meant to be purely educational and/or entertainment tools and do NOT replace psychotherapy and/or other medically necessary treatments.