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An online book for EMDR clinicians

Metaphors That Open Doors

An Event-Based Guide to EMDR Cognitive Interweaves

Alex Linderman · A book in development

Keep the person ahead of the words.

This evolving guide brings together illustrative metaphors and brief alternative prompts, organized around experiences and clinical themes. The aim is to support thoughtful clinician reflection, not to supply a script that every client should follow.

One chapter is currently available as a working draft. The remaining 28 entries below are the planned structure of the book, not completed chapters.

Read Chapter 14: Betrayal and Relationship Trauma

18 metaphors ·90 alternative prompts · Context and mismatch cautions · References

Book contents

Part I

Before You Open the Door

  1. Why Words MatterPlanned · Not yet written
  2. Recognizing When Help Is NeededPlanned · Not yet written
  3. Four Themes to Listen ForPlanned · Not yet written
  4. Finding the Meaning Beneath the EventPlanned · Not yet written
  5. Making It Sound HumanPlanned · Not yet written
  6. Choosing a Metaphor Without Forcing ItPlanned · Not yet written

Part II

Metaphors and Interweaves by Experience

  1. Pregnancy Loss, Stillbirth, and Newborn DeathPlanned · Not yet written
  2. Sudden Death and Traumatic BereavementPlanned · Not yet written
  3. Loss Following Suicide or OverdosePlanned · Not yet written
  4. Childhood Neglect and Emotional AbusePlanned · Not yet written
  5. Childhood Physical and Sexual AbusePlanned · Not yet written
  6. Sexual Assault and CoercionPlanned · Not yet written
  7. Domestic Violence and Coercive ControlPlanned · Not yet written
  8. Betrayal and Relationship TraumaRead the working draft →
  9. Car Accidents, Disasters, and Sudden InjuryPlanned · Not yet written
  10. Medical Trauma and Difficult Birth ExperiencesPlanned · Not yet written
  11. Serious Illness, Disability, and Changes to the BodyPlanned · Not yet written
  12. Bullying, Humiliation, and Social RejectionPlanned · Not yet written
  13. Discrimination and Identity-Based HarmPlanned · Not yet written
  14. Occupational Trauma and Moral InjuryPlanned · Not yet written
  15. Witnessing Harm and Being Unable to IntervenePlanned · Not yet written

Part III

Keeping the Person Ahead of the Words

  1. Adapting to Age and Communication StylePlanned · Not yet written
  2. Culture, Faith, and Personal MeaningPlanned · Not yet written
  3. When the Metaphor MissesPlanned · Not yet written
  4. Complex Presentations and the Limits of This GuidePlanned · Not yet written
  5. From Script to Clinical ConversationPlanned · Not yet written

Part IV

The Clinician’s Quick-Reference Toolkit

  1. Finding an Entry by Event and ThemePlanned · Not yet written
  2. Building Your Own Metaphors and InterweavesPlanned · Not yet written
  3. A Brief Before-You-Speak ChecklistPlanned · Not yet written