The three-pronged protocol
EMDR treatment planning follows Shapiro's three-pronged protocol: past (touchstone and feeder memories), present (current triggers), and future (adaptive future templates). Every symptom cluster is worked through all three prongs before it's considered resolved.
Reviewed by the EMDR Assist Clinical Team, EMDR-trained clinicians.
Educational reference material for EMDR-trained clinicians. It does not replace EMDRIA-approved Basic Training, consultation, supervision, or clinical judgement, and it is not medical advice.
Building a target sequence
- Cluster presenting concerns by shared negative cognition.
- Use floatback / affect bridge to identify the touchstone for each cluster.
- Order clusters by clinical urgency and stability of the client.
- Within each cluster: touchstone → worst → most recent → present trigger → future template.
Common mistakes
- Starting with the "worst" memory before checking for a touchstone.
- Not screening for dissociation before Phase 4.
- Skipping the future template — the piece that generalizes gains.
- Losing the plan between sessions because it lives in scattered notes.
The EMDR Assist treatment plan editor
Our target sequence editor lets you drag targets between past/present/future prongs, cluster by NC, and visualize touchstone networks — plus AI-drafted case conceptualization for brainstorming.
Frequently asked questions
What is EMDR treatment planning?
The clinical process of organizing target memories into a sequenced plan using Shapiro's three-pronged protocol (past, present, future), typically anchored by cluster negative cognitions and touchstone memories.
What is the three-pronged EMDR protocol?
The three prongs are: past (touchstone and feeder memories), present (current triggers), and future (adaptive future templates). Every symptom cluster is worked through all three.
How do I sequence EMDR targets?
Most clinicians cluster targets by shared negative cognition, identify the touchstone via floatback, then within each cluster process touchstone → worst → most recent → present trigger → future template.
Is there software for EMDR treatment planning?
Yes — EMDR Assist's target sequence editor supports three-pronged planning, cluster mapping, touchstone network visualization, and AI-drafted case conceptualization.
Related tools for EMDR therapists
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