EMDR Case Conceptualisation Worksheet (Free PDF)
A one-page EMDR case conceptualisation worksheet to organise what you know about a client — AIP formulation, NC cluster, three-pronged map, risk factors and readiness — before you build the Target Sequence Plan.
Free PDF for EMDR clinicians. Get it by email.
What the case conceptualisation worksheet covers
A clinician working document for EMDR case conceptualisation in the AIP (Adaptive Information Processing) tradition. The worksheet organises what you know about a client into a single readable page: the presenting issue, the working AIP formulation, the dominant negative cognition cluster, the three-pronged map (past / present / future), the strengths and resources available for Phase 2, the risk factors and complexity considerations, treatment goals with measurable success criteria, and the readiness checklist before reprocessing begins.
It is the companion document to the Target Sequence Plan template — case conceptualisation answers why these targets; the TSP answers in what order.
Who it's for
EMDR-trained clinicians at any stage of practice. Particularly useful for clinicians in their first 100 cases who want to externalise their formulation before Phase 3, for clinicians preparing a case for EMDRIA consultation or certification, and for consultants who want a standardised one-page summary from supervisees. The worksheet is a clinician working document — it is not a client-facing form.
How to use the worksheet
1. Complete the snapshot and presenting-issue fields from intake.
2. Draft the AIP formulation in 3–5 sentences: what adverse experiences installed which beliefs, and how those beliefs maintain current symptoms.
3. Identify the dominant NC cluster (responsibility, safety, choice/control) using the Negative & Positive Cognition Cluster Handout. Most clients have more than one cluster; pick the one most closely tied to the presenting issue and build the first TSP around it.
4. Populate the three-pronged map. The past column should include the touchstone (identified via the float-back from the Float-back & Affect Bridge Worksheet), feeder memories, and the worst memory. Present triggers should link to past targets where possible.
5. Document strengths and resources, then risk factors. The risk checklist reflects common standard-of-care expectations.
6. Write treatment goals with measurable success criteria using the Outcome Measures Tracker to baseline PCL-5, PHQ-9, GAD-7 and DES-II as indicated.
7. Confirm the readiness checklist before booking the first Phase 3 session.
Why case conceptualisation matters
EMDR without case conceptualisation often becomes target-chasing — reprocessing whatever the client brings each week without a coherent treatment arc. Case conceptualisation is what makes EMDR a treatment plan rather than a series of sessions. A clear formulation tells you which cluster to work with first, which targets generalise across the cluster, when to expect resistance, and how to recognise good-enough Phase 8 reevaluation.
It is also what makes EMDR defensible in consultation, documentation, and insurance review. A one-page conceptualisation answers the medical-necessity question in a single read.
What's inside the PDF
- Client snapshot (initials, age, intake date, presenting issue)
- AIP working formulation (4-line block)
- Negative cognition cluster identification (3 clusters with prompts)
- Three-pronged map: past targets, present triggers, future templates
- Resources, protective factors and strengths
- Risk, complexity and contraindication checklist
- Treatment goals with measurable success criteria
- Phase plan and pacing (estimated sessions, BLS modality, outcome cadence)
- Readiness-to-reprocess checklist (6 items)
- Consultation question prompt
Common case-conceptualisation mistakes
Mistake 1: skipping the AIP formulation. Without a written formulation, the treatment plan becomes a list of memories with no organising principle. Three sentences is enough — but write them.
Mistake 2: mixing clusters. Each conceptualisation should focus on one NC cluster at a time. A second cluster gets a second conceptualisation later. See the Target Sequence Plan template for the same principle applied to the TSP.
Mistake 3: under-weighting dissociation. Always screen with the DES-II before formulating. A client with a DES-T elevation needs a phase-oriented conceptualisation, not the standard one.
Mistake 4: no measurable goals. 'Reduce trauma symptoms' is not a goal. 'PCL-5 below 33 by session 16' is. Use the Outcome Measures Tracker to make the goals legible.
Mistake 5: moving to Phase 3 with the readiness checklist unconfirmed. A working calm place, a usable container, a known stop signal, and a baselined outcome measure are not optional — they are the floor.
Related on the EMDR guide
Frequently asked questions
Is case conceptualisation required for EMDR?
It's part of good EMDR practice, and many third-party payers expect it. Every EMDR client should have a written conceptualisation that justifies the treatment plan.
How long should the conceptualisation be?
One page. If it doesn't fit on one page, the formulation is probably too broad — narrow to a single NC cluster and write a second conceptualisation later.
Can the client see this?
It's a clinician working document, but many clinicians share the AIP formulation and three-pronged map collaboratively. The risk and consultation sections are typically clinician-only.
When should I update it?
Revisit every 4–6 sessions, after any significant new disclosure, and at the close of each chapter of reprocessing before opening a new cluster.
References
- Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
- Leeds, A. M. (2016). A Guide to the Standard EMDR Therapy Protocols for Clinicians, Supervisors, and Consultants (2nd ed.). Springer.
- Hase, M., Balmaceda, U. M., Ostacoli, L., Liebermann, P., & Hofmann, A. (2017). The AIP model of EMDR therapy and pathogenic memories. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1578.
- Knipe, J. (2015). EMDR Toolbox: Theory and Treatment of Complex PTSD and Dissociation. Springer.
- International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (2011). Guidelines for treating dissociative identity disorder in adults, third revision. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 12(2), 115–187.