Affect-Focused EMDR (AF-EMDR)

Developed by Ludwig Cornil and Olivier van Limbergen and presented at the EMDR UK (York 2023) and EMDR Europe (Bologna 2024) conferences, Affect-Focused EMDR (AF-EMDR) expands EMDR beyond single-incident trauma to reach diffuse, relational, and developmental wounds.

While traditional EMDR targets identifiable memories, AF-EMDR focuses on the emotion itself — bridging the gap between systemic and trauma-focused therapy. It enables therapists to access and reprocess core affect, such as loneliness, detachment, and low self-worth, especially where there are no clear traumatic memories.

What you’ll learn

• recognise affect as central to treating childhood and relational trauma
• learn strategies to access and process core emotional pain
• develop confidence in working with challenging affective states
• deepen trust in the therapeutic process

Workshop format

• Three days of theoretical input, video case studies, live demonstrations, and small-group practice.
• Topics include: The nature of relational trauma and emotional processing; Understanding and working with survival strategies; Techniques to reach and reprocess core affect.

Please get in touch with Mic to find out more about the workshop.