The Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol (R-TEP): Offering Relief and Stability When Recent Trauma Hits

With so many people in the world experiencing natural and human-made disasters, community devastation and interpersonal violence, there is a critical need for early EMDR intervention following traumatic incidents. In 2008, EMDR R-TEP (Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol) was developed by Elan Shapiro and Brurit Laub to meet that need. This protocol is now used in disaster areas around the world for ongoing traumatic stress and for recent traumatic events large and small.

R-TEP is Not Only for Headline-Level Disasters  

The RTEP protocol is a powerful addition to every EMDR therapist's repertoire. R-TEP is specifically designed to meet the unique needs arising from recent traumatic events—which differ from those processing past traumas. R-TEP expands your ability to respond to clients blindsided by a recent trauma or caught in an overwhelming event as it unfolds in real time. 

R-TEP, used before the traumatic memory continues to strengthen, can reduce connections to past traumas and prevent traumatic memories from accumulating. R-TEP is also shown to enhance adaptive associations, resilience and other measures of 'post-traumatic growth.' 

R-TEP lets you titrate the client's experience with an emphasis on safety and containment to minimize the risk of further destabilization. You can help clients respond adaptively to their difficult situation, especially those that can be ongoing. And with R-TEP you have a clinical roadmap for helping them move through recent traumatic events based on their capacities and circumstances.

R-TEP's Innovations Are Effective for Recent Traumatic Episodes of All Kinds

The key difference between standard EMDR processing and R-TEP is focus. The three main R-TEP refinements are:

• The “traumatic episode” is tightly defined in terms of images, sensations, feelings and thoughts directly related to the event itself. 
• Processing is limited exclusively to elements related to the traumatic episode with EMDr. This focused processing provides client stability and safety and prevents emotional overload.
• An EMD strategy is used to process the cognitive, visual, auditory, and other sensory intrusions. This alters disturbing images, sensations and thoughts.