Found this blog post by a CBT T who started learning EMDR.

Made me realise why my ex T felt helpless as a CBT therapist for me. I'd tell her things and she'd agree they were rational fears given my life experiences.

Source - https://gowiththat.wordpress.com/201...ike-arrogance/

At the center of the EMDR/CBT divide is a core difference in how trauma is conceptualized.*

For EMDR, trauma is stored as unprocessed and unintegrated memories.* The problem results from overwhelmingly negative events that have happened to the client.** Treatment focuses on helping the client reprocess those “stuck” memories in a more adaptive way.*

For CBT, traumatic experiences result in thought distortions.* The problem is how the client*thinks about*what has happened to him.* It focuses on exposures and correcting “incorrect” thoughts.*

EMDR therapists believe that trauma is stored deeply in the emotional brain, beneath thoughts and language.* Many EMDR therapists believe that CBT, with its focus on “distortions,” implicitly or explicitly blames clients for their resulting trauma symptoms.* Many EMDR therapists believe that the language and approach of CBT for trauma can be retraumatizing.

[Out There]

Thanks for that , that's interesting and refreshing. I do EMDR with an adjunct T and do very well with it , I admit to being quite a fan ( I'm on the second round of it ) and I'm supported by regular T. EMDR T is also trained in CBT and we use trauma focussed CBT and mindfulness as well. He describes the CBT part of Trauma Focussed CBT as if something triggers the trauma that this is " different " not the same and the person is safe now , rather than the " negative thinking " which is often pushed ( and would have me killing a T within 5 minutes and would be re-traumatising ). Here in the UK it's a big thing and the woeful NHS has its targets to see people in a certain time , give them " something " - even if its not the right thing and then " Well , you should be all better now - have a nice day ! ". l know some people do well with what I consider to be properly applied CBT where its accepted that things come from the past , not " Make a plan to get out of the house 3 times a week and you SHOULD feel different " You don't feel different ? - It's your fault - you've failed.