EMDR Treatment Plan Templates for Therapists

Why Templates Matter in EMDR

EMDR treatment planning is detailed work. Each client needs a unique target sequence plan, resource inventory, and session-by-session tracking. Without templates, therapists either spend excessive time on documentation or, worse, skip the structured planning that makes EMDR effective.

Good templates don't replace clinical judgment. They give it structure. A template ensures you don't forget to assess VOC on the positive cognition, don't skip the body scan in Phase 6, and have a clear record of where processing left off between sessions.

Phase 1: History and Treatment Planning Template

The foundation of EMDR treatment. Your Phase 1 template should capture:

• Presenting issues — current symptoms, triggers, frequency, severity
• Trauma history — chronological timeline of adverse experiences
• Current stability — affect tolerance, dissociative features, substance use, support system
• Readiness indicators — ability to self-soothe, containment capacity, therapeutic alliance strength
• Treatment goals — specific, measurable outcomes with timelines

Phase 2: Preparation and Resourcing Template

Before any processing begins, document the client's stabilization resources:

• Safe/calm place — image, sensory details, cue word, effectiveness rating
• Container exercise — visualization for storing disturbing material between sessions
• Grounding techniques — 5-4-3-2-1 sensory grounding, butterfly hug, breathing exercises
• Affect bridge capacity — ability to tolerate distress during processing

Target Sequence Plan Template

The target sequence plan is the roadmap for processing. For each target, document:

Field	Description	Example
Target image	The worst part of the memory	"The moment the car hit"
Negative cognition	Irrational belief about self	"I am helpless"
Positive cognition	Desired belief about self	"I can handle what comes"
VOC (1-7)	How true the PC feels now	2
Emotions	What comes up with the image + NC	Fear, shame
SUDS (0-10)	Current distress level	8
Body location	Where distress is felt physically	Chest tightness, stomach
Prong	Past, present, or future	Past

Targets are organized using the three-pronged approach: past memories (the original events), present triggers (current situations that activate the memory network), and future templates (imagined future scenarios where adaptive behavior is needed).

Session Log Template

For each processing session, track:

• Target processed (which target from the sequence plan)
• SUDS at start, after each set of BLS, and at end
• VOC at start and end (for positive cognition installation)
• Channels of association (where the processing goes)
• Blocking beliefs encountered
• Cognitive interweaves used (if any)
• Body scan result (Phase 6)
• Closure method used
• Between-session instructions given

BLS Configuration Templates

Beyond treatment plan documentation, you can save and share your BLS settings as reusable templates. Common configurations therapists save:

• Standard Processing — horizontal, speed 5, calm atmosphere
• Resource Installation — horizontal, speed 3, nature atmosphere (slower for safe place)
• Child-Friendly — figure-8, speed 4, cosmic atmosphere
• High-Activation Clients — horizontal, speed 3, calm atmosphere (slower, grounding)
• Telehealth Default — horizontal, speed 5, calm atmosphere, audio enabled

Save and share your EMDR configurations — CoralEHR's BLS tool lets you save per-client presets and share them with your consultation group via a link. Free, no signup. Open EMDR Tool →