Introduction

What is integral and distinguishable about the fairy tale method is its application of imagination and creativity. Through the creation of their own fairy tale, clients can create their own world that may reflect a familiar day-to-day one or a world that is not visible but is captured in their imagination. It is through imagination that they get glimpses to meaning that is hidden from them in their ordinary world but visible in the depths of their fairy tale world.

The fairy tale method (FTMD) is adaptable to EMD and the standard protocol. It facilitates the client through a scripted process under the direction of their EMDR therapist to create their own fairy tale story, beginning with Phase 1: History to Phase 8: Evaluation.

The fairy tale method would be beneficial to most clients including:

• Creative clients
• Clients who have difficulty fusing to their story.
• Clients struggling with the intensity of their trauma memories.
• Clients who are storytellers themselves.
• Clients whose culture is steeped in storytelling.

• Why fairy tales are important to adults.
• Fairy tale literary and psychological elements.
• Fairy tale plot structure and its correlation to EMDR phases.
• Applying a scripted story boarding technique to prepare for processing.
• Installing fairy tale imaginal resources.
• Applying a distancing technique for the phase 3: assessment to phase 6: body scan.
• Fairy Tale Method and its relationship to EMDR (Phase 1-8).

• To understand why fairy tales, pique the interest of adults.
• To understand the fairy tale plot structure and how it correlates to EMDR phases.
• To apply a scripted storyboarding technique to enable clients to begin to create their own fairy tale that promotes emotional skill development and resources required for the processing phases.
• To apply a distancing technique to reduce the intensity of trauma processing.
• To understand the relationship between the fairy tale method and EMDR phases 1-8.

“Susan’s training was a beautiful way to incorporate creativity and storytelling into the EMDR process. It has provided me with a new skill set to support clients who are already storytellers themselves, or for clients who are struggling with the intensity of their traumatic memories. Susan is a very clear, wise, and organized presenter, and I learned a lot from her!”

~ Rosalyn Kieft, MSW, RSW

“I will highly recommend this training to others. It’s very informative, expands skills and creates a new way to help clients process their trauma and overcome struggles.”

~ Ksenia Kogan, LMHC

“This is a wonderful add-on strategy to have for your more creative clients or clients who have difficulty “fusing” to their story.”

~ Shelley Mountain-Collette MA(PC), LCT, CCC, CCTP-II

“Interesting concept that assists with resourcing and distancing with EMDR.”

~ Nancy McCaskill, MSW, RSW

“This technique is an innovative addition to any EMDR therapist’s toolbox.”

~ Dr. Manju Mathew Psychologist, PhD, MPhil, MA, BA, RPsych

“Pairing this kind of storytelling with EMDR is an imaginative approach.”

~ Jeremy Tomlinson, MEd, RMFT, RSW, EMDRIA Certified Therapist

“I highly recommend this training! Susan is a brilliant and passionate course developer. The course was comprehensive in both theory and practice, providing an alternative to navigate a more creative process to help clients become unstuck.

I have had the pleasure of doing this training and my client enjoyed the process and reported a significant shift in their healing journey.”
Heather Toews, RCC, RSW

“I really enjoyed how the use of story structure and metaphor created a natural distancing from traumatic events, while still maintaining the goals, structure, and processes of the EMDR phases.”
Shawnda Johnston, MA, RCC

Susan Doiron is a Certified Counsellor and EMDR Therapist in Abbotsford, British Columbia Canada.  She is passionate about helping clients cultivate more presence and resiliency in their lives, while accessing their innate wisdom and capacity for growth and healing.

As an EMDR therapist, Susan deeply appreciates the power and efficiency of EMDR. In addition to her clinical work, she is also an author of fairy tales. The fairy tale method she developed uses the symbolic richness of storytelling to enhance EMDR therapy, offering clients a powerful and imaginative path to healing.

Susan is passionate about teaching other EMDR Therapists about the Fairy Tale Method given the success she has had with using this creative approach to EMDR in her private practice. The Fairy Tale Method Training for EMDR Therapists is in a distance learning self paced learning format with 3.5 EMDRIA CEs.

She has a Master of Education in Counselling with experience in the field since 2004. She is a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, a Certified EMDR Therapist and an Approved EMDRIA Credit Provider in private practice.

Susan’s psychotherapy experiences include treating depression and anxiety, trauma and recovery, grief counselling, stress reduction, life transitions and she has worked with adults, children, and youth. She currently works with adults exclusively.

Her introduction to the field of trauma therapy began while working with survivors of sexual assault and historic sexual abuse. She currently works with police, veterans, health care professionals, educators, as well as victims of crime, childhood trauma and creative types.

I am available for follow up consultation on the Fairy Tale Method.  As an EMDRIA Approved Consultant-in-Training, I also offer consultation for EMDR Certification.