Masterclass: Enhancing trauma treatment and recent developments 

€59,00

Date: November 16, 2026

Time: 7:30–9:30 PM CET

Location: Online

Information

Masterclass: Enhancing trauma treatment and recent developments 

Trauma-focused treatments for PTSD are among the best-validated interventions in mental health care, with recent network meta-analyses confirming strong effects for EMDR and CPT. Yet there is no reason to sit back: PTSD remains highly prevalent, comorbidity with depression and substance use is common, dropout averages 18%, and 30–50% of patients retain residual symptoms after treatment. There is plenty of room for improvement.

This presentation explores five roads to enhancing trauma treatment. First, mechanisms: insights from working memory and reconsolidation theory show that memory activation and maximal working memory taxation, rather than bilateral stimulation per se, drive EMDR's effects, culminating in EMDR 2.0. Second, type of treatment: comparative evidence and the potential of combining therapies, including integrating exposure techniques and expectancy violation within EMDR. Third, intensity: intensive (outpatient) trauma treatment programs delivering multiple daily sessions over consecutive days. Fourth, shape: emerging formats such as virtual reality and AI. Fifth, exploring new pathways: a novel trauma treatment technique showing promising first results in a recent RCT. Progress requires the willingness to let go of old ideas.

What to expect:

• An up-to-date overview of the evidence base for trauma-focused treatments
• Insights into the working mechanisms of EMDR: memory activation and working memory taxation, and how to use them to maximize effect (EMDR 2.0)
• How to integrate exposure techniques and expectancy violation within EMDR
• The potential of intensive (outpatient) trauma treatment programs
• A look ahead: virtual reality, AI, and a novel trauma treatment technique with promising first results

Learning objectives.

After this masterclass, participants will be able to:

• Describe the current evidence base and remaining challenges in PTSD treatment
• Explain the role of memory activation and working memory taxation in EMDR
• Apply strategies to increase working memory load to optimize treatment effect
• Integrate exposure-based techniques within EMDR therapy
• Recognize new pathways to enhance treatment, including intensity, delivery format, and novel techniques

After the masterclass, you will have access to the recording for 3 months, ideal for revisiting the content or catching up if you were unable to attend live. The recording includes subtitles in English and Dutch.

You can find more information about refunds here.

Accreditation: None

Certificate: Yes

Presenter:

Suzy Matthijssen PhD. is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist. She is Director of the PSYTREC Academy (Research and Training Department) and Director of the Enhancing Trauma Treatment Institute. She is a CBT Supervisor & Trainer as well as an EMDR Europe Supervisor & EMDR Europe Trainer. Suzy obtained her PhD on innovations in trauma treatment and has extensive experience providing training in EMDR 2.0, (intensive) PTSD treatments, and anxiety disorders. She conducts research and publishes on advances in the treatment of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and trauma-related disorders. Suzy is in the board of the Dutch EMDR association, is a former member of the scientific committee of EMDR Europe, and is the former co-chair of the Council of Scholars; the Future of EMDR project.