Mastering Moment-to-Moment Tracking in AEDP
In the realm of Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), the practice of moment-to-moment tracking stands as a cornerstone for facilitating deep expression and transformation. Imagine yourself as a finely tuned musical conductor, guiding a symphony of subtle emotional cues and expressions to create a harmonious therapeutic experience. This metaphor captures the essence of moment-to-moment tracking in AEDP—where every micro-expression, tone shift, and bodily gesture is a note contributing to the symphony of human expression.
The Essence of Moment-to-Moment Tracking
Moment-to-moment tracking in AEDP involves the therapist's mindful and compassionate observation of both the client's and their own emotional states. This practice relies on recognizing and responding to subtle changes in facial expressions, body movements, posture, tone of voice, gaze direction, and breathing rhythms (Hanakawa, 2021). It is through this attentive presence that therapists can attune to their clients, fostering a secure and transformative therapeutic relationship.
The Four Channels of Tracking
1. Client-Focused Tracking:
Client-focused tracking draws from extensive research on emotion recognition, such as Paul Ekman's work on facial expressions. By meticulously observing the client's nonverbal cues—like the tension in their shoulders, the brightness in their eyes, or the strain in their voice—therapists can discern underlying emotional states. This allows for timely and attuned interventions that resonate deeply with the client's experience (Hanakawa, 2021)
2. Therapist-Focused Tracking:
Therapist-focused tracking is grounded in the concept of "simulation theory," where therapists use their own interoceptive and empathic experiences to understand their clients' emotions. For example, when a client expresses anger, a therapist might feel a corresponding heat in their own body, guiding them to recognize and address the client's anger effectively (Hanakawa, 2021)
3. Relational Tracking:
Relational tracking emphasizes the dynamic interplay between therapist and client. It involves monitoring the relational "we," assessing the levels of safety, trust, and connection within the dyad. Subtle cues like a client leaning in or withdrawing can indicate shifts in relational dynamics, informing the therapist's next steps to maintain or restore attunement (Hanakawa, 2021)
4. Integrative Tracking:
Integrative tracking synthesizes multimodal cues from both client and therapist to make informed therapeutic decisions. It involves weighing and prioritizing different channels of experience—emotional expressions, bodily sensations, and relational signals—to guide interventions that align with the client's current state and therapeutic goals (Hanakawa, 2021).
The Transformational Power of Tracking
In AEDP, tracking is not merely an observational tool; it is a conduit for transformation. By attuning to the client's core affects and tracking their emotional and relational shifts, therapists can facilitate profound emotional processing. This process often involves navigating through defenses and inhibitory affects to reach and process core emotions, leading to transformative experiences.
For instance, consider a client who, while discussing a difficult memory, shows a fleeting microexpression of sadness before quickly smiling. A skilled AEDP therapist might gently bring attention to this sadness, allowing the client to explore and process the underlying emotion. This moment of recognition and attunement can unlock deeper emotional healing and foster a stronger therapeutic bond (Hanakawa, 2021)
Practical Application: A Clinical Vignette
Let's explore a practical application of moment-to-moment tracking through a clinical vignette:
Client: "I've been feeling so anxious about work lately." (Client's voice trembles, eyes dart to the floor.)
Therapist: "I can hear the anxiety in your voice, and I see your eyes looking away. What's happening inside as you talk about work?" (Therapist uses integrative tracking to acknowledge both verbal and nonverbal cues.)
Client: "It's just overwhelming. I don't even know where to start." (Client's shoulders tense, and they take a shallow breath.)
Therapist: "I notice your shoulders tensing up and your breath getting shallow. It sounds like there's a lot of pressure." (Therapist focuses on client-focused tracking to validate the client's embodied experience.)
Client: "Yes, it's like I'm carrying this heavy weight all the time." (Client's voice softens, eyes well up with tears.)
Therapist: "Can we stay with that feeling of carrying a heavy weight for a moment? What happens as you allow yourself to really feel it?" (Therapist invites deeper exploration of the core affect, using therapist-focused tracking to stay attuned to their own empathic resonance.)
Through this process, the therapist uses moment-to-moment tracking to guide the client from a state of anxiety and defense into a deeper, more transformative exploration of their core emotions. This not only alleviates the client's immediate distress but also fosters a sense of being deeply seen and understood, enhancing the therapeutic alliance.
Enhancing Tracking Skills: Deliberate Practice
Developing proficiency in moment-to-moment tracking requires deliberate practice and reflection. AEDP therapists often use video recordings of sessions to review and analyze their tracking skills. This process helps them identify subtle cues they might have missed in the moment and refine their ability to attune to clients' nuanced emotional landscapes (Hanakawa, 2021).
Moment-to-moment tracking in AEDP is an art form worth learning, regardless of therapy style. It transforms the therapeutic encounter and moves the work from a past orientation to an alive and present focus. By mastering this practice, therapists are better equipped to work experientially and mindfully, explicitly attending to what’s unsaid. Your client’s will feel seen and understood, at an entirely new level.
———
Michael Mondoro is a Certified AEDP Therapist in NYC, a Certified AEDP Institute Training Supervisor, and an Integrative Trauma Therapy Specialist, utilizing AEDP, EMDR, IFS and somatic therapies. He serves as a as a teacher and clinical trainer for therapists nationwide and a licensed individual therapist in Connecticut and New York State helping individuals with complex experiences.
