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The future template is Phase 8 — the final piece of Shapiro’s three-pronged protocol. Past targets are reprocessed, present triggers are desensitized, and then the client rehearses an anticipated future situation, holding the positive cognition and the adaptive behavior, with BLS reinforcing the rehearsal. This template captures the situation, the adaptive behavior, the positive cognition, and the pre/post VOC of the installation.

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What the template covers

Two sections:
SectionWhat you capture
Anticipated future situationSituation description, adaptive behavior, positive cognition
InstallationVOC before, BLS sets, VOC after, any-disturbance flag, notes

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When to use it

Phase 8 is typically the final phase of EMDR treatment for a given target or theme. Use the future template when:
  • Past targets are reprocessed. Phase 4 was completed for the contributing past memories.
  • Present triggers are desensitized. Day-to-day reactivity has settled.
  • The client has an anticipated situation where the issue might arise — a public-speaking event, a family gathering, a return to a place that’s been avoided.
The future template rehearses the desired adaptive response in advance, so the client has installed a behavioral plan before the situation arrives.

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How to launch it

In the EMDR Workspace or from the templates picker, search “future template.” Fill the worksheet in order — situation, behavior, positive cognition, then the installation log. The BLS itself runs in the EMDR Workspace.

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Field-by-field

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Anticipated future situation

  • Situation description — large text field. Specific, concrete, near-future. “Going to my sister’s wedding next month and seeing my ex.” Not “any situation where I might feel anxious.”
  • Adaptive behavior — large text field. How the client wants to respond. Behavior, not feeling. “Stay at the wedding, keep conversations short with my ex, sit at my sister’s table.” The behavior is the rehearsal target.
  • Positive cognition — short string. The PC to install with the rehearsal. Same form as Phase 5 PC — “I can handle this,” “I am capable,” “I have choices.”

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Installation

  • VOC before — slider 1–7. Validity-of-cognition rating before the rehearsal sets begin. Sets a baseline.
  • BLS sets completed — integer. Cumulative sets across the installation. Short slow sets, same pacing as Phase 5 installation work.
  • VOC after — slider 1–7. Validity-of-cognition rating after the installation. The change is the outcome.
  • Any disturbance — boolean. Did disturbance surface during the rehearsal? If yes, you’ve found a new target.
  • Notes — large text field, optional.

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Reading the installation

  • VOC moves to 7 — the future template is installed. Treatment for this theme can wind down.
  • VOC stays below 7 — additional past targets or present triggers may need work first. The future rehearsal isn’t holding because the earlier prongs aren’t fully clear.
  • Disturbance surfaces during rehearsal — a new target. Return to Phase 3 with the material that surfaced. The future template work pauses until the new target is processed.
The third pattern — disturbance surfacing — is common and often useful. The rehearsal is a controlled exposure; if it surfaces material the prior work missed, that material is now visible and processable.

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How this fits with the body scan

Body scan (Phase 6) is per-target — you scan after each desensitized memory. Future template (Phase 8) is per-theme — you rehearse the anticipated future after the contributing targets are all processed. A complete arc on one theme looks like:
  1. Phase 3 target identification (target memory, NC, PC, VOC, SUDS, body)
  2. Phase 4 desensitization (BLS to SUDS = 0)
  3. Phase 5 installation (BLS to VOC ≥ 7)
  4. Phase 6 body scan (this template’s sibling)
  5. Phase 7 closure (calm place or container)
  6. Phase 8 reevaluation + future template (this template)
Future template is the last step. When the VOC at after-installation is 7 and no disturbance surfaced, the theme is complete.

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Citation

  • Shapiro, F. (2001, 2018). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures. Guilford Press. Phase 8 future template procedure documented in the 2nd and 3rd editions of the canonical text.
The protocol is published clinical method. Rivet’s field labels are original.

Body scan

Phase 6 — the prerequisite step before the future template arc begins.

The EMDR Workspace

Where the installation BLS sets run.