EMDR measurement guide
EMDR SUD and VOC scales: printable worksheet and tracker
Use a printable EMDR SUD and VOC worksheet to keep 0–10 disturbance and 1–7 cognition-validity ratings connected to target, phase, wording, and time.
By the EMDRSuite Editorial Team
Product claims checked against the current EMDRSuite code and interface.
No independent clinical reviewer is named for this guide.
SUD and VOC answer different questions
SUD, commonly recorded from 0 to 10, represents the patient's current subjective disturbance associated with the selected target. VOC, recorded from 1 to 7, represents how true the chosen positive cognition feels in relation to that target.
Because the direction and range differ, a worksheet must label both scales explicitly. A number without its scale, target, and moment is ambiguous and should not be treated as a complete clinical record.
Record the wording and context with the number
A baseline score is interpretable only when connected to the target assessment. For VOC, preserve the exact positive cognition being rated. For SUD, preserve the target and enough session context to distinguish the initial rating from later checks.
Dates, phases, and a simple sequence of entries can make change visible without implying that software has evaluated outcome. The therapist interprets the pattern alongside observation and the wider clinical picture.
Avoid false precision
SUD and VOC are subjective scales, not laboratory measurements or diagnoses. The interface should make entry quick and consistent while avoiding graphs, alerts, or automated conclusions that exaggerate what a single number can establish.
Differences between sessions may reflect target wording, context, phase, timing, or other clinical factors. The value of structured recording is continuity, not a universal threshold applied without judgment.
Preserve baselines and later checks
Overwriting the first score removes useful context. A practical worksheet keeps the initial SUD and VOC beside later processing, installation, or reevaluation entries so the therapist can see when each value was captured.
EMDRSuite separates the initial assessment scales from later phase entries and saves them with the session. It supports documentation but does not decide when a target is complete or what should happen next.
Measurement documentation resource
Printable EMDR SUD and VOC scales worksheet and tracker
Keep each subjective rating connected to its target, exact positive cognition, phase, and moment. Leave a field blank when that scale was not actually elicited; blank does not mean zero.
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SUD uses 0–10 and VOC uses 1–7, but they measure different constructs and move in different directions. This sheet records context; it does not calculate progress or define completion.
Documentation aid only. SUD and VOC are subjective self-report scales, not diagnoses, automated outcome measures, universal thresholds, or substitutes for observation, formulation, safety, and professional judgment.
FAQ
EMDR SUD VOC scales worksheet
What is the SUD scale in EMDR?
It is a 0-to-10 subjective rating of current disturbance associated with the selected target, used within the clinical process by a trained therapist.
What is the VOC scale in EMDR?
The Validity of Cognition scale records from 1 to 7 how true the selected positive cognition feels in relation to the target.
Why do SUD and VOC use different ranges?
They represent different constructs and established recording conventions. Clear labels prevent the two values from being confused.
Can software interpret SUD or VOC automatically?
It can store and display entries, but clinical interpretation, pacing, and decisions remain the therapist's responsibility.
References
EMDR SUD and VOC scales: printable worksheet and tracker
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