Phase 3 assessment
EMDR Phase 3 assessment worksheet
Use a private, printable EMDR Phase 3 assessment worksheet for image, NC, PC, VOC, emotion, SUD, and body sensation, with clear professional limits.
By the EMDRSuite Editorial Team
Product claims checked against the current EMDRSuite code and interface.
No independent clinical reviewer is named for this guide.
What belongs in a target assessment record
In the assessment phase, the therapist identifies the target representation and records the image, the negative cognition linked to it, a preferred positive cognition, current emotion, subjective disturbance, and relevant body sensation. These fields belong together because they describe one assessment snapshot, not independent checklist items.
The record should preserve the patient's language as accurately as the therapist's documentation standards allow. A concise entry is more useful than software-generated interpretation that obscures what was actually reported.
Keep the target and the present response distinct
The target points to the selected memory, event, situation, or representation. The assessment also captures what is present now when that target is brought to mind: belief, emotion, disturbance, and body response. Clear labels reduce the risk of mixing historical description with current measurement.
A digital worksheet can place these components in a stable order and keep them visible during the session. It cannot determine whether the target is appropriate, whether preparation is sufficient, or whether reprocessing should begin.
Use SUD and VOC as anchored snapshots
SUD records subjective disturbance on a 0-to-10 scale, while VOC records how true the selected positive cognition feels on a 1-to-7 scale. They measure different constructs and should remain separately labelled in the record.
Scores gain meaning from context: the target, wording, time, phase, and therapist observation. They should not be treated as diagnostic tests, compared mechanically between patients, or allowed to replace clinical observation.
Use the printable worksheet without creating a shadow record
The blank Phase 3 worksheet on this page includes target, image, negative cognition, positive cognition, emotion, body sensation, VOC, and SUD fields. It can be completed in the browser for printing, but it is not submitted or saved to a server.
For ongoing clinical continuity, use the practice's authorized record. EMDRSuite also keeps target-assessment fields inside its eight-phase clinical guide and links saved entries to the session; formulation, readiness, pacing, consent, safety, and documentation remain professional responsibilities.
Blank professional resource
Printable EMDR target assessment worksheet
Complete it in the browser for printing, or print it blank. Entries stay only in this page and are never submitted or saved.
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Documentation aid for appropriately trained professionals. Not a treatment protocol, clinical recommendation, or substitute for training and judgment.
FAQ
EMDR Phase 3 assessment worksheet
What are the main parts of an EMDR target assessment?
A standard overview includes the target image or representation, negative cognition, desired positive cognition, VOC, emotions, SUD, and body location or sensation.
Is the target image the same as the whole memory?
Not necessarily. It is the selected representation used for the assessment. How it is identified and used is a clinical decision for a trained therapist.
Can software choose the negative or positive cognition?
No. Software can organize candidate language and record the patient's words, but it should not formulate the case or select a cognition for the therapist.
Does an assessment worksheet replace EMDR training?
No. It is a documentation aid. Assessment, readiness, target selection, reprocessing, and safety require appropriate training and professional judgment.
References
EMDR Phase 3 assessment worksheet
EMDRSuite
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