Assessment Scale Research-backed

VOC Scale (Validity of Cognition)

Rate how true a positive belief feels, from 1 (completely false) to 7 (completely true). Used in Phase 3 assessment and Phase 5 installation.

This is a reference tool, not a replacement for EMDR therapy. EMDR must be delivered by a trained clinician. If you are using these tools outside of therapy and become distressed, stop, ground yourself, and contact a mental health professional.

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How true does the positive belief feel?

Positive cognition (optional, not stored):

Somewhat true

1 — completely false 7 — completely true

"Think about that incident. When you think of the incident, how true do those words feel to you now, on a scale of 1 to 7?"

Clinical sources

Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures, 3rd ed. Guilford Press.

What this is

The VOC (Validity of Cognition) scale measures how true a positive self-belief feels on a gut level, from 1 (completely false) to 7 (completely true). It’s distinct from intellectual agreement — you’re asking the client what it feels like in their body.

When to use it

Phase 3: After identifying the positive cognition and getting its initial VOC score.
Phase 5: After installation, to confirm the PC feels increasingly true.

Clinical notes

Standard wording: “Think about that incident. When you think of the incident, how true do those words [the positive cognition] feel to you now, on a scale of 1 to 7, where 1 is completely false and 7 is completely true?”