EMDR 2.0
Earlier this month, I flew up to New Jersey for a 3-day EMDR 2.0 Masterclass with Dr. Ad de Jongh and Dr. Suzy Matthijssen. I signed up hoping to sharpen my skills and left with a full notebook, a clearer clinical lens, and a group chat with some of the most thoughtful therapists I’ve had the pleasure of learning beside.
As someone who works closely with individuals navigating complex trauma, I’m always looking for ways to deepen the work, especially when it comes to helping clients feel safer and more regulated while doing it. EMDR 2.0 offered that and more.
What Makes EMDR 2.0 Different
At its core, EMDR 2.0 is still EMDR; just updated with new strategies that enhance its effectiveness, especially for people with complex trauma or dissociation.
The use of more intentional and intensified “working memory taxation” techniques, learned in EMDR 2.0, helps us to stay within the window of tolerance during EMDR processing. That might sound technical, but here’s what it means in practice: we ask the brain to do more than one thing at once (like recall a difficult memory while doing a dual task), which lessens the emotional charge of that memory. The brain simply can’t hold onto distress as tightly when it’s multitasking.
This allows for faster, more efficient processing, and for people who have historically felt overwhelmed during trauma work, this approach offers a way to move through healing with more stability and less emotional flooding.
My Takeaways From the Training
I walked away with practical tools, I’ve already started using in sessions, new bilateral stimulation strategies, ways to adjust the pacing of reprocessing, and tools to quickly assess when someone might need more support to stay grounded.
What stood out most, though, was how well the framework honors both clinical structure and flexibility. There’s room to be responsive, to read the moment, to meet each person exactly where they are, which is something that matters deeply in trauma work.
And like most meaningful trainings, the experience wasn’t just about content; it was about connection. The community of therapists I met, many of whom I’m still in touch with, reminded me that we’re not doing this work alone. We’re learning together, growing together, and holding space for one another so we can keep showing up fully for our clients.
What This Means in Therapy
If you’re already in therapy or considering starting, you don’t need to know all of the ins and outs of EMDR 2.0 to benefit from it. That’s our job. What you can expect, though, is a therapy process that’s deeply attuned to your nervous system. One that helps you process what’s felt too heavy to carry on your own without overwhelming you in the process.
My role as a therapist is to keep learning, refining, and showing up with tools that are both evidence-based and human-centered. This training affirmed that we can do deep trauma work in ways that are gentler, more efficient, and tailored to the unique ways each person protects and adapts. It’s a reminder that effective therapy is not only about technique, but about precision, presence, and deep respect for the protective strategies developed to cope with what once felt unmanageable.
Start EMDR in Palm Beach County, FL
If you’re ready to explore how EMDR can help you process trauma in a safer, more effective way, our team is here to support you. Reach out to Mangrove Therapy Group today to connect with an EMDR therapist and begin your path toward healing by following these simple steps:
- Contact Mangrove Therapy Group
- Meet with a compassionate, skilled therapist
- Start benefiting from EMDR!
Other Services Offered with Mangrove Therapy Group
EMDR is one technique our team uses to help support clients. However, our therapists are trained to support you through so much more. Our office also offers care for:
- Trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSD
- Substance use and process addictions
- Eating disorders and body image concerns
- Grief, loss, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem challenges
- Anger, shame, and emotional dysregulation
- “Failure to Launch” issues and life transitions
- CBT, and DBT-based support
If you’re ready, we’re here. Let’s help you build a life where your nervous system doesn’t have to brace for impact—and where love starts to feel like a soft place to land. You can learn more from our blog or FAQs page.