How to Get Trained in EMDR (For Therapists)

Welcome to the Club!

If you are a new or seasoned mental health practitioner who has decided to now become trained in EMDR therapy, congratulations on taking the leap! EMDR is a powerful, evidence-based psychotherapy approach that can transform your practice and allow you to help clients address their issues in a meaningful way. Our community comprises a solid group of clinicians who feel passionately about all things EMDR!

EMDR is based on the idea that psychological problems are the result of insufficiently-processed, maladaptively-stored disturbing memories from the past. The process involves searching for and identifying these old experiences, and then reprocessing them. To do this, the therapist leads the client in a series of eye movements or other types of bilateral stimulation (such as tapping or bilateral sounds) while they are thinking about various parts of the distressing memory. During this procedure, clients process the memory often in a positive and rapid way that leads to a peaceful resolution. There are 8 phases that involve various components of this process to create an effective, efficient, and safe approach to resolving trauma.

Is EMDR only for PTSD?

Definitely not! While much of the original research on EMDR has been in its application for clients with PTSD, it has also been studied in a wide range of other mental health (see this page from the EMDR Institute that provides a research overview). In fact, most people who experience a traumatic event or events will not go on to develop the diagnosis of PTSD. But that doesn’t mean they get away unscathed. Unresolved trauma can lead to a host of other issues including depression and mood disorders, anxiety, panic attacks, self-esteem issues, dissociative disorders, addictions and other compulsive behaviors, and much more. In addition, research shows that stressful life events can lead to as much or even greater degrees of traumatic stress symptoms.

Bob grows up with a critical parent who was always putting him down and telling him he was no good. He was a good student but had a hard time socially at school getting picked on and bullied. Bob never thinks about his childhood, but often wonders why he has this pervasive sense of unworthiness and low self-esteem despite many tangible accomplishments. He also feels anxious in social situations and has difficulty meeting new people. Through EMDR therapy, he is able to reprocess these past experiences which allows him to finally shift these negative feelings and beliefs. 

Training Process Overview

The traditional model for EMDR training consists of two 3-day weekends, usually Friday through Sunday, plus ten hours of consultation from an Approved Consultant. During each weekend, the first half of each day is didactic and lecture-based where participants learn about the theory and application of EMDR therapy. In the afternoons they transition to the practicum portion where participants will do small group exercises and practice the skills with each other using actual issues from their own lives. After the first weekend, participants will have enough skills and experience to go out and practice with actual clients while simultaneously getting some consultation hours with their consultant. They return in about 1-3 months to complete the second weekend which provides more advanced skills and techniques. Once you complete these two weekends plus your 10 consultation hours, you have completed your basic training and are considered trained!

Back in the day, not everyone was required to complete both weekends, so some therapists stopped after the first one.

You’ll see these practitioners labeling themselves as “Level 1” or “Level 2” trained to distinguish how many weekends they did. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) which sets the standards for training and certification, now requires both weekends and all 10 hours to be completed prior to being considered trained. So when therapists categorize themselves as “Level 2 Trained”, it means they are trained to the same degree that everyone is required to be trained in modern times. 

Other training models that meet the standards set by EMDRIA include a 5-day intensive (usually Monday through Friday) and even three, 2-day segments. There are even a couple graduate-level college courses you can take over a semester which leads the student to getting trained, though these are not very common. Each of these of course still requires you to do 10 hours of consultation. There are pros and cons to each, of course. For example, the traditional model allows someone to not have to miss much time off from the typical Mon-Fri work week except for two Fridays, which in the psychotherapy world are usually easier to take off. On the other hand, the 5-day intensive model allows you to just get your training hours over with in one swoop.

EMDR basic training requires 50 total hours of instruction (20 from lectures, 20 from practicum, and 10 consultation hours). Your training provider will provide information on which consultants are approved by them to work with. Click here for more information from EMDRIA on basic training.

Beware of Certain EMDR Trainings (IMPORTANT)

Anyone can develop an EMDR training and market it to the public for sale. But that doesn’t mean meets the basic standards of quality and effectiveness. There are several trainings out there, often showing up in your Facebook feeds via paid ads or in mailers selling “Get EMDR Certified!” at a very low cost and by merely watching some recorded videos at home. If you think this sounds too good to be true, you are correct! Unfortunately, none of these trainings meet the gold standard set by the EMDR International Association and are therefore not recognized by this important accrediting body.

In addition, EMDRIA sets the requirements for markers of advanced training and skills such as certification and becoming an EMDRIA Approved Consultant.

With these other often recorded trainings, they say you will be “certified” right away after viewing the course. While it may look good to prospective clients, it doesn’t actually mean anything. Again, you or I can create an organization that provides certifications, but that doesn’t mean our organization actually measures how effective a person is in a particular therapy modality. On the other hand, The EMDR International Association, which has been around for decades with many thousands of members and even publishing a peer-reviewed scientific journal, only gives the “EMDR Certified Therapist” credential to those who demonstrate competency in the therapy based on a set of important criteria and consistently updated to reflect current professional standards.

Keep in mind that if you take one of these courses, you will not be learning at the level experts believe is necessary to practice EMDR in a safe and effective way. Plus, you cannot later go to EMDRIA to get their certification because they will not recognize your training. And also, you cannot later attend the vast majority of EMDRIA-approved advanced trainings out there because they all require you to have done the basic training accredited by EMDRIA.

Here is an example of a Facebook marketing ad that came up on my feed of a non-EMDRIA-approved training program that makes high promises but little chance of delivering:

So, Which Training Provider Should I Take My Training With?

All basic EMDR trainings approved by EMDRIA are listed on their education calendar. Note – there are a lot of other advanced trainings listed there which won’t apply to you as you first need to be trained before being allowed to take any of those. But if the titles and descriptions intrigue you, then that’s awesome and I hope you continue your EMDR journey to participate in those later.

Historically speaking, the two main players in the training space used to be the EMDR Institute and Trauma Recovery, EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs.

The EMDR Institute was founded by Francine Shapiro, the originator of EMDR therapy, and offers evidence-based training in the same format that Dr. Shapiro created. This is with whom I did my training many years ago. 

Trauma Recovery, EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs (otherwise known as just “HAP” in the EMDR community) was also founded by Francine Shapiro and is a nonprofit with the goal of increasing the capacity for effective trauma treatment in underserved populations. They do this by providing low-cost trainings to clinicians who work at nonprofits or government agencies, or in developing countries. But just because they are low-cost trainings, don’t be fooled into thinking the quality is low! They have a rigorous all-volunteer faculty, and each member of the training staff has to participate in the “Faculty Academy” which is a highly-rigorous process designed to create effective teachers and instructors. If you work in a nonprofit or for the government, I highly recommend you take their training.

Over the last ten years or so, many private, independent trainers joined in to offer their versions of EMDR basic training. Each, of course, has to be accredited by EMDRIA and fulfill the necessary requirements. Many of these trainers were trained by or used to work for the EMDR Institute or HAP, and then branched out on their own. I don’t have any opinions on any of these organizations and have heard really great things about many of them.

Should I Do My Training Virtually or In-Person?

This totally is up to personal preference! There are pros and cons to each. Virtual offers the convenience of doing it from your home. Plus, if you do a lot of virtual therapy, then it will give you good practice in delivering EMDR therapy virtually as well. The cons would be not getting the experience of practicing in person, but these skills can be bolstered by your work with your EMDR consultant. In-person of course gives you the direct, interpersonal experience of learning in a live, face-to-face group and allows you to mingle and network with colleagues during breaks.

When Should I Start a Consultation for EMDR in Palm Beach County, FL?

Now! Getting trained in EMDR therapy will change your practice and provide you with an effective way to treat trauma and any trauma-based mental health condition. So, what are you waiting for?? Meet with a caring therapist from our team to start working with Mangrove Therapy Group today. Start the EMDR consultation process by following these simple steps:

• Contact Mangrove Therapy Group
• Meet with a caring therapist
• Start the consultation

Other Services Offered with Mangrove Therapy Group

EMDR consultations are not the only service offered by Mangrove Therapy Group. Other services offered include PTSD and Complex PTSD,  trauma and EMDR, substance use disorders, eating disorders, body image issues, anger management, anxiety, low self-esteem, personality disorders, and much more. Please feel free to learn more about how we can support you. We also offer support with addictions such as process addictions, grief and loss, “Failure to Launch” syndrome, CBT, and DBT. Feel free to learn more by visiting our blog or FAQ page to learn more today!