EMDR Training: Integrating EMDR into your Clinical Practice, 5-Day Intensive

All of our basic EMDR trainers are individually approved by EMDRIA to train for EMDR Consulting, meeting the highest standards set by both EMDRIA and EMDR Consulting. Additionally, our training materials are also EMDRIA-approved, so you can trust that you’re receiving the most current and rigorous instruction aligned with EMDRIA guidelines.

Our trainers, including our founder Roy Kiessling, as well as information on our upcoming trainings can all be found on EMDRIA’s therapist directory and training calendar.

Questions? Feel free to email info@emdria.org.

5-Day Training Objectives:

After attending the training, participants will be able to:

1. Summarize Francine Shapiro’s development of EMDR
2. Describe processing mechanisms (BLS, REM, orienting response, and taxing working memory with DAS)
3. Recognize EMDR as evidence-based practice
4. Describe the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Approach
5. Demonstrate stabilization and affect management skills
6. Demonstrate developing a neural network target sequence plan
7. Identify ways to explain EMDR to clients
8. Discuss EMDR client selection criteria
9. Summarize the use of the Phase 3 Assessment questions before EMDR processing
10. Demonstrate standard EMDR and adaptations (contained and restricted processing)
11. Recognize the reevaluation phase as part of treatment integration
12. Identify three-prong processing (past, present, future)
13. Identify ways to provide EMDR via telehealth
14. Recognize modifications to utilize EMDR with children
15. Recognize ways to use EMDR with couples
16. Identify EMDR options with recent or crisis events
17. Demonstrate self-use techniques one may teach a client
18. Recognize the AIP approach to neurobiology with clients with complex presentations
19. Summarize front-loading additional resources for use with clients with complex presentations
20. Identify two or more ways to approach target sequence planning in EMDR
21. Describe the use of cognitive interweaves during processing
22. Identify clinical processing interventions to assist in managing client emotions during processing
23. Recognize ways to help client stay within their window of processing tolerance
24. Describe phase 8, reevaluation phase of EMDR, and its purpose
25. Demonstrate three-prong processing (past, present, future)
26. Discuss EMDR with first responders
27. Describe modifications for working with dissociative tendencies
28. Identify the EMDR approach to treating addictions
29. Recognize the use of EMDR with grief
30. Explain an EMDR approach to working with phobias
31. Describe using EMDR with pain
32. Summarize how to integrate EMDR into one’s clinical practice

Independently Licensed Mental Health Professionals

• Qualifying Medical Doctors must be licensed to practice in their state or province.
• Qualifying Advanced Practice Registered Nurses must have a Master of Science in Nursing (or higher) with a specialization in psychiatric mental health nursing and must be licensed to practice through their state board or province.
• Qualifying Mental Health Clinicians must have a Master’s Degree in the mental health field (Counseling, Marriage Family Therapy, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Psychiatry, Social Work) or related mental health discipline and be independently licensed to practice through their state board or province.

Provisionally or Pre-Licensed Mental Health Professionals

• Qualifying Pre-Licensed Mental Health Clinicians must have a Master’s Degree in the mental health field (Counseling, Marriage Family Therapy, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Psychiatry, Social Work) or related mental health discipline and must be actively pursuing a full license through their state board (or province) while working under an independently licensed supervisor.
• Some of these license types may include: associate, intern, limited, provisional, temporary, and pre-license. LSW/LMSWs who are not independently licensed and still under clinical supervision are in this category.
• In order to verify their eligibility, clinicians must submit a letter from their current supervisor confirming they are: 1) under the supervision of a fully licensed mental health clinician, and 2) actively pursuing a full license through their state board (or province).
  • We kindly request that the letter is written and signed on the supervisor’s office letterhead; additionally, the letter must include the supervisor’s license information and number.
  • Upload the letter as a PDF to your account page after registering.

Graduate Students

• Qualifying graduate students must be enrolled in a Master’s or Doctoral program in the mental health field (Counseling, Marriage Family Therapy, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Psychiatry, Psychiatric Nursing, Social Work) or related mental health discipline.
• Students must have completed their core graduate academic coursework and must be in the practicum/internship portion of their graduate program. First year graduate students are not eligible.
• Graduate students must be on a licensing track and working under the supervision of a fully licensed mental health clinician.
• Graduate students who would like to take an EMDR Training will need to submit certain documentation (graduate transcript, practicum or internship details, and a letter from their supervisor which includes the supervisor’s license information and number) in order to verify their eligibility. In the letter, the supervisor needs to confirm that the student is on the licensing track and working under the supervision of a fully licensed mental health clinician.
  • We kindly request that the letter is written and signed on the supervisor’s office letterhead; additionally, the letter must include the supervisor’s license information and number.
  • Upload the required documentation as PDFs to your account page after registering.
  • Students do not need to provide EMDRIA with any documentation unless specifically asked to do so by EMDRIA staff.

Additional Questions?
Please read EMDRIA’s EMDR Training FAQ for assistance by clicking here.

What is consultation?

10 hours of consultation is required as part of the EMDRIA approved basic training. Participants are expected to be actively involved during the consultation session and to be prepared to present their own EMDR case material. As a general guideline, EMDRIA states that groups should allow a ratio of 15 minutes per individual participant.

What is the cost of consultation?

Not all training organizations clearly disclose whether the cost of the required 10 hours of consultation is part of their basic training registration fee. The 10 hours of consultation may add anywhere from $250-$1000 to your basic training cost! EMDR Consulting suggests you compare before you commit.

EMDR Consulting has included the cost of the 10 hours of basic training consultation as part of your registration fee. Our consultation fee is calculated at $25 per hour, one of the lowest in the EMDR training industry. Therefore, $250 (i.e., 10 hours at $25/hour) of your registration fee is earmarked for your consultation. With each consultation session you use, $25 is deducted from your $250 consultation escrow account.

Scheduling Consultation

While it is up to you to utilize the hours of consultation to your best advantage, we suggest scheduling some of your hours between Part 1 and Part 2 of our basic training (or after the 5-Day Intensive). We typically do not offer consultation during the actual training; your days are long enough!

To sign up for consultation sessions, participants need to log into their EMDR Consulting account page, scroll down to the Consultations section, and then click the button that says View Consultation Schedule. From there, the participant will see a list of upcoming sessions. Participants can select the session they want to sign up for and then click the Sign Up button at the top of the page.

Participants are able to track the number of the hours that they have scheduled and completed by using the Hours tracker on the bottom right side of their browser or by returning to their main account page.

Please be advised that participants’ accounts only display consultation sessions scheduled through our new system, which went live on November 9, 2023, regardless of the number of hours that they have previously completed. We are unable to retroactively add session details (e.g., specific dates with a certain consultant) to participants’ accounts, but do not fear! This modification does not impact participants’ completion of the course in any way.

Please note that our consultation scheduling system only supports the initial 10 basic training consultation hours. If a participant is interested in scheduling certification consultation hours or additional basic training consultation hours, they must schedule and pay directly through their consultant.

The question that is often asked: “What if I don’t have clients, can I still have consultation and complete my basic training?” While having experience using EMDR with clients is ideal, some participants may be in situations where that is not possible. Consultation is still valuable and would still apply toward completing the basic training course.

Consultation Cancellation Policy

Out of professional courtesy and to avoid a late-cancellation fee, please cancel through your account at least 24 hours prior to the consultation session’s scheduled start time. Our consultation scheduling system automatically records participants as a “late cancellation” if they cancel less than 24 hours before the session is scheduled to begin.

Participants who are recorded as a late cancellation, no-show, arrive late, or leave early may be charged a fee by the consultant, which is to be paid directly to the consultant. Check the consultant’s bio for their late cancellation, no-show, and early departure fees.

Documents of course completion will not be issued until all outstanding fees have been paid.

Completing Consultation

Completing your consultation is an individual process; however, please note that you will not receive your Document of Basic Training Completion until you have completed both parts of the training (or the entirety of the 5-Day Intensive or Flexible) and the 10 hours of consultation. We strongly suggest you schedule your consultation on a weekly basis.

Once you have completed an EMDR Training and have received a document of course completion, you are considered an EMDR trained clinician. EMDRIA Certification in EMDR requires additional levels of continuing education and consultation in EMDR and is a separate process. To become certified, one must:

• Be fully trained in an EMDRIA Approved EMDR training course and have received a document of course completion
• Be licensed or certified in their profession with a minimum of two years’ experience in their field
• Complete an additional 20 hours of consultation in EMDR by an EMDRIA Approved Consultant (we recommend using an Approved Consultant that is part of EMDR Consulting’s training staff)
• Conduct a minimum of 50 clinical sessions with at least 25 different clients in which EMDR is utilized
• Complete 12 hours of continuing education in EMDR to apply and every two years to maintain an active certification status

Please visit emdria.org for more information about certification.

EMDR Consulting is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformation with the APA, ASWB, NASW, NBCC, and EMDRIA grievance procedures.

During a training event, the trainer responsible for conducting the training has EMDR Consulting’s authority to address any concerns that arise during the actual training. Every effort will be made to address the concerns during the training to include changing practice partners, addressing staff issues, etc.

If the trainer is unable to address the participant’s concerns, the complaints and grievances shall be presented in writing to Starr Stevens, Director of External Affairs.

Social Workers: Should social workers have a specific grievance, these grievances will be addressed by Starr Stevens, Director of External Affairs. In situations where the social worker would have a conflict of interest, then, Crystal Whitlow, LCSW, a social worker grievance consultant for EMDR Consulting, has been given the final authority to resolve any grievances between participants.

EMDR Consulting’s approach in resolving grievances is always from the perspective of what is in the best interest of the participant.

All complaints and grievances are reviewed within 5 working days. Formal grievances are required to be written and emailed to [email protected] (or, for social workers in situations of a conflict of interest, [email protected]) and will be responded to within 10 business days.

There are no known conflicts of interests for this workshop.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), EMDR Consulting will make reasonable adjustments or modifications to practices, policies and procedures, and to provide auxiliary aids and services for our training participants with disabilities. It is the responsibility of participants who seek disability-related accommodations and services to submit their requests in a timely manner prior to the training, notwithstanding emergencies or unexpected events that require services.

Participants may request services during the registration process. Some services may require further written medical verification that supports the medical reason for the request (e.g., a supporting letter from their medical provider). To start this process, participants can complete our Request for Reasonable Accommodation Form and upload their documentation to their account page or email it to [email protected].

At the training, participants will be expected to participate in practicum exercises that will involve addressing real, personal issues from a trauma-informed perspective. The issues addressed may have linkages to heavily emotionally charged experiences. Therefore, we ask participants to choose targets that are appropriate for a training setting. This is not the environment to treat unresolved major traumas.

During the practicum exercises, participants will pair up with each other. These partnerships are by choice. When choosing a partner, please keep in mind that you and your partner will alternate between clinician and patient roles. Coaches will be available to assist throughout the training in managing activation.

Participants will practice numerous grounding and stabilization skills before addressing presenting issues. Treatment plans will be developed; although, it is not necessary to disclose specific information for effective EMDR treatment. In fact, treatment planning is focused on processing core negative beliefs.

While past events will be identified during treatment planning, participants are not required to process anything that does not feel appropriate, especially considering that this is a training setting and not a clinical setting.