The EMDR Course

This course has been approved and credentialed by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). EMDRIA approved courses qualify participants to receive consultation from an EMDRIA Approved Consultant, to work toward certification in EMDR, and to attend specialized training and conferences worldwide. EMDRIA approved courses also ensure mental health therapists are using evidenced based traumatic stress treatment and following best practices for standard of care. Most importantly you will provide the most effective treatment for traumatic stress safely.

 

EMDR Basic Training

This course is taught in 2 parts. Students will complete 50 hours of education while learning EMDR. Part 1 consists of 10 hours of lectures & 10 hours of supervised practice exercises, & 4 hours of consultation. Part 2 consists of 10 hours of lectures & 10 hours of supervised practice exercises, & 6 hours of consultation. for a total of 50 hours.

  • 1. The student will be able to use EMDR as a form of psychotherapy for simple cases of trauma; simple PTSD, mood, or anxiety disorders. The first part of this course does not cover working with complex cases of trauma such as clients with extensive histories of abuse or dissociative disorders.

    2. The student will be able to describe and understand the adaptive information processing model (AIP) and its relevance to EMDR.

    3. The student will be able to know and understand what the components of a memory are as it relates to EMDR.

    4. The student will know and be able to describe the 8 phases of EMDR therapy.

    5. The student will be able to know and understand the basics of current EMDR research and its clinical relevance.

    6. The student will be able to know and utilize the criteria for the selection of an EMDR client.

    7. The student will know how to gather a history and develop an EMDR treatment plan for non-complex cases. (See objective 1 on the limitations or Part 1 training).

    8. The student will know how to use EMDR in a responsible manner. Meaning they will be able to properly prepare a client for EMDR therapy and conduct a session properly while maintaining client safety at all times.

    9. The student will be able to explain EMDR to clients and prepare them for treatment.

    10. The student will have confidence that they can use EMDR in their practice.

    11. The student will have gained new skills and can use them in their practice immediately.

  • Part 1: 20 Hours of Training

    The goal of the first part is to familiarize the student with the basics of the EMDR procedural steps and protocol. Through this instruction, the student will obtain the necessary knowledge and skills to begin the use of EMDR in his/her practice.

    DAY 1
    • Introduction to the Origins and Development of EMDR.

    • Instruction on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Model


    • Instruction on Phase 1: History of EMDR & Phase 2: Client Preparation

    • Practice exercise in developing the skills for History Taking in Client Preparation.

    • Approximately 4-Hours Lecture and 3-Hours Practice Training Exercises.

    DAY 2
    • Complete instruction on Phases 3-7: Assessment, Desnsenitization, Installation, Body Scan, & Closure.

    • Practice exercises with Processing a Memory with Phases 3-7. Approximately 3.5-Hours

    DAY 3
    • Instruction on managing processing, processing current triggers and future concerns, the protocol for the future template, EMDR with children, as well as the protocol for recent traumatic events, and additional containment skills. Approximately 3.5 Hours

    • Practice exercises reevaluation of processed memory, processing additional relevant memories, current triggers, and future templates. Approximately 3.5 Hours.

  • 1. The student will be able to use EMDR as a form of psychotherapy for more complex cases. This means they will be able to use EMDR with clients with complex histories of abuse and dissociative symptoms. Note: completion of Part 2 of this course does not qualify a student to treat dissociative disorders if they have not had experience and training in treating them before taking this course. There is a difference between a dissociative symptom that is part of the traumatic experience and a dissociative disorder.

    2. The student will have a complete understanding of the adaptive information processing model (AIP) and its relevance to EMDR.

    3. The student will have a complete understanding of the components of the memory as used in EMDR treatment.

    4. The student will have a complete understanding of the 8 phases of EMDR therapy.

    5. The student will have a complete understanding of the criteria for the selection of an EMDR client. They will know what client is a good candidate for EMDR and which clients may be at risk during trauma therapy and may need more preparation.

    6. The student will have a thorough understanding of how to gather a history and develop an EMDR treatment plan for complex cases.

    7. The student will know the difference between treating PTSD and treating trauma.

    8. The student will be able to use EMDR in a responsible manner by utilizing the procedures of EMDR as taught and maintaining client safety at all times.

    9. The student will be able to explain EMDR to clients and prepare them for treatment.

    10. The student will have confidence that they can use EMDR in their practice with the disorders in which they have the experience to treat.

    11. The student will have a thorough understanding of the cognitive interweave and can incorporate this into their EMDR sessions.

  • Part 2: 20 Hours of Training

    The goal of the second part is to review the basic EMDR protocols and procedures taught in Part 1. In addition, the second part will develop methods of treating more complex cases. This includes the development of treatment plans for complex cases, dynamics of trauma, and use of the cognitive interweave.

    DAY 1
    • Review of the 8 EMDR phases, AIP, and the 3 stages of treatment: past, present, and future.

    • History taking, Phase 1, with complex cases as well as client preparation.

    • Resource Development and Installation (RDI). Lecture approximately 4 hours.

    • Practice exercises taking history, client preparation, and RDI. Approximately 3 hours.

    • Approximately 4-Hours Lecture and 3-Hours Practice Training Exercises.


    DAY 2
    • Use of phases 3-8 with more complex presentations and managing abreactions as well as over and under accessing during desensitization.

    • Instructions on the cognitive interweave. Lecture approximately 3.5 hours.

    • Practice exercises with processing a memory using phases 3-7. Exercises approximately 4 hours.

    DAY 3
    • Instruction on obstacles related to processing, dissociation, treating specific situations such as phobias, illness, and somatic disorders, self-use of eye movements, grief, adults abused as children and sexual abuse, couples, and combat and first responders. Approximately 3.5 hours.

    • Practice exercises for completing EMDR treatment plan: past, present, and future. Approximately 3.5 hours.

See if you meet the minimum requirements for our EMDR Therapy Training Courses.

Learn more about Course Fees for Part 1 and Part 2 of the EMDR Instruction Training Courses.

 

Required Reading

All students are required to obtain the textbook "Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures," by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D. For Part 1, chapters 1–8 need to be read before the training. For Part 2, chapters 9–11 need to be read.

The course manual will be sent electronically prior to the course commencing which provides Participants with step-by-step instruction through each phase of EMDR Training Course upon completion of registration & payment.

Registration Form