The EMDR Alphabet
When you are looking for an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist, there are many things to consider. It can be overwhelming. This article is meant to give you the basics on terminology and training of the different levels of experience of practioners. If you are wanting basic information on what the heck EMDR is anyway, please go to my previous blog called “What is EMDR?” (https://www.thehavenwellnesscenter.com/blog/whatisemdr)
I would also suggest reading about EMDR on the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association (EMDRIA) website at https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/ .
When a therapist wants to learn how to implement EMDR, EMDR Basic Training is the first stop. https://www.emdria.org/emdr-training/ This initial training is a 50 hour training that includes 40 hours of didactic and practicum learning as well as 10 hours of consultation calls as they begin to practice EMDR with their clients. It is important that a therapist’s basic training is completed by an EMDRIA Approved Trainer. After a therapist completes this, they are able to represent themselves as an EMDR Basic Trained therapist.
Once a therapist is fully licensed in their respective license type, i.e. Social Work, Licensed Professional Counselor, Psychologist, etc. AND have completed 50 hours of EMDR with at least 25 unique clients, they are able to apply for EMDR Certification status. They also must have been supervised for 20 hours by an EMDR Consultant. Part of these hours may be supervised by a Consultant-In-Training. Once all of this is completed, the therapist is able to apply to be considered an EMDR Certified Therapist which includes a fee, a letter of recommendation from the therapist’s EMDR Consultant and/or Consultant in Training, two additional letters of recommendation from colleagues or peers, 12 hours of continuing education from EMDRIA approved trainings as well as proof of Basic Training and full licensure.
At this point, the therapist can become a Consultant-In-Training (CIT) for EMDR. This means that the therapist can begin providing consultation for EMDR Basic Trained Therapists. To do this, they must complete a CIT Declaration form to submit to EMDR that states that they are working toward Consultant status. To become an EMDR Consultant, the therapist must already be EMDR Certified, have three years experience using EMDR following Basic Training, must have completed at least 300 sessions with 75 unique clients in which EMDR was used, have received 20 hours of consultation on consultation from an EMDR Consultant, complete 12 hours of continued education from EMDRIA Approved EMDR trainings every two years as well as the previous requirements to become an EMDR Certified Therapist. This advancement also requires a fee, a letter of from the EMDR Consultant as well as two letters of recommendation. https://www.emdria.org/emdr-training/emdr-consultant/
The highest EMDRIA approved position in EMDR is to become an EMDR Trainer. An EMDR Trainer can provide EMDR Basic Training. As well as all of the previous requirements for EMDR Certification and EMDR Consultant status, there is an extensive application process in which there are many requirements for the training that the applicant must create. In addition to this, the application and training has to be approved by an EMDRIA Training Committee.
All of these designations are given for a two year period before they must be renewed again. All of this information can be found at https://www.emdria.org/emdr-training-and-education/
When you are ready to process your past trauma, you deserve the best. You deserve to know how much training your therapist has received and how much supervision has been required. We hope this also helps to demystify all those letters and designations you might often see associated with EMDR.
As you search for your EMDR therapist, we would love to provide information or services here at The Haven Wellness Center www.thehavenwellnesscenter.com We have two EMDR trainers: Jessica Brazeal https://www.thehavenwellnesscenter.com/jessica and Kelly Slaven https://www.thehavenwellnesscenter.com/kelly
as well as three EMDR Basic Trained Therapists: Susan McKelvy https://www.thehavenwellnesscenter.com/susan, Tara Becker https://www.thehavenwellnesscenter.com/tara and Jordan Gates Vierling https://www.thehavenwellnesscenter.com/jordan
Until we see you,
Kelly & The Haven Team
