EMDR Therapy Training
Curriculum designed by Master EMDR Clinician Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, REAT
Author of EMDR Made Simple and many other books on trauma recovery
Complete EMDR Therapy Training - Available Online
Complete EMDR Therapy Training In-Person
What is EMDR Therapy Training?
Discovered by Dr. Francine Shapiro, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is one of the most researched and utilized methods in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other forms of human distress connected to trauma and adverse life experiences. Whether your goal is to become an EMDR therapist as a specialty, or to integrate EMDR into your existing practice, our mindfulness-infused training program will help you meet your goals. Our program equips you to work with real-world clinical presentations from day one, including how to handle complex and developmental trauma, addressing dissociation, and implementing EMDR into your current setting. Our training program in EMDR therapy originated in Dr. Jamie’s home base of Northeast Ohio and is now offered worldwide, incorporating the diverse perspectives of our growing team. The Institute for Creative Mindfulness was founded on an affiliate model, empowering our collaborators to take Dr. Jamie’s initial work into their own communities.
Overview of eMDR Therapy Training
Please make sure to view this orientation video before registering to get a complete understanding of how we structure our training. To meet the EMDRIA standards for full certification in EMDR Therapy you must complete:
- 20 Hours of Lecture
- 20 Hours of Practicum
- 10 Hours of Consultation
Becoming an EMDR Therapist
Learn more about the training process directly from the EMDR International Association.
Visit www.emdria.org for more information.
EMDR Therapy Program Format
Part I training - 3 Days
- 21 Hours of Lecture & Practicum
This in-person or online training covers the basics of trauma, the adaptive information processing model, trauma-informed stabilization, and the basic methodology and mechanisms of action used in EMDR Therapy. You will be able to practice EMDR therapy with certain clients after completion of Part I.
Part II training - 3 Days
- 21 Hours of Lecture & Practicum
In-person or online training with enhanced practicum content, covering best practices for using EMDR Therapy with special populations and in the complex scenarios of clinical practice; advanced content on ethics and neurobiology are also covered in addition to working with the art of case conceptualization.
Consultation Requirement
- 10 Hours of Consultation
Consultation is offered in individual or group formats and is essential to practical skill building as an EMDR therapist. It is suggested participants complete 4-6 hours of consultation after Part I and the remaining hours after Part II. Completion of consultation hours is required before a Certificate of Training in EMDR Therapy can be awarded. Our affiliate faculty members do not include the consultation in the cost of their posted trainings to allow you to work with the consultant(s) or consultant(s)-in-training of your choice. The Institute for Creative Mindfulness is unique amongst EMDR Therapy training programs by allowing you to choose from over 50 listed specialists. Having our trainees pay separately for consultation best facilitates this choice and allows you to receive true case consultation, not additional education. All training consultation work can be done remotely (e.g., phone, Skype, Zoom, etc.). No APA, NBCC, ASWB, OCSWMFT or other CE credits are awarded for consultation.
Program Completion & EMDR Certification
EMDR Therapy Training Part I and Part II must be completed in real-time (whether in-person or online), and all sessions must be attended for CE credits; no partial credit can be awarded. Certificates of completion of EMDR therapy training are issued after successful completion of Part I and Part II trainings in addition to 10 hours of consultation. Upon completing the tenth hour of consultation, trainees will submit documentation of consultation hours to their Part II trainers, who record the completion and mail a certificate of completion to the program graduate. The certificate of completion is a “suitable for framing” document and is different than CE credits offered for each part of training.
Successful completion of this EMDR Therapy training program allows you to practice EMDR Therapy within your clinical scope of practice.
Find an EMDR Training that Fits your schedule today
The Institute for Creative Mindfulness is listed as a provider of Trainings in EMDR therapy by the EMDR International Association. Read further to learn more about our EMDR Therapy training.
Eligibility for the EMDR Therapy Training Program
A masters or doctoral degree
A masters or doctoral degree in a clinical mental health-related field (e.g., counseling, marriage & family therapy, social work, psychology, etc.) is required. Although it is not required, it is strongly preferred that you are in active clinical practice and working with clients.
Master’s level students
Master’s level students may be permitted to take the course if The Institute for Creative Mindfulness receives a letter of recommendation from a faculty member ahead of time. Requests and letters of recommendation can be sent to: support@instituteforcreativemindfulness.com
Medical Professionals
Medical professionals (e.g., nurses and physicians) are also eligible to take the course if they possess a clinical master’s or doctorate degree and if their primary specialty is within mental health.
Chemical dependency professionals
Chemical dependency professionals with a master’s degree or higher may also be eligible to take the course. Pastoral/Christian counselors, and art/music/dance therapists may also be eligible if they can show sufficient clinical content on their master’s level transcripts. In these three specialty scenarios, prior approval is required from the Institute for Creative Mindfulness. In cases of these special circumstances, all cases must be made in writing with supporting documentation directly to The Institute for Creative Mindfulness. You can send your request to: support@instituteforcreativemindfulness.com
Your registration is not considered complete/confirmed until approval is granted.
Important EMDRIA Compliance Note
As of January 1, 2023, trainees have 12 months to complete both parts of the training and the required consultation hours whether they are taking the training in-person or online. If participants do not complete the required sections in this time frame specified by EMDRIA, they are required to complete Part I again before continuing. If you began your Part I training before January 1, 2023, the rules that were posted at the time you began your training apply to the completion deadline.
Diversity & Social Justice Scholarship
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Due to emergency procedures and approvals put into place by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire EMDR therapy training can now be taken online. There are slightly different requirements for the online training so if one of these interests you, please enroll here.
At the moment, no hybrid model is in place, so you must choose either a fully online training or a fully in-person training.
Although some of our faculty are still offering trainings in-person compliance with local distancing guidelines, the majority of our EMDR therapy trainings are now being held online until further notice.
We are the only EMDRIA-approved training program that teaches EMDR therapy through the lens of mindfulness. The mindful elements of EMDR therapy were more implicit than explicit when Dr. Francine Shapiro, a student of mind-body medicine, first introduced the therapy. Our curriculum makes the mindful elements explicit. We are now able to train people from the ground up in how to implement mindfulness strategies within the framework of the basic, 8 Phase standard protocol. We have found that this approach resonates for people with previous mindfulness training and helps those without previous mindfulness training to understand, to adapt, and to implement EMDR therapy effectively from day one.
Our trainees find that they are more quickly able to apply EMDR therapy to clients with complex PTSD, dissociative issues, and other complicated diagnoses. They also develop the necessary strategies for addressing developmental trauma and healing attachment wounds within a mindful framework. All of our faculty members are mentored by our founder Dr. Jamie Marich, an individual in active, open recovery from a dissociative disorder, to normalize and clarify working with dissociation respectfully throughout the training and treatment process. You can listen to Dr. Jamie’s interview about our training program HERE.
If cancelling prior to two weeks before a scheduled event, trainees are entitled to a full refund less a 5% processing fee OR the option to apply the dollar amount paid towards a future training with the Institute for Creative Mindfulness. If cancelling less than two weeks before a scheduled event, trainees are entitled to a 50% refund, OR the option to apply the dollar amount paid toward a future training with ICM. Only medically documented reasons or family deaths are considered as an exception to this policy. No-shows are generally not eligible for a refund. In the case of inclement weather, should we cancel the training, your registration would simply be moved to our rescheduled date. If the rescheduled date isn’t available for you, we can offer you another date or issue a refund. If you terminate your training or need to leave it early for any reason, you are not eligible for a refund. Attendance at the entire training is required for our program to remain compliant with EMDRIA standards. All other situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
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