Continuing Consultation after EMDR Training is Essential for Your Success

Starting your journey as an EMDR therapist is exciting....and overwhelming. You complete your EMDR Basic Training and feel excited to help clients transform their lives. Yet, many emerging therapists find themselves stuck, unsure how to apply their new skills confidently. Without ongoing support, it’s easy to get confused, feel lost in the steps, forget techniques, or hesitate to use EMDR in therapy sessions. Continuing EMDR consultation and education are crucial steps to avoid these pitfalls and build a thriving practice.

Therapist’s workspace with EMDR training materials and notes

Why Continued Learning Matters after EMDR Basic Training

EMDR Basic Training provides a solid foundation, but it cannot cover every clinical situation or challenge you will face. In fact, many newly trained EMDR therapists feel a bit unsure of exactly how to tailor EMDR therapy to their existing caseload and eventually abandon the approach all-together. The loss of these therapists from using EMDR is a tragedy for potential clients but it is also a tragedy for the clinical community desperately needing more "boots on the ground" and for the therapist who has invested so much time (and money!) into getting trained. EMDR Therapy improvement depends on deepening your understanding and refining your skills over time. Here’s why ongoing education is essential:

• Build confidence in your skills  

  Practice makes perfect. Regular training refreshes your memory and builds your confidence to use EMDR safely and effectively.

• Stay updated with evolving research

EMDR therapy continues to evolve. New studies reveal better ways to apply techniques or integrate EMDR with other therapeutic approaches. Continuing education keeps you current and informed.

• Prevent skill decay

Without practice and reinforcement, skills fade. Continuing education helps you maintain and sharpen your abilities, so you don’t lose what you worked hard to learn.

• Complex cases require advanced knowledge  

  Clients often present with unique trauma histories or co-occurring conditions. Advanced training helps you tailor EMDR protocols to fit these complexities, increasing your effectiveness.

The Role of EMDR Consultation in Your Growth

EMDR consultation is more than just a requirement for Certification, it's a vital support system that guides you through real-world application and challenges. Here’s how consultation benefits you:

• Receive personalized feedback

An experienced consultant reviews your cases and offers tailored advice. This feedback helps you improve your technique and avoid common mistakes.

• Gain emotional support

Working with trauma clients can be emotionally taxing and can have the impact of vicarious traumatization. Consultation provides a safe space to discuss your feelings, reduce burnout, and stay focused on the client's needs.

• Clarify difficult cases

Clients rarely come to session with a clearly identified concern and insight into what needs to be targeted to get resolution. Instead, they show up as human, messy, and complex. While some clients will work through the phases of treatment with little to no disruption, other clients may not respond as expected and get stuck. Consultation helps you troubleshoot and adapt your approach to meet their needs.

• Meet EMDR Certification requirements

In order to be Certified in EMDR Therapy, The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) requires 20 documented consultation hours. Individual consultation offers the opportunity to have focused time on your cases and questions. In addition, EMDRIA allows 10 of those hours to be in a group setting, allowing the you to get to know other clinicians practicing EMDR therapy, network and gain a support from peers.

Why Choose Me as Your Approved EMDR Consultant

Selecting the right consultant can shape your entire EMDR journey. Here are reasons to consider me as your approved consultant:

• Extensive clinical experience

I have worked with diverse trauma populations for over a decade, applying EMDR therapy to various target concerns. This experience allows me to offer practical, real-world guidance.

• Personalized approach

I tailor consultation to your unique learning style and clinical challenges. Whether you need case-specific advice or help building confidence, I support your growth. I am direct, and also very encouraging so you leave consultation feeling much more clear and organized in what you want to do next with your clients.

• Focus on therapy improvement

My goal is to help you experience the incredible healing through EMDR therapy and enhance your therapy skills, not just meet certification requirements. Together, we focus on improving client outcomes by improving your fidelity to the Standard Protocol and learning what ways you can modify the protocol to fit the specific needs of your clients.

• Waiting list and referrals

Since well before I started EMDR therapy, I have had an extensive waiting list. Once I became EMDR trained, then Certified, this waiting list only lengthened. I am always looking for additional resources to refer folx from my waiting list to qualified and capable EMDR therapists. Being in consultation with me give me direct experience with your skills and whether you might be a good fit for anyone reaching out to me when I'm full. I often refer to my consultees when I sense a good fit and can't take on a client.

Therapist (me) on couch, open and ready to consult with other therapists

Building Confidence to Use EMDR in Therapy

Fear of making mistakes or causing harm can hold newly trained therapists back from fully using EMDR. Continuing education and consultation help you overcome these fears by:

• Providing a safe space to ask questions and express concerns

• Offering evidence-based strategies to handle difficult moments

• Reinforcing your competence through positive feedback

• Helping you develop a clear treatment plan tailored to each client

  
  

As your confidence grows, you will find EMDR becomes a natural and powerful part of your therapy toolkit.

Final Thoughts on Your EMDR Journey

EMDR Basic Training is just the beginning. To avoid losing skills or feeling lost, ongoing education and consultation are essential. They provide the knowledge, support, and confidence you need to deliver effective trauma therapy and grow as a clinician. Reach out to me today to discuss how I can help you transform your practice with EMDR Consultation.