EMDR
Certified

Why use an EMDR Certified Therapist, versus EMDR Trained Therapist? 

The EMDR International Association oversees EMDR training and certification.   

EMDR training requires an advanced degree from an accredited college or university, full licensure in a mental health professional field for independent practice, two years of experience (minimum) in that field and 40 hours of approved training and practicum.  

EMDR Certification requires all of this, plus a minimum of 50 clinical sessions in which EMDR was utilized with 25 clients, and 20 hours of consultation in EMDR by an Approved Consultant. To maintain the credential, an EMDR Certified Therapists must complete 12 hours of continuing education in EMDR every two years.

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How does EMDR work?  

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As the most well researched therapeutic intervention, EMDR has a direct effect on the way the brain organizes information. When we are traumatized, the brain is unable to process the event as it normally does. The memory and its attendant emotions are stored in a unprocessed state, and present-day occurrences can trigger negative reactions arising from a past event. EMDR seems to allow us to access that unprocessed material in memory, enabling the brain to alter the “memory network” associated with the traumatic event and to build new, healthy responses.

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EMDR Protocol

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EMDR uses an eight-phase protocol for each event that is processed. This includes taking a history, preparing the client, target identification, processing the past, present, and future aspects of the event and ongoing evaluation of progress or new material that may emerge. The processing of a target involves sets of bilateral stimulation – usually eye movements – while focusing on the targeted material. The client reports what they are noticing between each “set” of eye movements. At the end of treatment, disturbing memories and situations that trigger them should no longer be a problem and new healthy responses are possible.

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What happens in EMDR Sessions?

• Therapist takes a thorough history and assesses how well the client is currently managing the problem, and in life in general.

• Together, the therapist and client identify past traumatic events(s), recalling visual, auditory, emotional and physiological cures.  

• A target event is identified and intensity of target is quantified, which helps track progress as the clients brain does its work to reprocess the targeted material.  

• The therapist will do a series of bilateral stimulations (eye movement, tapping or sounds, as agreed upon) while the client notices thoughts, feelings or body sensations.  It takes several sets of bilateral stimulation to initiate the desensitization process.  

• Bilateral stimulation sets continue until the client reports little or no disturbance associated with the target.  This can take several minutes to several sessions, depending on the intensity of the disturbance.  

• Bilateral stimulation continues to reprocess and reinforce positive and adaptive thinking that is now associated with the target.  The therapist and client will also work on present-day or future expressions of the targeted disturbance.

 

How many EMDR sessions are needed?  

The number of sessions will depend on the clients specific problem and psychological history. Another factor is the clients ability to deal with strong emotions that may arise during processing. (the therapist will teach safety and self-soothing techniques prior to EMDR work.) Studies show that a single trauma can be “cleared” within three sessions in 80-90% of clients. Multiple traumas or a long history of trauma will require more sessions, with treatment lasting a few weeks to several months.