1) Membership in EMDRIA (EMDR International Association).
An EMDR therapist who becomes a member of EMDRIA has demonstrated that he/she is dedicated to learning as much as they can about EMDR therapy. There is so much to learn! Yes, it requires yearly fees, but there are many benefits to your investment. (EMDR Certification). Once you belong to the official EMDR organization, you become part of a community of therapists who value EMDR as much as you do, even if you are newly trained.
2) Become a More Confident EMDR Therapist.
As you gain experience in utilizing EMDR therapy with a variety of clinical situations, your confidence in your skills increases. Yet each EMDR therapist encounters challenging clinical scenarios, no matter how many years they have practiced psychotherapy. Pursuing the EMDR Certification Track is a great vehicle to consolidate your skills as you receive ongoing case consultation from an EMDRIA Approved Consultant. As your consultant, I will make certain you master the basic 8-phase protocol including an audio or video recording of one target memory processing session with a client. I will also guide you step by step to learn the skills necessary to deal with more challenging clinical scenarios.
3) Advanced EMDR Training.
We are fortunate at this time that there are multiple advanced trainings available. Your choices include training in special groups of clients such as children or military veterans, new protocols for specific clinical populations, and EMDR related topics such as the latest in neurobiological research. Many trainings are offered locally or readily accessible through online trainings that you study at your convenience. Attending an EMDRIA annual conference gives you access to a wide variety of topics and trainings in new protocols in a short time frame.
4) Objective Certification Status
Your attainment of EMDR Certified Status communicates clearly to potential clients and to other professionals that you have formally met the objective requirements of an independent organization, in this case, EMDRIA. This status elevates you in the eyes of EMDR therapists but more importantly in the confidence of your clients. You have put in the time and effort to become a expert EMDR therapist and the EMDR Certified Clinician status is a wonderful way to communicate this to your clients.
Official EMDRIA requirements of a EMDRIA Certified Clinician:
“A clinician who is EMDRIA Certified in EMDR has been licensed or certified in their profession for independent practice and has had a minimum of two years experience in their field. They have completed an EMDRIA approved training program in EMDR therapy, have conducted a minimum of fifty clinical sessions in which EMDR was utilized, and have received twenty hours of consultation in EMDR by an Approved Consultant. In addition they must complete twelve hours of continuing education in EMDR every two years.”
It would be my pleasure to help you become an EMDR Certified Clinician. We will work out a plan together to guide you toward this goal. You will notice a big difference in your confidence and in your EMDR expertise.