Are you interested in training as an EMDR therapist? It can feel really confusing when deciding whether to train in a specific therapy. The training pathway is not always clear. We often don’t know what is expected of us as clinicians on this journey. So if you want to find out more about the different progressive steps as you train as an EMDR therapist please do read on.
Who can train as an EMDR therapist?
Everyone who trains in EMDR therapy needs to have a core qualification in mental health. This can include mental health professionals such as Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Mental Health nurses, Counsellors, Psychotherapists. Click here to see the eligibility criteria for EMDR training. There is therefore a high level of training, skill and knowledge in people who begin their EMDR training. It’s important that delegates training in EMDR already have a good understanding of 1-1 therapy. It’s also important to have a good understanding of the therapeutic relationship
How is EMDR training structured in the UK?
Most UK training companies are accredited by EMDR Europe and affiliated with the EMDR association UK. It’s important to do your research when looking for EMDR training. Check that the company you are working with are accredited. To be accredited training companies will have to submit both the course content and have their teaching observed. This ensures that they are reaching the standards expected. You can look at the EMDR Association of the country you are training in to see the accredited companies. Click here to see the list for the UK.
The training companies in the UK structure their training slightly differently. It often comes in parts with some companies offering 3 parts and other offering 4 parts. It’s recommended that you stay with the same training company to ensure that you cover everything you need to know. The important thing is to check with the training company you are interested in working with. Find out how they structure their training. You can see more about what we offer at Mindsync EMDR training here .
All EMDR training accredited by EMDR Europe will have to cover specific teaching, supervision and practical hours. You can find out more about that here.
At Mindsync EMDR training we currently operate a 4 part system. Part 1 is 3 days including teaching, practicals and supervision, part 2 is 1 day covering teaching and supervision. Part 3 is again 3 days with part 4 being a 4 hour supervision session.
When you have completed all parts of the standard EMDR training you can call yourself an EMDR therapist. This means that as a basic you have completed all parts of training and worked with a minimum of 3 clients using EMDR. It’s often better if you can work with a lot more than 3 clients.
EMDR Accredited Practitioner
Once you have completed your standard training, you can work towards becoming an EMDR Accredited Practitioner. They have developed core competencies in EMDR through engaging in EMDR Consultation with an Accredited EMDR Consultant. This needs to be for at least 20 hours. Accredited practitioners will have seen at least 25 people using EMDR. They will have completed a minimum of 50 hours of EMDR treatment. Practitioners will have a sound understanding of EMDR as a treatment model. They will know how to work when clients are stuck and how to apply the model to different presenting problems.
Becoming Accredited gives confidence to us as clinicians but also to our clients. It’s a stamp of approval. We know for sure that the work has been overseen by an EMDR Consultant and it meets the criteria set out by EMDR Europe.
EMDR Consultant
EMDR Accredited Practitioners can continue with their EMDR development to become EMDR Consultants. So on top of the criteria reached for Accredited Practitioners, they also have worked with a further minimum of 75 clients providing EMDR. They will have completed a minimum of 300 hours of EMDR practice.
EMDR Consultants have also undertaken a minimum of 24 hours of EMDR Continuing Professional Development and attended further training in EMDR.
They also have to have experience of supervising other EMDR therapists.
EMDR Facilitator
When you have been an EMDR Consultant for 2 years you can train to be an EMDR Facilitator. EMDR Facilitators support Europe Accredited trainings and help other therapists to train in EMDR. They provide supervision and run small group exercises during the trainings. They are trained by the trainers by initially observing the trainer completing this role, then they themselves are observed completing the role by the trainer until they have developed competence in this.
EMDR Trainer
Being an EMDR Trainer is the highest standard that can be awarded. Trainers have to have been facilitators on a minimum of 5 training courses. They have to have been mentored as a trainee trainer by a senior EMDR Europe trainer.
It is a hierarchical system which creates a differing of opinion amongst Clinicians but if a Therapist is at a certain level we can be assured that they have had to demonstrate their skill and competence to be in that position and personally I find that quite containing.
So if you are interested and want to train as an EMDR therapist please do get in touch with us at Mindsync EMDR training.