When you join an EMDR training you are already an experienced therapist (Click here to look at the eligibility criteria). But you are probably curious about ways to integrate EMDR into existing therapy practice. If you already have a solid trauma framework, whether it’s trauma-focused CBT, Somatic Experiencing, or relational depth work you might be wondering; “Will EMDR force me to change everything I’m doing?” “Can I integrate it, or do I have to ‘start over’ with my approach?”
The short answer is EMDR doesn’t replace your clinical wisdom but it will enhances it.
In this post, we’ll look at how EMDR can complement your current trauma work, fit into your practice naturally, and even deepen your existing tools.
You don’t have to give up your lens of understanding trauma
EMDR is a structured, evidence-based method for helping clients process and resolve trauma memories stored in the brain and body. You don’t have to give up your lens—whether you’re psychodynamic, somatic, narrative, or attachment-focused.
Think of EMDR as a trauma-processing engine you can plug into many frameworks. It gives you a map and a method for when clients are ready to go deeper into stuck material.
If You Use Trauma-Informed CBT
You’re already primed for EMDR.
CBT therapists bring structure, goal-setting, and cognitive insight to the table—qualities that blend seamlessly with EMDR’s 8-phase protocol.
How it fits:
- Use CBT skills for stabilisation and psychoeducation in EMDR Phases 1–2 (History Taking and Preparation).
- But use EMDR in Phases 3 – 7 to shift those beliefs on an emotional and somatic level—not just a cognitive one. Clients do not have to talk a lot about the trauma they have experienced
Many clients who plateau with CBT alone experience major breakthroughs with EMDR because it taps into the nonverbal and body elements of their trauma.
If You Use Somatic or Body-Based Work
You’ll find EMDR highly compatible with nervous-system-oriented approaches like Somatic Experiencing (SE), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Polyvagal Theory.
How it fits:
- Use somatic tracking to identify where trauma lives in the body.
- Apply resourcing and grounding techniques (e.g., pendulation, containment) during EMDR phase 2 preparation.
- During reprocessing, guide clients to track sensations moment-to-moment as they process memories.
What’s powerful here: Bilateral stimulation can support nervous system regulation in real-time, while also resolving trauma loops. It becomes an embodied, titrated experience, just like your somatic work.
If You Use IFS or Parts Work
EMDR and Internal Family Systems are not just compatible—they’re deeply complementary.
How it fits:
- Use IFS to identify and unblend protectors before trauma reprocessing begins.
- Frame memory targets as stories held by specific parts.
- Use EMDR’s bilateral stimulation while staying in Self-energy.
You don’t have to abandon the internal system. Many EMDR-trained therapists now integrate parts language within the protocol—making it safer and more attuned for clients with complex trauma.
If You Use Relational or Attachment-Based Therapy
EMDR may seem too “technique-driven” at first glance—but in practice, it strengthens the secure base you’re building.
How it fits:
- Use the therapeutic relationship to stabilise and co-regulate during Phases 1–2.
- Process attachment wounds by targeting early relational memories with negative cognitions such as “I’m not lovable.”
- Help clients install new, adaptive beliefs on a felt level—not just through insight.
EMDR doesn’t short-circuit the relationship. It moves clients through trauma while you remain a trusted, attuned guide.
Final Thoughts: Use What You Know—And Build From There
If you already know how to sit with dysregulation, pace trauma work, and build safety then you’re already doing 80% of what EMDR requires.
The EMDR protocol simply gives you a roadmap for the moments when your client is ready to process. It can live within your current framework—not outside of it.
So no, you don’t have to choose between EMDR and the work you love. You just need to learn how to integrate it thoughtfully. You can find out more about what we cover at Mindsync EMDR training here
Want to Learn More?
Consider checking out:
- Getting Past Your Past by Francine Shapiro
- EMDR UK website for research and training info
Who are we at Mindsync EMDR Training
Caroline has a special interest in working with neurodiversity, when she is not delivering training Caroline sees clients for 1-1 work as well as running many supervision sessions and fitting in the odd pottery class!
Caroline van Diest – our Senior trainer. Having started her career as a learning disabilities nurse in the NHS, she trained initially in CBT before starting her EMDR journey. Caroline has worked for many years delivering EMDR training for therapists. She is the co-founder of Mindsync EMDR Training. She is a dynamic trainer, with an interest in storytelling. Caroline likes our delegates to have a clear understanding of EMDR. She will use a lot of clinical examples and story telling in her teaching. There is never a dull moment when Caroline is teaching!
Dr Hannah Bryan – is our Facilitator and trainee Trainer. She started her career in the NHS as a Clinical Psychologist. Hannah worked in secondary mental health services. She started her EMDR journey in 2005 and has seen the positive impact EMDR has on clients where other types of therapy seemed very slow going.
She is the co-founder of Mindsync EMDR training. Hannah has worked as a training Facilitator since 2019 and is really passionate about supporting delegates to grow their confidence and skill in EMDR.Hannah has a special interest in using EMDR within a coaching framework, she also sees clients struggling with their mental health due to their past experiences as well as providing supervision in EMDR.