How are therapists trained in EMDR?

EMDRIA (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association) governs EMDR therapists and developed the criteria acceptable to submit to be a “trained” or “certified” EMDR therapist.

1. A person must possess a license to be a mental health therapist/practitioner which is issued by their state governing board after completing the necessary requirements (a master’s degree or higher as well as thousands of hours of experience followed by taking licensing tests).

-or-

(minimum requirement) be in a master’s degree program and be supervised by a licensed mental health therapist/practitioner.

2. Complete a 12-week university course in EMDR or an intensive 2 weekend course in EMDR (totaling 42 hours).

3. To call yourself a “trained” EMDR therapist you must have also completed 10 hours of supervision from a certified EMDR consultant or consultant in training.

4. To call yourself a “certified” EMDR therapist you must complete an additional 20 hours (in addition to the 10 listed above) of supervision from a certified EMDR consultant or consultant in training AND completed an additional 12 hours of education on EMDR that is approved by EMDRIA.