Common Mistakes New EMDR Therapists Make (From a Trainer)

*EMDR training/certification requirements come from EMDRIA and can change. Confirm current requirements here.

Figures below reflect EMDRIA's standard Basic Training structure as of 2026.

The most common mistakes I see in new EMDR therapists are rushing into reprocessing before clients are resourced, skipping or shortchanging preparation, poor target selection, and abandoning the protocol when processing gets hard. All are fixable with good consultation.

1. Rushing to reprocessing

Skipping stabilization and resourcing leads to overwhelm. Preparation isn't optional.

2. Underusing the preparation phase

Resourcing, safety, and client readiness make or break the work.

3. Weak target selection / case conceptualization

Unclear targets lead to stuck or scattered processing.

4. Going off-protocol when it gets hard

New clinicians often abandon EMDR at the first sign of blocked processing instead of using interweaves and trusting the process.

5. Skipping their own consultation

The clinicians who grow fastest keep getting consultation well past the minimum.

FAQ

How do I avoid these?

Ongoing consultation and not rushing the early phases.

Is it normal to feel unsure at first?

Completely! that's what consultation is for.

Train with me in Salt Lake City

I co-lead EMDR Training: Integrating EMDR into Your Clinical Practice, an EMDRIA-approved EMDR Basic Training, in person at the SLC Marriott University Park: Part 1: Oct 29–31, 2026 and Part 2: Dec 3–5, 2026 (with Trevor Hardcastle, LMFT). It meets all EMDRIA Basic Training requirements: 40 CE hours plus 10 hours of consultation. Early-bird pricing through Aug 19, 2026; register by Oct 18.