What EMDR Consultation Is (and Why You Need It)

*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.

EMDR consultation is individualized guidance from an EMDRIA-Approved Consultant as you apply EMDR with real clients. It's a required part of Basic Training (10 hours) and of certification (20 more hours), and it's where most clinicians actually become confident and effective EMDR therapists.

What happens in consultation

You bring real (de-identified) cases and get feedback on case conceptualization, client readiness, target selection, treatment planning, applying specific skills, and integrating EMDR into your overall work.

Why it matters more than people expect

Training teaches the protocol; consultation teaches the clinical judgment: when to slow down, how to handle blocked processing, how to keep clients safe and resourced. It's the difference between knowing the eight phases and using them well.

How to choose a consultant

Look for an EMDRIA-Approved Consultant with experience in the populations and presentations you treat (e.g., complex trauma, religious trauma).

FAQ

Is consultation the same as supervision?

No. consultation is EMDR-specific guidance, not licensure supervision.

Individual or group?

Both count; many clinicians do a mix.

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.