What is EMDR Therapy Training?
Discovered by Dr. Francine Shapiro, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is one of the most researched and utilized methods in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other forms of human distress connected to trauma and adverse life experiences. Whether your goal is to become an EMDR therapist as a specialty, or to integrate EMDR into your existing practice, our mindfulness-infused training program will help you meet your goals. Our program equips you to work with real-world clinical presentations from day one, including how to handle complex and developmental trauma, addressing dissociation, and implementing EMDR into your current setting. Our training program in EMDR therapy originated in Dr. Jamie’s home base of Northeast Ohio and is now offered worldwide, incorporating the diverse perspectives of our growing network.
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Overview of eMDR Therapy Training
Please make sure to view this orientation video before registering to get a complete understanding of how we structure our training. To meet the EMDRIA standards for full certification in EMDR Therapy you must complete:
- 20 Hours of Lecture
- 20 Hours of Practicum
- 10 Hours of Consultation
- Required reading and taking an open-book learner assessment
Becoming an EMDR Therapist
Learn more about the training process directly from the EMDR International Association.
Visit www.emdria.org for more information.
EMDR Therapy Program Formats
The Institute for Creative Mindfulness directly operates all trainings taught by our founder, Dr. Jamie Marich, as well as those trainings offered in the cohort for BIPOC Clinicians under the directorship of Lisa Hayes. All other EMDR Therapy trainings listed on our website are operated by independent faculty members within our network, teaching the ICM curriculum under a special license. Due to this arrangement, different trainings may follow different formats:
Deluxe Training Model
Currently operated by only Dr. Jamie Marich through the Institute for Creative Mindfulness, this is an 8-day model that happens over three segments (two, 3-day segments and one 2-day segment) where the 10 hour EMDRIA-required consultation component is included, as well as the other curriculum requirements that would also appear in the standard Part I-Part II Model.
Standard Part I-Part II Model
Operated by most of our network faculty members, this format offers the curriculum requirements over two separately scheduled parts. Typically offered in two 3-day segments, some network faculty members space the content out in different ways, so be sure to check the faculty member’s schedule before selecting this option. Unless otherwise noted, in this model, trainees are responsible for booking and paying for the cost of their 10 hours of consultation between Parts I and II or after the training. Please see further notes below about consultation requirements.
Other Models and Focuses
ICM network faculty members have the discretion to offer trainings in a variety of different scheduling formats or specialty areas of focus (e.g., LGBTQ+ cohort, addiction-specific cohort, expressive arts cohort) and these may or may not include the cost of consultation. Please check the registration link for full details and disclosures.
Part I training
- 21 Hours of Lecture & Practicum
This in-person or online training covers the basics of trauma, the adaptive information processing model, trauma-informed stabilization, and the basic methodology and mechanisms of action used in EMDR Therapy. You will be able to practice EMDR therapy with certain clients after completion of Part I.
Part II training
- 21 Hours of Lecture & Practicum
In-person or online training with enhanced practicum content, covering best practices for using EMDR Therapy with special populations and in the complex scenarios of clinical practice; advanced content on ethics and neurobiology are also covered in addition to working with the art of case conceptualization.
Consultation Requirement
- 10 Hours of Consultation
For training formats that do not include the cost of consultation (e.g., the Deluxe trainings), consultation is offered in individual or group formats and is essential to practical skill building as an EMDR therapist. It is suggested participants complete 4-6 hours of consultation after Part I and the remaining hours after Part II. Completion of consultation hours is required before a Certificate of Training in EMDR Therapy can be awarded by the Institute for Creative Mindfulness. Trainees can choose from over 70 consultants and consultant trainees in various specialities working at a variety of price points to better serve our trainees. Trainees can choose from those listed in the ICM Consultation Directory Network or other consultants approved by their respective trainers.
All training consultation work can be done remotely (e.g., phone, Skype, Zoom, etc.). No APA, NBCC, ASWB, OCSWMFT or other CE credits are awarded for consultation.
Program Completion
EMDR Therapy Training Part I and Part II must be completed in real-time (whether in-person or online), and all sessions must be attended; no partial credit can be awarded. Certificates of completion of EMDR therapy training are issued after successful completion of Part I and Part II trainings, in addition to a record of completing the 10 hours of consultation. Upon completing the tenth hour of consultation, trainees will submit documentation of consultation hours to their Part II trainers, who record the completion and send a certificate of completion to the program graduate. The certificate of completion is a “suitable for framing” document and is a different certificate from CE credits offered for each part of training.
Successful completion of this EMDR Therapy training program allows you to practice EMDR Therapy within your clinical scope of practice. This training program is an EMDRIA-approved training program that is the basis of eligibility for pursuing Certification in EMDR Therapy as recognized by the EMDR International Association. For more information on being an EMDRIA Certified Therapist, please click HERE
Important EMDRIA Compliance Note
As of January 1, 2023, trainees have ONE YEAR (12 months) from the time that they begin this training to complete all of the requirements, including the 10 hours of supplementary consultation that are required for you to receive your Certificate of Training in EMDR Therapy from the Institute for Creative Mindfulness. Exceptions can be granted only in extreme circumstances (e.g., a humanitarian crisis, illness or injury). If participants do not complete the required sections in this time frame specified by EMDRIA, they are required to complete Part I and Part II again before continuing. If you began your Part I training before January 1, 2023, the rules that were posted at the time you began your training apply to the completion deadline.
Eligibility for the EMDR Therapy Training Program
A masters or doctoral degree
A masters or doctoral degree in a clinical mental health-related field (e.g., counseling, marriage & family therapy, social work, psychology, etc.) is required. Although it is not required, it is strongly preferred that you are in active clinical practice and working with clients.
Master’s level students
Master’s level students may be permitted to take the course if The Institute for Creative Mindfulness receives a letter of recommendation from a faculty member ahead of time. Requests and letters of recommendation can be sent to: support@instituteforcreativemindfulness.com
Medical Professionals
Medical professionals (e.g., nurses and physicians) are also eligible to take the course if they possess a clinical master’s or doctorate degree and if their primary specialty is within mental health.
Chemical dependency professionals
Chemical dependency professionals with a master’s degree or higher may also be eligible to take the course. Pastoral/Christian counselors, and art/music/dance therapists may also be eligible if they can show sufficient clinical content on their master’s level transcripts. In these three specialty scenarios, prior approval is required from the Institute for Creative Mindfulness. In cases of these special circumstances, all cases must be made in writing with supporting documentation directly to The Institute for Creative Mindfulness. You can send your request to: support@instituteforcreativemindfulness.com
Your registration is not considered complete/confirmed until approval is granted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Due to emergency procedures and approvals put into place by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire EMDR therapy training can now be taken online. Although this shift was intended to be temporary, online training program in EMDR Therapy are here to stay, although we are happy to still have a variety of in-person options in various locations around the county as offered by our network faculty members.
We are the only EMDRIA-approved training program that teaches EMDR therapy through the lens of mindfulness. The mindful elements of EMDR therapy were more implicit than explicit when Dr. Francine Shapiro, a student of mind-body medicine, first introduced the therapy. Our curriculum makes the mindful elements explicit. We are now able to train people from the ground up in how to implement mindfulness strategies within the framework of the basic, 8 Phase standard protocol. We have found that this approach resonates for people with previous mindfulness training and helps those without previous mindfulness training to understand, to adapt, and to implement EMDR therapy effectively from day one.
Our trainees find that they are more quickly able to apply EMDR therapy to clients with complex PTSD, dissociative issues, and other complicated diagnoses. They also develop the necessary strategies for addressing developmental trauma and healing attachment wounds within a mindful framework. All of our faculty members are mentored by our founder Dr. Jamie Marich, an individual in active, open recovery from a dissociative disorder, to normalize and clarify working with dissociation respectfully throughout the training and treatment process. You can listen to Dr. Jamie’s interview about our training program HERE.
For all trainings operated directly by the Institute for Creative Mindfulness (Dr. Jamie Marich and Lisa Hayes), the policy is as follows:
If canceling prior to two weeks before a scheduled event, trainees are entitled to a full refund less a 5% processing fee OR the option to apply the dollar amount paid towards a future training with the Institute for Creative Mindfulness. If canceling less than two weeks before a scheduled event, trainees are entitled to a 50% refund, OR the option to apply the dollar amount paid toward a future training with ICM. Only medically documented reasons or family deaths are considered as an exception to this policy. No-shows are generally not eligible for a refund. In the case of inclement weather, should we cancel the training, your registration would simply be moved to our rescheduled date. If the rescheduled date isn’t available for you, we can offer you another date or issue a refund. If you terminate your training or need to leave it early for any reason, you are not eligible for a refund. Attendance at the entire training is required for our program to remain compliant with EMDRIA standards. All other situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Click HERE for more information on ICM’s Organizational Policies.
We do allow ICM network faculty members/licensees to set their own cancellation policies, which may differ from ICM’s policy. Since they run as independent business, ICM cannot guarantee that they will be able to transfer registrations to other network faculty members or to the Institute for Creative Mindfulness trainings operated by Dr. Jamie Marich or Lisa Hayes.
All venues used for in-person trainings by the Institute for Creative Mindfulness are ADA-compliant. For both in-person and online trainings, if you require assistance, the Institute for Creative Mindfulness is willing and committed to make reasonable accommodations. Please contact us – by regular U.S. mail at P.O. Box 334, Bath, OH 44210, by telephone at 330-203-1141, or by email at support@instituteforcreativemindfulness.com – if you have any questions or concerns or if you need to make such a request. The ICM home office requests a 30-days advanced notice for any accommodation requests to allow us to work together on your request.
For trainings run by our network faculty members, we encourage you to contact their offices directly to make arrangements for accommodations, although ICM can facilitate this connection if needed.
Find an EMDR Training Online
or near You today
The Institute for Creative Mindfulness is listed as a provider of Trainings in EMDR therapy by the EMDR International Association. Read further to learn more about our EMDR Therapy training.
