Participation Agreement

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1. EMDR is widely recognized as an empirically supported treatment for PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder. Its safety and efficacy for other clinical applications have yet to be fully evaluated by controlled research. The cautions described in the published literature and in the EMDR Center of Southern California Basic Training in EMDR are based primarily on anecdotal reports by trained clinicians. *

I Agree

2. All participants must be either pre-licensed or licensed to independently practice psychotherapy in a discipline recognized by EMDRIA. If currently pre-licensed, participants must be enrolled in at least the second year of Master’s level coursework pertaining to a mental health or related discipline recognized by EMDRIA, must currently be on a licensing track, and must be supervised by a licensed clinician in a practicum or internship setting. If you are not independently licensed, provide the name and contact information of your clinical supervisor in the space provided below; the ECSC Director of Training retains the right to verify your eligibility to participate in the EMDR Basic Training via your clinical supervisor. *

I Agree

If currently pre-licensed, enter phone of clinical supervisor. Otherwise, please leave blank.

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3. All participants must have a current, active psychotherapy caseload. This Basic Training is designed to help participants integrate their use of EMDR Therapy into their own current clinical setting. This Basic Training is not intended for managers, researchers or clinicians who do not carry an active psychotherapy caseload in which they may conduct individual psychotherapy. Organization name of current clinical practice location: *

I Agree

4. A significant component of the EMDR Basic Training involves clinicians practicing EMDR Therapy and related procedures in small groups under the supervision of the instructor or a qualified practicum facilitator. These practicum experiences are for training purposes only and are not intended for personal therapy. All participants should be prepared to address disturbing real-life experiences as part of this Basic Training in order to: 1) appreciate the subjective experience of EMDR as a client would, and to 2) provide valid training experiences for other participants. It is not unusual for a target incident to be linked to other, unexpected, disturbing memories or material which might surface during or after the practicum exercises. Participants must be prepared to be forthcoming and willing to share aspects of their personal history with participants they are directly working with in the Basic Training. Participants must also be prepared to share aspects of their personal history with the training staff to ensure the material they wish to address is appropriate for the practicum environment. *

I Agree

5. Trauma-related case material presented didactically, in consultation sessions, or on video may be disturbing to those with unresolved issues. In submitting this application for Basic Training, I affirm that I have the affect-arousal management skills necessary to cope with exposure to this type of material. *

I Agree

6. Furthermore, with reference to 4. and 5. above: *

I Agree

6. a. Clinicians presently engaged in personal psychotherapy or psychiatric treatment should inform their therapist or psychiatrist about all aspects of this Basic Training including the experiential components, and they should secure their psychotherapist’s or psychiatrist’s support to participate. *

I Agree

6. b. Persons with limiting or special medical conditions (e.g., pregnancy, heart condition, ocular difficulties, etc.) should consult their medical professionals before participating in this Basic Training, and they should discuss their circumstances with the Director of Training in advance of submitting their application to participate in the Basic Training. *

I Agree

6. c. Persons who presently have, or who have previously been diagnosed with a dissociative disorder, acute or complex PTSD, General Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, substance use disorder, a personality disorder, or affective disorder should not participate without special arrangements being made with the Director of Training as part of the application for registration. Failure to advise the Director of Training of such issues in advance could place you and other participants at risk, and result in dismissal from the EMDR Basic Training without refund. *

I Agree

6. d. Participants are expected to maintain a spirit of cooperation with, and mutual support for all persons in the Basic Training. Moreover, it is essential that the experiential learning environment is safe. Persons who are disruptive at any point during the Basic Training will be given one warning by the Director of Training and will be dismissed without refund if there is a recurrence. Conflict- generating behavior is not permissible. *

I Agree

6. e. EMDR is a complex therapy that if applied incorrectly by the psychotherapist could result in harm to the client. Training staff, therefore, will be providing live supervision and constructive feedback to all those enrolled in the Basic Training in order to ensure fidelity to, and correct application of the procedural skills and technique used in EMDR Therapy. Participants who are resistant and defensive to receiving feedback will be spoken to by the Director of Training and will be dismissed without refund if there is a recurrence. *

I Agree

6. f. Participants are expected to progress in their understanding and application of EMDR Therapy. Participants are expected to demonstrate adequate fidelity to the procedural skills in all eight phases of EMDR Therapy. As the Basic Training proceeds, the training staff must agree that you are ready and able to move onto the more intensive and demanding work involved in this EMDR Basic Training program. I agree that the Director of Training has the right to dismiss any participant who does not appear to be integrating, assimilating, or understanding the material taught, and does not appear to be improving in their application of EMDR Therapy despite feedback and guidance from training staff. Participants dismissed from the Basic Training due to their inability to progress and evolve in their learning and implementation of EMDR Therapy will be refunded half of their tuition paid minus a $150. administrative fee. *

I Agree

6. g. This Basic Training venue is accessible for persons who are disabled or have special needs. If you do have a disability or special needs, you agree to inform the Director of Training when you submit your application of any specific accommodations that need to be made. *

I Agree

7. The reprocessing of targeted incidents during practicum exercises may lead to the emergence of other disturbing memories during and after practicum exercises. It is the responsibility of the participant to seek, obtain, and pay for appropriate professional assistance if needed. Providing such assistance is not part of the Basic Training and will not be provided by the Director of Training or staff. Clinicians who elect to do personal EMDR Therapy may find lists of EMDR trained clinicians via www.emdria.org. *

I Agree

8. This Basic Training is intended to prepare clinicians to apply EMDR Therapy for clinical purposes only and will not qualify the participant to train others in EMDR Therapy. Attempts to train others in EMDR Therapy without meeting the standards as defined by EMDRIA would represent a violation of professional ethics and standards. *

I Agree

9. Communication regarding the EMDR Basic Training may be sent either via email by ECSC staff or through the Canvas learning management platform when cohort information needs to be disseminated. Participants will use the Canvas learning management platform to post private communications to staff, or they may email staff individually. I agree to utilize the Canvas learning management platform to communicate with training staff, to upload homework assignments, upload Module evaluations, and to take required quizzes. I agree that I will contact the Director of Training immediately if I am unable to open or access communication emails and/or the Canvas learning management platform. *

I Agree

10. In order to assure confidentiality of personal and clinical information, audio or video recording of Basic Training material by participants is not permissible. It is expected that all participants shall maintain the highest standard of confidentiality regarding all personal and clinical information shared by others in this Basic Training. Failure to maintain confidentiality will be treated as a breach of professional ethics and may result in dismissal from the Basic Training without refund. I agree that the Director of Training has the right to dismiss without refund any participant who breaks confidentiality. Confidentiality shall apply to all consultation sessions and practicum experiences. The content of these sessions and experiences may be discussed only with members of the immediate consultation or practicum group, the participant’s group consultant, the practicum supervisor, and instructors. A participant may, of course, share their own emerging material with anyone they choose to share. *

I Agree

11. Participants must obtain written consent for the release of (non-identifying) information from each client prior to presenting case consultation material during the EMDR Basic Training. Written consent will be maintained in the client’s clinical record. Participants agree not to disclose clients’ names or other identifying information when making verbal or written consultation presentations. *

I Agree

12. a. Certificate of Completion: a. The Basic Training is an academically rigorous and clinically focused training. All participants are expected to complete the required readings before each training session, pass (at or above 80%) each pre-test and post-test learning module, submit all evaluation forms, and actively participate in the Basic Training. In addition, participants must also demonstrate through group discussion, practicum exercises, and case consultation an understanding of the EMDR Therapy approach, with specific focus on case conceptualization. *

I Agree

12. b. Attendance Policy: Participants must attend all eight Basic Training days and take part in all supervised practicum exercises and group consultation sessions in their entirety. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) requires that participants complete the full EMDR training program within a consecutive 12-month period if transfer to the next training cycle is necessary due to unforeseen personal circumstances or an unavoidable business situation. *

I Agree

12. c. I agree to read in their entirety the following two texts (at the assigned intervals): Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols and Procedures. New York: Guilford; Leeds, A.M. (2016). A Guide to the Standard EMDR Protocols for Clinicians, Supervisors, and Consultants. New York: Springer. Participants must pay for these texts in addition to the course tuition fee. Participants will be provided with a digital copy of the training course manual via the Canvas learning management system platform.

I Agree

12. d. It is expected that participants will not be absent for more than (15) minutes at any time during the EMDR Basic Training. Participants who miss more than (15) minutes and up to (60) minutes at any time during the Basic Training will be required to make up this time, and pay training staff (at the staff’s contracted rate) for their time in order to receive a Certificate of Completion. The Director of Training will determine the appropriate way of making up missed time. If more than (60) minutes is missed on any day of training, the participant must transfer to the next training cohort and adhere to the Transfer Policy (provision 15.) of this Participation Agreement. *

I Agree

12. e. All participants are expected to engage fully with the Basic Training in all its aspects. I agree to work diligently towards acquisition of the necessary understanding of EMDR Therapy in order to demonstrate to the training staff adequate fidelity within all eight phases of EMDR Therapy. *

I Agree

12. f. For consultation sessions, participants are required to prepare comprehensive written materials regarding their actual clinical use of specific EMDR procedures with actual, ongoing clients (the use of confederates and/or colleagues is not allowed). I agree that I will gather and complete all the information required for group consultation sessions. If I am unable to gather and complete the information required for group consultations, my Certificate of Completion will be withheld until which time I meet these requirements by meeting individually with either the Director of Training or another member of ECSC staff to complete them. In this case, I will be financially responsible for this additional time spent in individual consultation (at the Dir. of Training or other ECSC staff member's rate) to complete the consultation requirements prior to earning the EMDR Basic Training Certificate of Completion. *

I Agree

12. g. A Certificate of Completion will be issued to all participants who satisfactorily complete the above-stated requirements. Participants who have earned a Certificate of Completion may refer to themselves as “EMDR Trained.” *

I Agree

13. Weather/Natural Disaster Policy: There may be times when there is either severe weather or a natural disaster (e.g., severe earthquake, sudden national pandemic) near the training venue. We will hold the Basic Training except under the most severe of conditions. It is the responsibility of all participants to plan ahead and make appropriate travel and attendance arrangements, including the use of nearby hotels so that you may be available for the Basic Training in its entirety. *

I Agree

14. Use of Copyrighted Training Materials: The printed training course manual and other original materials provided by the EMDR Center of Southern California through the Canvas platform are all copyrighted unless otherwise stated. Each participant is granted a limited license to copy these materials for their own personal use. Participants will be allowed to download all materials from the Canvas platform throughout the duration of the EMDR Basic Training course. Approximately one month following the published training course completion date, no access to the Canvas platform or copyrighted materials is no longer available. All participants must download materials from the Canvas platform prior to the closing of the course and before access to the Canvas platform is closed. I agree to refrain from distribution or sharing of these materials unless I have received written permission from Christine Sells, Ph.D. I agree that to violate this limited license without such written permission makes me liable to full legal penalties of copyright infringement. *

I Agree

15. Refund and Transfer Policy: The following conditions apply if withdrawal from the training is necessary after acceptance: 1) Full refund minus a $150. administration fee 30 days or more before the training onset, 2) Within 30 days prior to training onset no refunds will be issued for any reason, and 3) After the onset of training, no refunds will be issued for personal reasons, business situations, or for any other reason including medical circumstances as vacancies after the onset of training cannot be filled. Any refund requests must be in writing via email to the Director of Training: drsells@emdrcalifornia.com. The following additional conditions apply if I need to withdraw from the training after acceptance: 1) I may request in writing via email to the Director of Training (drsells@emdrcalifornia.com) a transfer to a future training cycle with an associated administration fee of $150., 2) When the time between the first and second training cycle is six months or less, and if I attended and satisfactorily completed the requirements of only weekend one of the training cycle, then I may resume training at weekend two of the next training cycle, 3) If I attended and satisfactorily completed weekends one and two only in one training cycle, then I agree to start again at weekend two of the next training cycle, 4) If I attended and satisfactorily completed weekends one, two and three in one training cycle, then I may return and take just weekend four of the next training cycle, 5) Before satisfactorily completing the EMDR basic training in any one training cycle, I may elect to start over and attend all four weekends of the EMDR basic training provided that I have not already utilized a transfer to a future training cycle; there is an associated $150. administration fee for transfer to a future training cycle. For purposes of this registration, if I attend only one day of a training weekend, that will be considered as if I had not attended that weekend at all, 6) If the time between the first and second training cycles is more than six months, I will be required to start over and attend all four weekends at a future training cycle, and 7) I acknowledge that I am allowed only one transfer to a future EMDR basic training cycle which has an associated $150. transfer fee. If I have utilized my one available transfer to a future training cycle, and I drop out before satisfactorily completing the EMDR basic training, I forfeit all tuition monies paid along with associated administration fees for transfer. My digital signature below confirms that I have read, understood and agree to ECSC's Refund and Transfer Policy. *

I Agree

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