FAQs 

Does your four-weekend training cover Part 1 and Part 2 of the basic training in EMDR?

Yes.

Actually, our EMDRIA Approved Basic Training in EMDR Therapy provides more hours of lecture and practice with additional training exercises than in the historic "Part 1" and "Part 2" approach. 

EMDRIA no longer recognizes specific "parts" of basic training such as Part 1 or Part 2 (or Part 3). These basic training segments represent varieties of training models offered by different EMDRIA-approved providers of basic training. 

EMDRIA sets minimum standards for the amount of lecture (20 hours), practice (20 hours), and consultation (10 hours) and leaves it up to each provider to propose a training model and structure to meet EMDRIA standards. The EMDR Center of Southern California (ECSC) Basic Training in EMDR Therapy is offered as a series of four, two-day training weekends scheduled approximately three to four weeks apart. With our training, there is no "Part 1" or "Part 2," just one complete, comprehensive basic training. 

With our training, you sign up for one complete training with a specific training schedule Upon completion of our Basic Training in EMDR (equivalent to what was formerly referred to as Part 1 and Part 2), you will have earned the right to refer to yourself as an “EMDR Trained” therapist and will be using EMDR in your current clinical setting.

I completed Part 1 from another EMDR training. What training sessions do I need to complete Part 2?

If you completed "Part 1" from another training provider, it is not possible to register for a "part" of our training to complete "Part 2."  

The EMDR Center of Southern California (ECSC) Basic Training in EMDR Therapy is offered as a series of four, two-day training weekends scheduled over approximately a 16-week period. With our training, there is no "Part 1" or "Part 2," just one complete, comprehensive basic training.

If you were only partially trained, you will be required to attend all 8 days of our training in order to receive your certificate of completion.

I have a possible scheduling conflict for one or two of the eight days of this training. Can accommodations be made?

Unfortunately, no. 

The EMDR Basic Training provided by the EMDR Center of Southern California (ECSC) is a paced and sequential learning program which builds progressively on learning experiences over each of the eight days of training. 

The program consists of more than 50% of experiential learning activities through supervised group and dyad practice exercises, as well as group consultations. It is not possible to miss one full day or a weekend and make it up via home study or private consultation. 

Further, EMDRIA requirements state that participants must attend all training days and actively participate in all supervised practice exercises and group consultation sessions in order to receive a certificate of completion for this training. Similarly, CE granting organizations require participation and completion of all program activities to earn CEs. Neither CEs nor documentation of program completion may be granted for partial attendance. 

We believe the commitment to the 8-day training is worth the time investment in that the paced, progressive and sequential model of training, in addition to the outstanding curriculum content provided by the EMDR Center of Southern California (ECSC), is a superior program for professional development and EMDR training. 

I am a student but have not yet started my internship or practicum. Can I still register for the training?

The EMDR International Association requires that students who register for the training be enrolled in a master's or doctoral program in the mental health field (Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, Psychiatry, Psychiatric Nursing, Social Work) or related mental health discipline. Students must have completed their core graduate academic coursework and must be in the practicum/internship portion of their graduate program. Graduate students must be on a licensing track and working under the supervision of a fully licensed mental health clinician. Unfortunately, first year graduate students are not eligible to take the training.

Therefore, as long as you meet the above criteria and will be starting your internship or practicum before the training takes place, you are eligible to register for the training.

Is consultation included in the basic training schedule and tuition?

Yes.

All EMDRIA Approved Training Providers are required to provide at least (10) hours of consultation "in developmental increments to extend over the course of the training." 

In choosing between different providers of basic training in EMDR Therapy, you should be aware that many providers of basic training do not include the cost of all (10) required hours of consultation in their listed tuition and do not include these (10) hours in the standard training schedule. Instead, most require participants to attend separately scheduled consultation sessions, or to find a consultant on their own and then schedule and pay for these sessions privately. As such, there is no guarantee that providers of outside consultation will cover all phases of EMDR Therapy as part of consultation.

With our training at ECSC, you will receive consultation feedback on all phases of EMDR Therapy over the course of our eight-day training format. The cost of all required hours of consultation is included in the listed tuition. These 90-minute sessions of consultation are provided in a paced manner that reinforces concepts and procedures built upon in the training sequence.

At the EMDR Center of Southern California (ECSC), we closely support you in your learning process by providing clear and easy-to-use forms and scripts to assist you in practicing and documenting your clinical experiences with EMDR. This method of support makes it easy for you to present simple work summaries over the course of your EMDR Basic Training.

Upon completion of your Basic Training in EMDR with ECSC, your professional development as an EMDR Trained therapist thus begins; we strongly encourage you to continue to engage in consultation on a regular basis from EMDRIA Approved Consultants. Our Consultants at ECSC at are excellent, and are available to  work with you at your own pace toward the advanced designation of EMDRIA Certified Therapist if you so choose. 

Will I be certified in EMDR once I complete the basic training?

No. Being a Certified EMDR Therapist is an advanced designation which is earned post EMDR Basic Training. Completing an EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) approved Basic Training in EMDR Therapy is the first step. The requirements to become an EMDR Certified Therapist are described in detail on EMDRIA’s website.

After completing our Basic Training in EMDR (or any EMDR Basic Training), you are considered to be an EMDR Trained therapist. Furthermore, licensed mental health professionals are eligible for Full Membership in EMDRIA. Interns are eligible for Associate Membership and can upgrade to Full Membership upon licensure. 

Generally, in order to become Certified in EMDR Therapy, EMDRIA requires that you:

  • have at least two years experience in your field

  • have conducted at least (50) EMDR sessions with at least (25) clients

  • have received (20) hours of consultation by an Approved Consultant in EMDR Therapy (after completing your Basic Training)

  • have completed (12) hours of EMDRIA Credits (continuing education in EMDR)

  • provide letter(s) of recommendation from one or more Approved Consultant(s) in EMDR Therapy regarding your utilization of EMDR Therapy

  • provide two letters of clinical peer recommendation

  • verify that you agree to adhere to EMDRIA's Professional Code of Conduct

Many of my clients have complex co-occurring conditions. Can I learn EMDR Therapy and apply it with them?

Yes.

The training curriculum of our Basic Training in EMDR Therapy is organized to address the fact that most clinicians treat relatively few cases of single incident adult or child trauma and instead treat mostly complex cases with co-occurring conditions. At the EMDR Center of Southern California (ECSC) you will learn how to apply EMDR Therapy to these complex cases with confidence by learning a case conceptualization model that in informed by: 1) an attachment theory application, 2) the Theory of Structural Dissociation of the Personality and dissociation screening, and 3) Francine Shapiro’s Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model.

At the EMDR Center of Southern California (ECSC), our integrated approach to treatment planning and target sequencing for EMDR Therapy strengthens your ability to organize your work with your clients whether they are ready for EMDR reprocessing or require a more prolonged preparation before appropriately beginning reprocessing.

Our Basic Training at ECSC builds the conceptual, perceptual and procedural skills that you need to confidently integrate EMDR Therapy into your daily clinical practice with real-world, complex cases.

I am a mental health clinician. I do not have a current caseload, nor do I conduct individual psychotherapy with my clients. Am I still eligible to enroll in the training?

Unless you have an active caseload, you may not register for our Basic Training in EMDR. You need to have a minimum of two cases in your clinical caseload with which you conduct individual psychotherapy in order to practice the skills learned in the EMDR Therapy training.

The EMDR Center of Southern California (ECSC) focuses on the application of EMDR Therapy in the treatment of disorders and symptoms related to trauma and neglect for children and adults. Participants will be required to discuss their clinical experiences in applying what they learn in EMDR Therapy over the course of the Basic Training program.

Our goal is to ensure that all participants have sufficient education and clinical experience to begin applying EMDR Therapy over the course of the Basic Training and to have access to a clinical setting where the use of EMDR Therapy is appropriate and possible.

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