How to Find a Good EMDR Therapist: Ultimate Guide for 2024
By: Maria Inoa
Jun 25, 2024
To search for a qualified EMDR therapist, use the EMDR therapist directory via the EMDRIA website. There, you will find the EMDR therapist directory and a wealth of information regarding EMDR.
You've finally made the brave decision to seek therapy. Maybe it's just traditional talk therapy you're interested in, or you are seeking a deeper level of healing with a trauma therapist.
Finding a good therapist can be easy, but sometimes it becomes tedious and frustrating. Luckily, finding a qualified EMDR therapist doesn't have to be exhausting. This guide will help simplify finding a therapist trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy.
In this guide, you will learn the differences between EMDR training and EMDR certification, the best EMDR therapist directory you can use, what to look for in a qualified EMDR therapist, and an overview of what you can expect during EMDR treatment.
How to Find a Good EMDR Therapist
To search for a qualified EMDR therapist, use the EMDR therapist directory via the EMDRIA website (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association). There, you will find the EMDR therapist directory and a wealth of information regarding EMDR.
It is also where mental health professionals find official EMDR training and get certified in EMDR. The directory on this site also gives you other relevant information, including whether the therapist is certified in EMDR, their location, experience, fees, and whether they take insurance.
It's important to note that not all therapists trained in EMDR will be listed in this directory, but typically, certified EMDR therapists will be.
Once you identify potential therapists, you should contact them to request a phone consultation. Most therapists offer a free 15-minute phone consultation.
The phone consultation is a time to get an idea of the therapist's personality and approach and ask any questions you have. Ultimately, it's an opportunity to make sure you feel they are a good fit and are qualified to treat your trauma. You may have to reach out to a few trauma therapists to find the right therapist because some may not be taking new clients.
Qualifications of a Good EMDR Therapist
Training and Certification
Therapists undergo EMDR training by taking an EMDRIA-approved course that includes a minimum of 20 hours of instructional material and 20 hours of supervised practicum. In addition, this basic training includes 10 hours of group consultation after the training.
Once therapists have completed the basic EMDR training, they can pursue certification to become EMDR-certified therapists. The certification process requires that the therapist meet with an approved EMDR supervisor (referred to as an EMDR consultant) for 20 hours and complete at least 50 hours of EMDR sessions. In addition, therapists must complete 12 hours of continuing education credits.
Certification ensures the therapist knows how to properly deliver EMDR to clients with traumatic experiences, including clients with post-traumatic stress disorder and complex trauma. Certification also ensures that the therapist keeps their skills sharp by requiring certified therapists to complete 12 continuing education credits and renew their certification every two years.
I highly recommend finding an EMDR-certified therapist instead of just one who has undergone basic EMDR training. The difference in the skill level is vast. I speak of this from my experience as a trained and now certified EMDR therapist.
Key Questions to Ask Potential EMDR Therapists
When you speak to a therapist that you are interested in working with, you may want to ask them any or all of the following questions to figure out if they're the right therapist for you:
When did they receive their basic EMDR training?
Are they an EMDR certified therapist?
How many years of experience do they have as a therapist?
How much of their practice involves EMDR treatment?
Are they familiar with dissociative disorders?
What traumas do they specialize in treating?
What issues or traumas do they not treat?
How would they describe their approach to trauma therapy?
Do they use other approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
What to Expect from EMDR Therapy
The EMDR process is tailored to each client. EMDR treatment is made up of 8 phases. The client doesn't need to worry about knowing the 8 phases, as it's the therapist's job to follow the steps during the therapy process.
EMDR treatment starts with getting to know the client, what's currently bothering them, and getting an in-depth history of childhood. This process can take 1-2 sessions.
It's important to note that the therapist will not force the client to talk about traumatic memories they are not ready to talk about. Throughout the EMDR process, the client stays in control. If there are life events they do not feel comfortable openly discussing yet, the therapist proceeds slowly so that the client feels safe and grounded.
The therapist should screen for dissociative disorders during this time via a simple questionnaire the client fills out. Dissociation is a normal brain process that we all do as humans as a means of survival.
Dissociation is a way of "checking out" mentally where you disconnect your thoughts and feelings. Generally speaking, the more traumatic events you've experienced, the more your brain and body have learned to dissociate as a way of not having to feel certain emotions and feelings.
Once the history, current issues, and client's goals have been discussed, the therapist will work with the client on creating a safe environment via an EMDR therapy technique called the "safe space." The therapist then works with the client to make sure they have adequate internal resources or coping skills to endure discussing the painful memories that come up during EMDR.
Every step of the EMDR process is an important part of the healing process. Once those phases are done, the therapist and client develop a treatment plan specific to EMDR treatment. This treatment plan lays out the life experiences and traumatic memories that will be the focus of therapy.
The heart of EMDR, the reprocessing phase, involves bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation means you are utilizing both the left and right sides of your brain as part of the healing process. This can be done in different ways. One way is by following the therapist's hand, moving back and forth in a specific way. Another way is to have the client tap on their body in a certain way.
The EMDR process is intuitive and pays attention to emotions and body sensations. During the reprocessing phase, a body scan is used to help the client release and heal any emotions and sensations stored inside their body.
EMDR can be done in person or virtually. However, online therapy using EMDR treatment has been found to be equally as effective as in-person therapy.
Related: How Many EMDR Sessions Do You Need?
Duration and Frequency of Therapy
The frequency of EMDR trauma therapy is typically weekly to start. The longer the time between sessions, the longer it takes to complete the healing process.
Weekly therapy sessions require a significant commitment from the client. Like any therapy, EMDR treatment is an investment in yourself. Sessions may be weekly at first, but can move to every other week. The therapist and client will work together to decide on the best treatment schedule for the client.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy can take roughly 8-10 sessions to address a single traumatic event. This can vary from client to client. Many traumatic events are similar, and therefore, once you resolve one, the other traumatic memories lessen in their emotional intensity.
In my experience, six months is the average time needed to complete a basic EMDR treatment plan. However, if you are someone who has more complex trauma or a dissociative disorder, you will want to plan for more time. Again, this can vary from client to client and your overall treatment goals.
Benefits of EMDR Therapy
EMDR sessions help to decrease the intensity of emotions, sensations, and triggers connected to traumatic life events. Even traumatic events from years and years ago can be reprocessed in your brain and body, allowing you to feel more free.
EMDR cannot erase memories from bad life experiences, but it can help your brain and body reprocess the event so that it feels much less bothersome when you think about it. Even those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and complex trauma can find healing through EMDR therapy work.
As a result of EMDR treatment, clients find themselves less reactive and able to experience more peace and joy in life. As you feel less triggered and calmer internally, you will notice that your relationships will improve as well.
EMDR treatment is not just helpful for past trauma but also panic disorders, anxiety, depression, phobias, chronic illness, grief and loss, and more.
Potential Challenges and How to Overcome Them
EMDR therapy is helpful for many people, but it is not always the best fit. I recommend people learn more about and try out with a highly qualified EMDR therapist to best determine if they can benefit.
A good EMDR therapist will incorporate additional approaches as needed into treatment to ensure the client benefits as much as possible and traumatic events are resolved.
It is typically not recommended for pregnant women, people with neurological issues, people experiencing psychosis, and people who have eye issues.
Conclusion: Finding the Right EMDR Therapist for You
To conclude, if you're interested in trying Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, pat yourself on the back because it takes a lot of courage to reach out for therapy. Being willing to seek deeper healing via trauma therapy is a huge step and can be life-changing.
Hopefully, you will feel more knowledgeable about finding a qualified EMDR therapist. You now better understand the differences in EMDR training and have a list of questions you can pull from when talking to a potential therapist.
We've summarized what you can expect from EMDR treatment, including answering the popular question: how long will the EMDR process take? Lastly, we discussed the benefits of EMDR therapy sessions and the issues that may exclude you from being a potential EMDR client.
Don't be discouraged while finding the right therapist; refer to this guide as needed.
