Finding an EMDR-trained Therapist

EMDR has been shown to be both effective and efficient in treating traumatic memories. Many people now want to find a therapist who is trained in EMDR, for themselves or their kids. Here are some guidelines for finding an EMDR-trained therapist.

1. Find a good therapist.

EMDR is a powerful tool - but the person using the tool is very important! You wouldn't go to a doctor just because s/he can prescribe medicine - you want to go to a good doctor. It's most important to find a therapist who has training and experience in working with the type of person and problem that you need help with. Here are some steps you can take.

Get a local referral from someone you trust - maybe a friend, minister, doctor, or other professional.
Shop around. Talk to the therapist yourself - maybe even meet.
Ask about the therapist's training and experience related to your problem, how s/he might approach your treatment, and whether/when s/he was trained in EMDR.

Finding someone who's "good" is a good start. You should also feel comfortable with the therapist, so that you will be able to be honest with him/her and make your best effort. Then together you have the best chance of solving the problem.

2. Make sure that the therapist has been formally trained in EMDR by an EMDRIA-approved source.

EMDR is a complex method that takes a lot of training and supervised practice to do really well, especially in more complicated cases. Although good training doesn't guarantee good practice, trying EMDR without training is definitely a bad idea! It helps to be a knowledgable consumer, because there are a lot of therapists using EMDR without adequate training or supervised practice. Here's what you need to know:

Who trained the therapist? There is a list of qualified trainers approved by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) on their home page, so you can check to see if the training was legit.
How much training did the therapist complete? Many therapists stopped at "Level 1" or "Part 1" which is like a learner's permit - fine for some straightforward cases, a good way to get experience, but definitely not the full training.
When was the therapist trained? The longer ago, the more experience s/he has. However, years of experience will probably not make up for bad habits - just solidify them. So the experience counts most for well-trained therapists.
Is the therapist EMDRIA-certified? This is your best bet. Certified therapists have completed the full training along with continuing education and a lot of supervised practical experience. A listing of certified therapists is available from EMDRIA.

3. Other sources for identifying EMDR-trained therapists

If you are not sure how to find an EMDR-trained therapist through a local referral source, you can search for certified therapists in your area on the EMDRIA web site. You can also find a list of Consultants (EMDR experts) on that site, who may also provide a referral for you.

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