Accredited Training and Other Stories: Reflection on EMDR
EMDR has been part of my professional world for about 15 years. I first trained in the early 2010s, which, in EMDR years, feels a little late to the party. By then, this remarkable therapy had already made waves across the globe. The late Francine Shapiro, who developed EMDR, had long since begun training the first cohorts, setting in motion a movement that continues to change lives every day.
When Shapiro started teaching, her mission was clear: provide the same training everywhere so the therapy could grow consistently and stay true to its roots. To make that happen, she built the EMDR Institute, which not only trained clinicians but also funneled resources into research. That balance—training and science, practice and progress—was how EMDR gained its strength and credibility.
From Manuals to Movements
At first, training was very structured. The EMDR Institute Manuals were created, trainers were handpicked, and the model was kept tight to protect the fidelity of the therapy. As EMDR grew, the national and regional associations emerged. These organisations began to oversee training standards and accredit new trainers, making sure that, no matter where you learned EMDR, you were learning the same powerful foundations.
Of course, most of this happened behind the curtain. What trainees saw—and what I experienced—was a very human process: learning new skills, practising them with colleagues, feeling both exhilarated and humbled by the therapy’s depth.
What Training Feels Like
For those who haven’t been through it, the Basic EMDR Training usually comes in two parts. The first is all about the basics: understanding EMDR and practicing the Standard Protocol, which is like the spine of the therapy. The second takes you further—into adaptations, advanced stabilisation, and techniques that help with the more complex situations therapists encounter.
When I and my training partner Dr Leisa Davina began training, I found that this mix of structure and discovery made it both demanding and exciting. We’ve also adjusted the way we deliver the training to make it more accessible. For example, our training integrates the required for the completion of the Basic Training consultation hours. They are spread among three instead of two training parts. The added training component is a one-day online revision session with group consultation before trainees move to the advanced section. It gives people a chance to consolidate their skills, and it eases some of the financial and logistical burdens.
The Human Side of Training
But here’s the thing: most clinicians don’t sign up because they’re fascinated by training structures and processes. They sign up because they want to help their clients. And sometimes life gets in the way—maybe the timing isn’t right, maybe another trainer is closer, maybe a different approach just feels like a better fit. And then the clinician has to decide when, where, and who with to complete the Basic Training, the foundation they need to start building their expertise. I’ve had trainees tell me they don’t care which organisation’s certificate they end up with; they just want to finish their training and get to work.
And I understand that. EMDR is powerful. It’s transformative. When you’ve seen what it can do, the bureaucracy behind training processes can feel like a distraction from the bigger picture.
A Thought for the Future
Which brings me to the question I find myself coming back to: do we still need to be as rigid as we once were? Now that EMDR is established worldwide, perhaps there’s space for more flexibility—trusting accredited trainers to deliver the same knowledge, while still holding on to quality and consistency.
Because at the heart of all this is not a manual, or a certificate, or an association. It’s the therapy itself. And the people who come to us, hoping EMDR can help them heal.