Re: EMDR Training

You are unfortunately misinformed on a variety of topics. First of all, the EMDR basic training is a two part course. You are expected to have success with the Level I information or you wouldn't be asked to practice with it. The Level II training is important for full utilization and undestanding on both skill and conceptual level. While in the early nineties both were offered as stand alone courses, the feedback from the Level II participants made it clear that the information needed to be consolidated into a single basic course. Further, in the last ten years refinements have continued and the approach is considerably more robust. I hope the evolution of understanding and implementation never ends. That's one of the reasons that states have initiated continuing education requirements. Upgrading skills is part of our responsibility as clinicians. That's why a second edition of my textbook is also being planned.

Clearly EMDR is not a substitute for clinical skill. You need separate training as a "therapist" as you do in any special population area. However, there is a certain information set that is necessary in order to call yourself a fully trained EMDR clinician. If you don't have Level II training, you should not refer to yourself as fully trained. This is also information that your client has the right to know. There are criteria for cbt clinicians, hyponotherapists, psychodynamic clinicians, etc. and each have their own associations. EMDR is no exception. The criteria set forth by the EMDR International Association are there to guide both clients and clinicians in ethical and effective EMDR practice (http:/www.emdria.org). While you might quarrel with certification processes as a whole, perhaps you can refrain from maligning the intentions and motivations of professionals you do not know.

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