EMDR Refresher: Strengthening Your Skills & Clinical Confidence
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*This course is a comprehensive review for clinicians already trained in EMDR Therapy.
This 4-hour EMDR refresher course is designed for clinicians who have completed basic EMDR training and want to sharpen their skills, refresh the model, and increase confidence in applying the 8 phases of the EMDR model. This training provides a focused, practical overview of the 8-Phase Model, essential procedures, and foundational concepts that often need revisiting as clinicians grow in their practice and become more comfortable with EMDR.
Whether you’re returning to EMDR after time away, learning to integrate new modalities along with EMDR, or simply wanting to refine your clinical precision, this course offers clear guidance, clinical knowledge, and hands-on case examples that bring the model back to life.
Who Should Attend
This course is ideal for clinicians who are:
- EMDR trained and seeking a structured review
- Returning to EMDR after a break
- Incorporating EMDR into an integrative practice
- Wanting more clarity, precision, and confidence with the model
- Looking to refresh key skills before pursuing advanced trainings or certification
Training Format
This is a 4-hour live virtual training that includes lecture, demonstration, case examples, and opportunities for Q&A. Participants will receive handouts, worksheets, decision guides, and tools to support ongoing implementation.
Target audience: This course is appropriate for all mental health professionals
Content level: Intermediate
Educational Objectives
This course will teach the participant to
- Identify the key components of the 8-Phase EMDR Model and articulate how each phase supports the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP).
- Describe the essential steps of Phase 1 (History Taking) and Phase 2 (Preparation) and apply updated strategies for case conceptualization, resourcing, and target sequencing.
- Demonstrate improved accuracy in conducting Phases 3-7 by formulating clear targets for reprocessing, engaging in desensitization, and installation.
- Apply at least three strategies for resolving stalled or restricted processing, including appropriate use of cognitive interweaves, pacing adjustments, and therapist positioning.
- Recognize signs of hyperactivation, looping, or dissociation during processing and describe appropriate stabilization or containment interventions to maintain safety and attunement.
- Integrate EMDR skills with adjunctive approaches (e.g., somatic awareness, parts-informed attunement) while maintaining fidelity to the core EMDR model.
Syllabus
- Welcome, Orientation & Training Overview
- Introductions
- Review of course objectives, structure, and expectations
- Brief grounding exercise to support focused learning
- The 8-Phase EMDR Model Refresher
- Brief overview of the AIP model
- Review of all 8 phases and how each supports the AIP
- Common fidelity issues and misunderstandings
- When and why clinicians drift away from the model
- Phase 1 & 2: History, Preparation & Case Conceptualization
- Effective history taking with complex trauma
- Identifying targets, building rapport and observing patterns
- Updated strategies for resourcing & stabilization
- Client readiness markers
- Preventing over-preparation vs. under-preparation
- Practice/Application:
- Case vignette: building a target sequence plan
- Identifying appropriate resourcing interventions, video demo of a resourcing strategy
- Phases 3–7: Assessment, Desensitization & Installation
- Clean Phase 3 assessment (NC/PC, VOC/SUD, body location) and adaptations that can be made to the protocol
- How to support effective bilateral stimulation during desensitization
- Interweaves: looping, blocking, dissociation cues and how to respond
- When to pause and when to continue
- Installation and somatic checking
- Containment and closure strategies
- Demonstration:
- Phases 3–4
- Working Through Stuck, Restricted, or Fragile Processing
- Identifying restricted processing patterns
- Three intervention categories:
- Procedural adjustments
- Cognitive interweaves
- Attunement or therapist stance adjustments
- High activation cases
- Cases needing interweaves
- Dissociation early warning signs
- Integration With Somatic, Parts, and Adjunctive Approaches
- When and how to use somatic awareness inside the model
- Parts-informed attunement vs. full IFS protocol
- Maintaining the EMDR frame while integrating other modalities
- Ensuring the work stays within EMDR fidelity
- Applied Learning:
- Case-based discussion (participants invited to share examples)
- Q&A, Summary & Closing
- Open Q&A
- Review of key takeaways
- Integration strategies for ongoing practice
- Resources and next steps