Convenient online therapy for moms in NC, VA, DC, SC, & FL. | 910.764.8880 | Schedule a free consultation.
Convenient online therapy for moms in NC, VA, DC, SC, & FL. | 910.764.8880 | Schedule a free consultation.
EMDR Consultation for Therapists
I am currently a Consultant in Training (CIT) with Dr. Mara Tesler Stein at The Touchstone Institute.
The language of consultation
The person receiving the consultation.
The person providing the consultation. For the purposes of this document, the term consultant may refer to either an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ or EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training™.
An EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ who informs EMDRIA™ of their intent and begins working toward the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ credential. A Consultant in Training (CIT) receives consultation of consultation from an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™. During this process, the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ provides direction and input regarding the CIT’s skills and abilities as a consultant.
EMDR consultation refers to the process where an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ or EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training™ engages with a consultee to review and enhance their use of EMDR with actual clients in practice. This consultation typically involves discussing case specifics, reviewing clinical techniques, addressing challenges, problem solving, and discussion of clinical decision making within the EMDR therapy framework. The goal of EMDR consultation is to support the consultee’s ongoing professional development (knowledge, skills, and attitudes), improve therapeutic effectiveness, and ensure the delivery of high-quality care to clients undergoing EMDR therapy.
EMDRIA™ considers consultation to be developmental in nature, recognizing and building on the strengths of each consultee. Consultation is also a collaborative relationship between the consultant and therapist that includes observation, evaluation, self-assessment, and feedback (Falender & Shafranske, 2004). This process enhances the focus and deliberative practice of specific competences.
EMDR consultation of consultation refers to the process where an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ engages with an EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training™ to review and enhance their practice of providing consultation for EMDR with actual consultees in practice. This type of consultation typically involves discussing how the EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training™ supports and provides feedback to their consultees. The EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ provides feedback to the EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training™ to ensure that their consultees' practice case conceptualization and treatment planning consistent with the AIP model and adhere to the EMDR protocol. This consultation might include reviewing a variety of clinical and educational techniques to support the ongoing professional development of both the consultant in training and their consultees. This process supports the enhancement to deliver high-quality care to clients undergoing EMDR therapy. This process enhances the focus and deliberative practice of specific competences.
In cases where an EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training™ provides EMDR case consultation during a group or individual session to another EMDR trained therapist and the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ observes the session without needing a separate explanation of the consultation being delivered, a portion of that observation time may be counted toward the EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training™ required consultation of consultation hours.
Because EMDRIA™ expects the EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training™ to receive consultation on the consultation they provide to their consultees, only half of the time spent observing the EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training™ providing consultation may be counted toward their consultation of consultation requirement. (Further explanation can be found on page 37 of the EMDRIA Approved Consultant Standards)
Deliberate practice is a structured, goal-directed approach to skill development in which specific areas of growth are intentionally identified, practiced with focused attention, and refined through feedback and reflection. In EMDR consultation, deliberate practice involves targeted application of EMDR knowledge, skills, and attitudes to strengthen competence and support continuous professional growth.
An EMDRIA™ Approved Basic Training provides clinicians with the foundational knowledge and skills to use EMDR therapy. It provides therapists with a foundational understanding of case conceptualization and treatment planning, and a baseline to integrate EMDR therapy into their clinical practice. An EMDRIA™ Approved Basic Training provides, at a minimum, instruction in the current explanatory model, methodology, and underlying mechanisms of EMDR through lecture, practice, and integrated consultation. EMDRIA™ recognizes consultation as a critical component of training, as it supports the integration of EMDR therapy into clinical practice with fidelity to the standard protocol. Consultation facilitates the development of clinical competence by allowing clinicians to apply EMDR therapy with clients under the guidance of an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™, receive case-specific feedback, address clinical challenges, and refine procedural accuracy and clinical judgment.
A mental health clinician who is fully licensed to engage in private, independent practice, has completed an EMDRIA™ Approved EMDR Basic Training, and has completed the EMDRIA™ requirements for certification.
Group consultation includes at least two consultees in a formalized setting which is led by a consultant in a structured group format. The group comes together to discuss cases, share insights, and seek guidance on the application of EMDR therapy. The consultant provides guidance to improve clinical skills and therapeutic outcomes. All consultees in the group are expected to actively participate and be prepared to bring their EMDR case presentation material content for discussion.
The focus of consultation is about applying EMDR therapy in real, clinical situations. Consultation groups are distinct from study groups or groups focused on special populations and alternative procedures/protocols, which may not be structured and may enrich the practices of those attending, but do not count for consultation hours toward certification.
Individual consultation includes a total of two individuals, the consultant and the consultee (1:1). Individual consultation hours can be accrued in a group setting under certain conditions—see information in “Earning Individual Hours within a Group Setting” further in this document.
Reflective practice is the intentional process of examining one’s knowledge, skills, and attitudes in professional work to deepen understanding and improve future performance. In EMDR consultation, reflective practice supports insight, ethical awareness, cultural humility, and ongoing professional growth. It encourages thoughtful consideration of both strengths and areas of growth for practical application.
The standard protocol for EMDR therapy follows a three-pronged approach that targets the past, present, and future. It focuses on past experiences driving current symptoms, addresses unresolved present triggers, and uses a Future Template to prepare for upcoming situations. This protocol is embedded within EMDR’s comprehensive eight-phase treatment framework, which includes history-taking, client preparation, target memory assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation of treatment outcomes. Standard protocol is rooted in the Adaptive Information Processing model (AIP), which provides the theoretical framework and principles for treatment.
The person receiving the EMDRIA™ Approved Basic Training.
The consultant is expected to:
Provide clear, thoughtful, practical guidance while fostering reflective dialogue about the consultee’s clinical decision-making—inviting exploration of the “why” behind each choice. Through this collaborative and inquiry-based approach, consultants deepen understanding, strengthen clinical judgment, and build consultees’ confidence in applying EMDR therapy effectively across diverse cases.
Demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional growth by staying current with trauma research, developments in EMDR therapy, and emerging applications, while modeling the same developmental mindset expected of consultees—to support growth and to be better tomorrow than today.
Model ethical, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive practice by integrating cultural humility, inclusivity, and respect for diverse client and consultee backgrounds throughout the consultation process.
The consultee is expected to:
Actively be using EMDR therapy with clients and providing examples of clinical work as part of the consultation process. Ideally, consultants should have the opportunity to observe the consultee’s work, when possible, through video recording or live observation of work, which is strongly preferred. This allows consultants to directly observe clinical or consultation skills, identify strengths and areas for growth, and provide specific, EMDR-focused feedback. When video or live observation is not permitted—such as in certain agencies, university clinics, or governmental settings, alternative behavioral samples may be used. These may include detailed case presentations, near-verbatim transcripts, structured session summaries, or reflective dialogue.
Engage actively and reflectively in the consultation process, approaching feedback with openness and curiosity to enhance understanding, confidence, and effectiveness in EMDR practice.
Be receptive to and apply consultant feedback thoughtfully and consistently, recognizing that constructive critique is essential to professional growth. This includes a willingness to explore new strategies, integrate guidance, and refine clinical decision-making, embracing a developmental mindset to be better tomorrow than today.
Demonstrate commitment to continual learning and professional development by seeking opportunities to deepen EMDR knowledge, staying informed about current research, and applying new insights to clinical work and consultations.
Uphold ethical and culturally responsive standards of practice by integrating cultural humility, trauma-informed awareness, and respect for diversity in all aspects of clinical and professional behavior.
Consultation is not supervision and is not a substitute for clinical supervision which supports supervisees in building the clinical skills necessary to provide psychotherapy and social work skills with clinical proficiency. Consultation focuses on mastery of standard EMDR therapy and integrating EMDR into your practice, including deepening the consultees knowledge of working with specific client populations (i.e. perinatal trauma, infertility, advanced maternal age.) You are responsible for the therapeutic relationship with your clients and competency in the modalities you offer. As a consultant, I am not liable for how you practice, your application of EMDR therapy, or integration of other modalities with EMDR therapy.
Consultation is provided virtually via Zoom or Doxy.me.
Individual Consultation: $100/hour
Group Consultation: $50/hour
Late cancellations (less than 48-hours notice) and no-shows will incur the full fee of the consultation service that the consultee signed up for via Calendly. (Ex. If you signed up for an individual session that you cancel late or do not show up for, you will be sent an invoice for $100.)
An invoice will be sent to you via email within 24 hours of the consultation session. As with my clients, I require a card to be saved on file for my consultees for consultation and late cancellation fees. Upon your first consultation, you will be sent a Simple Practice invoice and will ask that you save a card on file.
I will document and track our time spent in consultation and will email you confirmation of attendance at each consultation session for your own records. I will maintain documentation of consultation for a five-year period from the date our work together ends. Letters of recommendation related to a consultee's application for certification as an EMDR therapist will be handled on a case-by-case basis depending on the time spent in consultation, the skills and knowledge acquired, and the consultee's competency in using EMDR as a therapeutic modality.
Zoom and/or Doxy.me will be used for all consultation sessions. Zoom and Doxy.me adhere to stringent privacy standards, encrypt data at rest and in transit, and hold liability for safeguarding patient data.
As with any clinical work, the limits of confidentiality apply to our work in the consultant-consultee relationship. Concerns related to client safety, the therapeutic relationship, adherence to ethical standards and the rules and regulations of licensing boards will be reported as is required by state licensing boards and EMDRIA.
Birth Trauma
High Risk Pregnancy
NICU experience
Abortion
Bereavement/Loss
Postpartum
EMDR and Couples
Pre-verbal Trauma
EMDR Intensives
