Dear Participant,

Welcome to the EMDR Level 1 and Level 2 training. I look forward to teaching you a psychotherapy that is known to alleviate pain and suffering and cure PTSD. At the successful completion of this training you will be skilled enough to begin using EMDR psychotherapy with your clients.

My observation over the last 20 years of providing EMDR training is that if you actively incorporate EMDR into your practice along with additional consultation you will be a successful clinician in this methodology.

Our clients come to us with problems in search of a resolution. They want to know-“Can you help me and can I overcome the problems in my life. Can I be freed from the hurt and pain that is plaguing me?”

Being trained in EMDR is an acknowledgement that your goal is to alleviate pain and suffering. You probably recognize one of if not all of the following issues.

~prior training in working with trauma populations was insufficient

~you recognize the need for further skills/tools

~much of what you already know is effective-but, potentially insufficient for full resolution

~experience of EMDR treatment as a “secondary” therapy or merely a strategy or technique

~you are seeking a simple solution to a complex problem

Welcome to a training that I hope will bring you solutions to the above issues.

This training will provide understanding of trauma, a paradigm shift in treatment and new skills that will alleviate and even cure trauma symptoms and free your clients to be as they were intended.

You may want to consider continued training post the Level 1 & 2 in order to fully give yourself the opportunity to enhance your learning in this methodology. Most clinicians have found continued consultation and training is a great asset to integrating EMDR into your practice.

Preparation and Expectations

We will be using a learning management system (Teachable) to provide you will all the information you need. All of the pre-work and Level I material will be available to you two weeks prior to the training.

You will also find the link to the zoom meetings here in Teachable.

The slides are available here as well. A printed manual will be shipped to you.

As part of the training practicum, clinicians will be placed in triads to practice applying EMDR skills as the “therapist”, to experience EMDR as the “client” and to learn as the “observer” of the practice. Prior to the training, please take the time to carefully select 1-3 memories to process when it is your turn to be the “client”.  (Read more about this in the prepare for self-exploration section)

Pre-requisites

In the pre-requisite section, you now have access to two prerecorded presentations "Intro to EMDR" and "Stress management techniques". Information about the required text is also available in this section. Please review these prior to the 1st class.

Please make sure that your technology is appropriate to the training. You will need to be on a computer with internet connectivity-not phone or tablet unless your tablet has full access to the technology. We strongly recommend direct connection through an ethernet cable to maintain a steady connection.

Teaching Format

The training has been specifically designed to incorporate different learning styles.

There is lecture with fun slides, videos, breaks, practice and direct experience of resources and the EMDR method. Along with games, puzzles and quizzes to provide you with what you need to know, there will be ample time for questions.

Please arrange your time as if you are in a live training. You will need to be on video at all times during the training. There will be sufficient break times (approximately 1 every hour) throughout the training.

Child care and family care issues need to be planned for in advance.

Only medical emergencies can be accommodated.

You must attend the entire training in order to be given a certificate of completion. Lateness (beyond 10 minutes) is considered an absence. There are no exceptions except for medical emergencies. Please plan accordingly.

One final but very important consideration, please make yourself as comfortable as possible. Please find a private space- free of interruptions, and where you will have privacy to participate in and view live and recorded demos. Surround yourself with things that are comforting and centering -scents-candles, diffusers, hand lotions, blankets, pets, comfortable clothes, have lots of water, snacks, etc. Anything that will support you in staying present and centered. I will be doing lots of resourcing-all the ones I use with my clients- throughout the training.

I look forward to working with you. If you have any concerns or questions please feel free to email me at [email protected] or call me at 917-575-7668.

Wishing you all the best,

Gina Colelli, LCSW