EMDR Advanced Training

This training is presented by a senior EMDR Institute trainer selected and trained by EMDR originator Dr. Francine Shapiro who is approved to use the EMDR Institute Training Manual and provide other EMDR Institute resources.

 

EMDR Therapy Basic Training presented by Mark Nickerson, LICSW

 

Part 1 and Part 2 each earn 20 CE Hours: EMDRIA, Psychologists, LCSW, LMFT, LMHC, LPC and other master’s level clinicians. Check with state licensing board to confirm acceptance of NBCC credits.

 

VIRTUAL TRAINING
Part 1:  September 19-21, 2025, Part 2: December 12-14, 2025, WORKSHOP AGENDA (BOTH PARTS) 
Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Session
Saturday: 8:3,0 AM – 5:00 PM Session
Sunday: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM Session

The EMDR Therapy Basic Training (Parts 1 and 2) is designed for licensed mental health practitioners who treat adults and children in a clinical setting. EMDR is a comprehensive psychotherapy that accelerates the treatment of a wide range of client difficulties and self-esteem issues related to disturbing past events and present life conditions. EMDR therapy is practiced throughout the world. This interactional, standardized treatment approach has been empirically validated in over 40 randomized controlled studies with trauma patients, and hundreds of published case reports evaluating effectiveness with a considerable range of presenting complaints, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, phobias, excessive grief, somatic conditions and addictions. EMDR therapy is guided by the Adaptive Information Processing model which addresses the unprocessed memories that appear to set the basis for a wide range of current dysfunction. A number of neuro-physiological studies have documented the rapid post treatment EMDR effects. This training is based upon the textbook by EMDR originator Francine Shapiro, PhD Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols and Procedures Guilford Press, NY, 3rd Edition, 2017, and includes evidence based updates to EMDR therapy since that time.

TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:

    • Supervised small group practice on each training day
    • Physiological overview of trauma and the information processing system
    • Specialized history-taking to identify relevant experiences
    • Treatment planning to address past events, current triggers and future needs
    • Stabilization, preparation and resource development interventions
    • Addressing trauma, adversity, and other disturbing life events
    • How to work with simple and complex cases
    • Applications to combat trauma and first responders
    • Applications to addictions, grief, anxiety, and emotional reactions to illness and injury
    • Applications to recent events including natural and man-made disasters
    • Applications to family and couples therapy
    • Personal use for therapist to process vicarious traumatization

Part 1 of the EMDR therapy training is a 20-hour training divided over three days. Each day is divided into three sections: during which participants practice while rotating in the role of therapist, clinician and observer. Clinical vignettes and video examples of EMDR procedures enhance the training. With regard to didactic content,

Day 1 begins with a review of the development of EMDR therapy, the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) theory which informs clinical assessment and intervention planning, research related support, and Treatment Guidelines recommendations. Participants are introduced to the mechanisms, model, and methodology of EMDR therapy including the Eight Phases of EMDR and the 3-prong protocol. Participants then learn details of Phase I History Taking and Treatment Planning and Phase 2 Preparation and Stabilization. Clients are advised in the use of the DES-II and other assessment tools. Participants learn the types of clinical complaints/diagnosis treatable with EMDR therapy. Participants are reminded of the importance of culturally responsive considerations and adaptations on Day 1 and throughout the training. Afternoon small group exercises discuss case conceptualization and treatment planning. During practicum sessions, when in the role of therapist, participants use scripted protocols and complete Phases 1 and 2 to identify a treatment issue for the participant in the role of client and prepare them for reprocessing of related memories to be conducted on Days 2 and 3. A trained facilitator monitors three groups of typically three participants throughout all days of the training to provide oversight and guidance during the practicums.

Day 2 of the training begins with Q&A related to the prior days content and practicum experiences. New content reviews Phases 3-6 which are those most closely related to memory reprocessing. Participants also learn procedures for Phase 7 Closure. This knowledge provides instruction as to the goals and procedures central to EMDR therapy reprocessing. Afternoon small groups review the specific scripts for the afternoon practicum. Participants practice Phases 3-7.

Day 3 begins with Q&A related to the prior days content and practicum experiences. New content includes managing client affect including hyper and hypo arousal. Participants learn multiple strategies to build client capacity for reprocessing including additional resourcing and stabilization techniques. Phase 8 Reevaluation is taught along with clinical approaches to present triggers and a protocol of the Future Template. Content also includes and EMDR protocol for recent events and key considerations in working with children and adolescents. Afternoon practice sessions continue client reprocessing of identified material.

PART 1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES CONTENT INCLUDES:

    • Identify 3 components of the EMDR approach designed to provide effective treatment with clients
    • Identify the Three-Pronged Protocol of EMDR therapy
    • List 3 important existing research studies
    • List 3 types of client complaints treatable with EMDR therapy
    • Identify the parameters treatable with EMDR therapy to safely and effectively implement EMDR therapy with clients
    • Describe 3 aspects of the AIP Model for effective case conceptualization and treatment planning
    • Name the 8 phases of EMDR therapy for comprehensive treatment
    • Describe 3 criteria for client selection
    • Describe 3 safety measures for effective and safe use of EMDR therapy
    • Identify when you would apply the Future Template
    • Distinguish between direct questioning and the Floatback technique
    • Distinguish between state change and trait change in EMDR therapy
    • Identify the purpose of the Assessment Phase of EMDR therapy
    • Identify the purpose of utilizing the SUD scale and what it stands for
    • Identify the purpose of the VOC scale and what it stands for
    • Identify the reprocessing phases involved in memory reprocessing
    • Describe one purpose for Safe/Calm Place utilization
    • Identify when the Recent Events Protocol would be appropriate as an intervention
    • Distinguish the difference between avoidance and hypo-activity
    • Identify 3 differences in applying EMDR therapy to working with children

Part 2 of the EMDR training consists of the same format and time allotment associated with morning didactic lecture; early afternoon small group content related discussion; and practice sessions. The practicum sessions with experiences as therapist, client and observer follow the same format as in Part 1 and offer participants additional supervised practice experiences with new partners working on newly identified issues. The morning didactic session of:

Day 1 (Part 2) begins with a presentation of applications and procedures when using EMDR therapy with more complex clinical presentation which are more likely to include diagnosis of C-PTSD, addictions, high levels of dissociation and dissociative disorders, attachment related issues, major acute stressors, and more. Participants learn related assessment strategies including distinguishing adult-onset trauma from developmental trauma. Additional resource development skills are taught including the Resource Development and Installation protocol. Participants are taught a process to move from clinical assessment to case conceptualization to treatment planning. Participants learn multiple principles for consideration in determining client readiness for various EMDR procedures. Participants are taught EMD to address specific stressors and triggers and are taught more nuanced considerations in memory target selection. Afternoon small groups reinforce clinical case conceptualization tools.

Day 2 of the training begins with Q&A related to the prior days content and practicum experiences. New content includes discussion of means to identify blocked or inefficient reprocessing. The cognitive interweave procedure is described with multiple examples as well as other strategies to enhance adaptive reprocessing. Video examples of key procedures are reviewed. Core concepts of Phases 3-6 are reviewed. Participants learn how to close down sessions with incomplete targets. Afternoon small group exercises explore the use if the cognitive interweave.

Day 3 begins with Q&A related to the prior days content and practicum experiences. New content focuses on the multiple uses of EMDR therapy to address the needs of diverse clinical populations and clinical presentations. These specific EMDR applications are highlighted with key clinically significant considerations and additional resources are cited. Topics include addressing social and culturally based trauma and adversity, psychological reactions to illness and injury, grief and mourning, anxiety and phobias, addictions, dissociation, and treating combat veterans and first responders. Phase 8 is reviewed. Q and A includes discussion of resources and strategies to assist participants as they advance post-training in their understanding and practice of EMDR therapy.

PART 2 LEARNING OBJECTIVES CONTENT INCLUDES:

    • Describe 3 strategies to identify and effectively resolve clinical problem areas in the utilization of EMDR therapy
    • Identify 2 internal and external resources that clients need to have in place
    • Identify 2 clinical situations where EMD would be appropriate as an intervention
    • Distinguish between EMD and the EMDR standard protocol
    • Distinguish between adult-onset trauma and developmental trauma
    • Identify when you would target an adult-onset trauma versus applying the standard protocol
    • Describe 2 clinical symptoms that may indicate the need to assess for dissociation
    • Describe the 3 different categories of resources
    • Describe 3 examples of specific resources to use with difficult or resistant clients
    • Describe the procedural steps for closing down incomplete sessions
    • Describe the protocol to initiate an incomplete session for processing to resolution
    • Describe one therapy-interfering behavior that may need to be addressed in order for treatment to proceed
    • Describe a treatment plan to choose and prioritize targets appropriate for EMDR treatment
    • Describe 3 strategies for dealing with highly emotional responses
    • Describe 3 strategies for dealing with dissociative symptoms
    • Distinguish between a simple phobia and a process phobia
    • Describe 3 cautions for using EMDR therapy with addictions and compulsions
    • Identify one category of memory appropriate for targeting with combat veterans
    • Describe 3 strategies to treat complex trauma-related disorders
    • Describe 3 ways that EMDR therapy demonstrates cultural competence as an intervention

Mark Nickerson, LICSW is a senior lead trainer for the EMDR Institute Faculty. The EMDR Institute was developed by Francine Shapiro as the first and foremost training in EMDR therapy internationally. Mark has been a psychotherapist in Amherst, MA for over 35 years, is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant, served on the EMDR International Association Board for eight years and was Board President in 2014, and is Chair of the Clinical Practice Group of the Council of Scholars. He is the Director of EMDR Advanced Training and Distance Learning, LLC: EMDRadvancedtrainings.com Mark conducts a range of advanced EMDR trainings nationally and internationally on topics including cultural competence in EMDR therapy, treatment for problem behaviors, problematic anger and violence, and the effective use of EMDR protocols. He has developed award winning innovative programs designed to reduce and resolve interpersonal conflict and is the originator of the Cycle Model as an approach to assessing and treating problem behaviors. He is editor/author of Cultural Competence and Healing Culturally-Based Trauma with EMDR Therapy: Insights, Strategies and Protocols (Springer, 2016) and The Wounds Within (Skyhorse, 2015), an expose on the challenges for war veterans and their families.

Detailed Agenda/Times:
Days 1 and 2:
8:00 am – sign in
8:30 – 10:00 didactic learning Part 1
10:00 – 10:10 break
10:10 – 12:00 didactic learning Part 2
12:00 – 1:00 lunch
1:00 – 2:10 group exercises and discussion
2:10 – 4:40 clinical practice groups (3 five-minute breaks)
4:40 – 5:00 final group discussions

Day 3:
8:30 am – 10:00 didactic learning Part 1
10:00 – 10:10 break
10:10 – 12:00 Part 2
12:00 – 1:00 lunch
1:00 – 3:30 clinical practice groups (3 five-minute breaks)
3:30 – 4:00 final group discussions

Authorized Format: EMDR therapy is a specialized approach that requires supervised training for full therapeutic effectiveness and client safety. The training will consist of lecture, live and videotaped demonstrations and supervised practice. The format of this workshop has been designed by the originator of EMDR therapy, Francine Shapiro, PhD. Lead trainer Mark Nickerson, LICSW was selected and trained by Dr. Shapiro to provide the comprehensive information necessary for appropriate client selection and effective utilization of EMDR therapy. Practicum facilitators have 10-20 years of experience. This training program was developed and originally taught by Dr. Shapiro beginning in 1990 and has been updated to include current research and developments in EMDR therapy. EMDR Advanced Trainings and the EMDR Institute adhere to the ethical standards of APA, social work, nursing and other mental health boards.

Integrating EMDR Therapy with Other Approaches: As an integrative psychotherapy approach, EMDR therapy is compatible with other contemporary treatment paradigms including, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, experiential and systemic approaches. EMDR methods treat substance and behavioral addiction and support recovery.

Goal of the EMDR Basic Training: This experiential training will familiarize participants with a broad spectrum of EMDR therapy applications sufficient for comfortable and efficient use with a wide range patients and situations.

 

Certificate of Training in EMDR Therapy Requirements:

  • Complete Part 1 and Part 2  3-Day Trainings (6 days total)
  • 10 hours of case consultation with an EMDR Institute Approved Consultant (consultation costs are covered in the training fee and are scheduled to take place between Training Part 1 and 2, and after Part 2).
  • Read EMDR Therapy: EMDR: Basic Principles, Protocols and Procedures (Shapiro 2017) and Getting Past Your Past (Shapiro 2013)   (books to be purchased separately) 
  • Complete course evaluation and pass content-related quiz (score 75% or above)

 

Completing Part 1 and Part 2 of the training each earn 20 CE Hours (total of 40 credits for completing Part 1 and 2) with a clinical focus: EMDRIA, Psychologists, LCSW, LMFT, LMHC, LPC and other master’s level clinicians. Check with state licensing board to confirm acceptance of NBCC credits. CEs are not awarded for case consultation or book reading.  (10 CE Hours for Refresher Course*)

PLEASE NOTE: Upon completion of the CE quiz, a CE certificate for 20 credits will be issued upon completion of both Part 1 and Part 2.

 

Program Fees include:
– 40 hours of training
– 10 hours of clinical consultation
– Part 1 and 2 Manuals
– Access to other resources and downloadable worksheets
$1,595 Full program fee
$1,395 Discounted rate for clinicians working for non-profit agencies

EMDR Basic Training Refresher Course (for previously EMDR trained clinicians only) includes:
– 10 hours of training for Part 1 and Part 2 
– Part 1 and 2 Manuals
– Access to other resources and downloadable worksheets
$650 fee for Refresher  Course 

$30 discount for payments made by check
Inquire about group discount rates, payment plans. 

Full refunds until a month before the training; then 80% until 1 week before training, no refunds after that.

 

Qualifications for Attending:  A clinical background is necessary for the effective application of EMDR therapy. Qualified participants include all levels of mental health professionals who have a masters degree or higher in the mental health field and are licensed or certified through a state or national board which authorizes independent practice; or are on a pathway to licensure and who provide documentation from a clinical supervisor. LADC licensed professionals must also have a masters level license eligible mental health degree.

Intern/Graduate Student Requirements: Completion of graduate level coursework at an accredited school and be on a licensing track under state sanctioned supervision by a licensed clinician. Please submit a current supervisor’s letter with his/her/their degree and license number.

Disability Accommodations: All programs are held virtually or in facilities that accommodate mobility limitations consistent with ADA guidelines Americans with Disabilities Act.  Requests for preferred seating and other accommodations can be directed to info@markinickerson.com

 

CE, Policies and Help: Click here for CE, Policies and Help for Complaint and Grievance Procedures, Refund  Policy, Disability Accommodations and more.

Direct additional questions to: Mark Nickerson, Director of EMDR Advanced Trainings, LLC and Advanced Psychotherapy Trainings: info@EMDRadvancedtrainings.com, EMDRadvancedtrainings.com, or mail to EMDR Advanced Trainings | Box 3, Granby, MA  01033.  Phone: 413-256-0550

 

EMDR International Association: EMDR Advanced Training & Distance Learning, LLC is an EMDRIA Approved Credit Provider (#07002) and maintains responsibility for this program and its content in accordance with EMDRIA standards.

National Board for Certified Counselors: EMDR Advanced Trainings & Distance Learning, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6709. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. EMDR Advanced Training and Distance Learning, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.

American Psychological Association: Advanced Psychotherapy Trainings (APT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. APT maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

 

 

 

 

  • EMDR Therapy Basic Training, Weekend 1 (and 2) – Fri/Sat/Sun (VIRTUAL – September 19-21/December 12-14, 2025)
     September 19, 2025 - September 21, 2025
     8:30 am - 5:00 pm
     Virtual

Venue:  

Details Price Qty
Regular Feeshow details + $1,595.00 USD  
Discounted rate for clinicians working for non-profit agenciesshow details + $1,395.00 USD  
Basic Training Refresher Course feeshow details + $650.00 USD