Consultation

EMDR Consultation - Individual and Group consultation for EMDR therapists

EMDR is an effective therapeutic tool when working with clients who have suffered trauma. Consultation provides in depth help for clinicians, whether done individually or in a group setting, answering questions you have about the EMDR process. Beginning to use this therapy can sometimes be daunting. It is important to start using it shortly after finishing training so that it becomes a comfortable part of your repertoire. Then you can use it with clients who have experienced increasingly complex traumas.

When and Why Clinicians use Consultation?

1. Getting started. Once Level 1 and Level 2 of the training are completed, it is often useful to engage some consultation in order to sort out any challenging EMDR treatment issues, for example:

When to use EMDR – what issues work best initially
How to choose a target
Whom to screen out of the process and when is a client stable enough to do EMDR?
Questions about the 11 step Protocol
How to shift blocking beliefs and deal with abreactions
Issues around working with clients who dissociate
The 3 pronged approach of EMDR to therapy – past, present and future

2. In order to become a Certified EMDR therapist.

Clinicians need 20 hours of consultation and a recommendation from an EMDR Consultant as part of their application to become EMDRIA-Certified Clinicians.

3. To become an EMDRIA Consultant.

If the Certified Clinician wishes, they can become an EMDR Consultant – helping other clinicians learn about EMDR. This requires 20 hours of ‘Consultation of Consultation’ with an EMDRIA approved Consultant to develop consultation skills.

EMDR International Association (EMDRIA):

EMDRIA is the regulatory body for EMDR clinicians. It is dedicated to elevating the practice and understanding of the process to the public and monitors ethical issues involved in EMDR. Training courses in EMDR, such as the ones you may have completed are EMDRIA approved. Clinicians can go on to become Certified EMDR therapists. Once certified there is a Continuing Education requirement in order to keep up with the field and further develop your skills. Following this, they can become consultants if they wish.

You can find more information at the EMDRIA and EMDRAC (the Canadian ‘sister’ organization of EMDRIA). If you become a member of EMDRAC, you are also included automatically as a member of EMDRIA.

What consultation is and it is not:

It is important to note that ‘consultation‘ is not ‘supervision’. Your clients remain your responsibility and the decisions you make around treatment are yours alone. The consulting process is there to offer suggestions and focus on how to use the EDMR process most effectively.
The Consultation process:

This can be done in person, or by telephone. Prior to consultation, you will provide me with copies of your notes on the sessions being discussed. This includes worksheets of the actual sessions, which may be faxed. A focus or question may be discussed, or we could go through the session looking at clinical decisions and the outcomes of the session.

Helen Orton, M.Ed. CCC., EMDRIA –Certified, Approved Consultant

I am a private practice therapist in Cobourg, Ontario. For more background information, please see my Profile. I have been doing EMDR since 2003. I found it to be a really effective tool for use with trauma clients. With my enthusiasm for the process, I became a facilitator in trainings with Barbara Horne, an EMDR trainer.

In my work with clients, I also use other methods to augment trauma work including Energy Medicine, Emotional Freedom Therapy, Imaginal Nurturing and Internal Family Systems. For details on these therapies, please see My Work.

Scheduling and Fee Structure

The fee for consultation is the same for individuals or groups. If more than one clinician participates they can share the hourly fee – for eg. 2 clinicians share a one hour consultation or 4 clinicians for 2 hours. We can negotiate the time based on you or your group's needs. Generally ½ hour per consultee is required in order to present a case or deal with a client issue.

EMDR Training

If you are a therapist holding a Masters Level degree, or higher, and are interested in taking the EMDR training, you can check out Niagara Stress & Trauma Clinic (NSTC)'s Training by Barbara Horne at http://stressandtraumarelief.com/fr1.htm .

She does training in a number of locations around Ontario and elsewhere.