FAQs about EMDR and Midwest Center for EMDR Training

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based model of therapy that has been shown to be effective in treating and reducing symptoms of trauma and other mental health concerns.

You already work with clients who have trauma, whether you know it or not! Using a trauma model can improve client outcomes and how you feel and operate as a clinician. With EMDR training you can get out of the weeds and feel more competent and confident in navigating the sometimes confusing or unexpected dynamics that arise in session, and help clients reach their therapeutic goals with clarity and direction (and decades of research to back it up)!  There are a lot of EMDR Basic trainings out there.

• Our training is EMDRIA-approved for 50 continuing education credits for behavioral health boards. EMDRIA is the international certifying body for training and research. Our training includes BOTH levels one and two of the basic training and all EMDRIA required consultation and supervised practice within the price. Many trainings split levels one and two and participants must purchase consultation hours separately.
• Many trainings have one or two trainers. We have four. As a group, we have decades of experience using EMDR and working with clients. We each have our own specialties allowing you to get more specialized feedback and information on using EMDR with various issues and populations.
• Our training has a history and reputation. Patti Miller, the training director, has been teaching both in-person and virtual Basic and Advanced EMDR training for the past 15 years. That doesn’t mean our training is stale or outdated. We make improvements and updates every cycle to ensure trainees are getting engaging and important instruction and information.
• Patti, along with mentors and colleagues has trained thousands of clinicians to successfully add EMDR to their practices and consistently get great feedback.
• As trainers, we’re also EMDR consultants and offer regular ongoing individual and group consultation opportunities. You’ll build relationships with us throughout the training that you can continue to maintain and benefit from post-training as you bolster your EMDR skills, or even pursue credentials as an EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist
• You’ll work with us directly, and we’ll be the ones responding. You won’t be jumping through hoops or a bunch of admin people to reach us.
• Our values of authenticity, connection, and community are on display and inform everything about our training, from how we structure our days to how we interact one-on-one. We care about your success and you can feel it. We support you in choosing whatever training works best for your situation and goals, and hope it will be ours!

Check our training calendar here for upcoming training dates. All training dates and hours are listed in Central Time (CST – UTC-6:00; CDT – UTC-5:00).

Our training is totally virtual and is open to trainees from around the USA and the world. In-person training opportunities may become available again at a future date.

The cost for all 50 hours is $1,795. Online payments are accepted, and payment plans are available. At the end of the training you’ll receive a certification of completion and be able to call yourself EMDR trained. Our training is 50 hours and includes: 20 hours of instructional material; 20 hours of supervised practicum; 10 hours of consultation.

You’ll leave the training with an understanding of how trauma impacts brains and bodies, how to vet clients for EMDR, the structure and phases of EMDR, issues related to special populations and complex trauma, and skills to put all of the knowledge to use (to name a few!). You’ll provide EMDR to clients throughout the training, so you’ll get hands-on, real-world experience in utilizing the model while in a supportive and non-judgemental learning environment. At the end of the training you’ll receive a certification of completion and be able to call yourself EMDR trained.

No. If you are not fully licensed, you must have or be pursuing a graduate degree in a counseling profession (Counseling, Marriage Family Therapy, Psychology, Psychiatry, Psychiatric Nursing, Social Work, or related mental health discipline). If you are a graduate student, you must have completed your core course work and be in practicum/internship, and provide documentation including a letter from your supervisor acknowledging they know of and support your attendance of the training.