Preparing for Training Success

Welcome!

I am truly honored that you have chosen to begin your EMDR journey with us at the Center for Intuitive Practices. EMDR therapy is more than a set of techniques; it is a comprehensive, integrative therapeutic model grounded in the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) framework (Shapiro, 2018). As such, preparing for EMDR training is not only about reviewing materials, but also about preparing your clinical mind, your presence, and your capacity to hold complex human experiences with clarity and care.

The following information is a guide is designed to guide you in preparing for EMDR Basic Training I & II in a way that aligns with EMDRIA standards, supports your clinical confidence, and honors the depth of this work. You can find additional information in your class materials, including but limited to a welcome video and the learner manual. Preparation material guidelines can also be found in the learner manual on pages 10-57.

1. Understanding the Commitment: EMDRIA Training Requirements

CIP EMDR Basic Training I & II is a structured and comprehensive process. In accordance with EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) standards, through CIP you will complete minimum of:

• 20 hours of didactic instruction

• 20 hours of supervised practicum

• 10 hours of consultation (to be completed within 12 months)

This is not a passive learning experience. EMDR training requires your active participation, full attendance, and engagement in all components, including lecture, practicum, and consultation. EMDRIA requires that trainees:

• Attend the entirety of training sessions

• Participate in all practicum exercises

• Demonstrate fidelity to EMDR protocols

• Receive and integrate feedback from consultants

Preparation begins with recognizing that this training is experiential, not just informational.

2. Preparing Clinically: Foundations You Should Review

Before training begins, we encourage you to ground yourself in core clinical concepts that EMDR builds upon:

Trauma-Informed Understanding

EMDR therapy is designed to address experiences that overwhelm the nervous system. Reviewing trauma concepts will support your learning, including:

• Acute vs. complex trauma

• Attachment disruptions

• Somatic and implicit memory processes (van der Kolk, 2014)

Case Conceptualization Skills

You should feel comfortable with:

• Identifying presenting problems

• Understanding client history

• Developing treatment goals

• Recognizing client readiness and stability

Basic Clinical Skills

EMDR assumes competency in:

• Therapeutic alliance building

• Reflective listening

• Affect tolerance and regulation

• Ethical decision-making

If you are early in your clinical career, this training will strengthen these skills, but it is important to enter with a foundational level of competence.

3. Preparing Practically: What to Expect and How to Engage

Review Training Materials in Advance

Through the CIP Thinkific platform, you will have access to:

• Training manual

• Orientation materials

• Required and supplemental readings

• Demonstration videos

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with these materials before training begins. This allows live sessions to become more interactive, applied, and clinically meaningful.

Prepare Your Learning Environment

For both in-person and virtual training:

• Ensure a quiet, private, distraction-free space

• Have access to reliable internet and camera (for virtual training)

• Be ready to engage in live practicum experiences

For virtual EMDR, you will also learn how to adapt bilateral stimulation (BLS) in accordance with EMDRIA guidelines (EMDRIA, 2020).

Bring a Practice Mindset

You will participate in practicum in dyads or triads, rotating through roles:

• Therapist

• Client

• Observer

This experiential model is essential. It allows you to:

• Learn the protocol through experiential doing

• Experience EMDR from the client perspective

• Develop confidence in structured intervention

You are not expected to be perfect. Instead, we encourage you to be present, engaged, and willing to learn.

4. Preparing Personally: Your Internal Readiness Matters

EMDR training is unique in that it invites you to engage both clinically and personally.

Emotional Readiness

You may notice your own material being activated during training. This is not uncommon. We encourage you to:

• Maintain awareness of your internal responses

• Use grounding and self-regulation skills

• Seek consultation support if needed

Professional Boundaries

While practicum involves experiential work, it is not a substitute for personal therapy. You are encouraged to:

• Choose targets that feel appropriate and contained

• Maintain professional boundaries

• Respect confidentiality within your group

The Role of Self-Regulation

At CIP, we emphasize that your ability to facilitate EMDR is directly connected to your ability to remain regulated. As you prepare, we encourage you to begin practicing:

• Grounding techniques

• Breathwork

• Mindful awareness

This aligns with what I often teach through the Process of Intuitive Connection®: we must first get calm to access clarity, attunement, and effective clinical decision-making.

5. Preparing Ethically: Scope and Responsibility

As EMDR trainees, you are responsible for practicing within your scope of competence. EMDRIA and professional ethics (ACA, APA, NASW) emphasize that clinicians must:

• Use EMDR only with populations they are trained to treat

• Seek consultation when working with complex cases

• Avoid practicing beyond their level of experience

EMDR is a powerful modality. Ethical preparation includes humility, consultation, and ongoing learning.

6. Preparing for Consultation: Learning Beyond the Training

Your learning does not end after Basic Training. The 10 hours of consultation are essential for:

• Deepening your understanding of the AIP model

• Refining case conceptualization

• Addressing clinical challenges

• Ensuring fidelity to the EMDR protocol

We encourage you to approach consultation as a space for growth, curiosity, and support, not evaluation.

7. A Final Reflection: How to Enter This Training

As you prepare to begin, I invite you to hold the following mindset:

• Be curious rather than critical of yourself

• Be present rather than perfect

• Be open to both structure and intuition

EMDR therapy is both protocol-driven and deeply human. It requires attunement, precision, and trust in the brain’s natural capacity to heal.

At the Center for Intuitive Practices, we are committed to walking alongside you as you develop not only your EMDR skills, but your confidence, clarity, and clinical presence.

The CIP staff and I are honored to support your journey into EMDR therapy.

With respect for your work and the clients you serve,

Dr. Francine E. Packard, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, RMT, RYT-500, E-RYT 200
Center for Intuitive Practices, LLC