Certified EMDR Therapist
Counselor or Consultant

Question: (March 2006) "I’m looking specifically for someone who can provide EMDR sessions and I am interested in finding out is if there is a certification process that people are required to complete before stating that they provide EMDR.  I saw one ad that said that the woman was a “Certified EMDR Clinician”. That got me curious, in shopping for someone who can provide EMDR, what certification should I be looking for?
   

EMDR, the acronym or abbreviation for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is used to relieve the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health problems, originally using only movements of the eyes similar to those which occur naturally in REM sleep.  In the American Psychiatric Association "Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, " EMDR is given an equal status with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as an effective treatment for relieving symptoms of PTSD.

If you have ever been the victim of a robbery, a rape, a traumatic accident or injury of any kind, you may find yourself suffering from PTSD symptoms just as severe as the Viet Nam vet who gets flashbacks when he hears the "chop-chop" sound of a helicopter flying overhead. 

The problem results from the way your brain stores memories and feelings together.  Often the fragrance of flowers, or sounds waves against the shore can trigger a pleasant memory from the past and you feel again the peacefulness and happiness of that moment in time. 

But some memories are associated with such extreme emotions that a seemingly insignificant sound or smell may suddenly trigger overwhelming feelings of terror and the need for you to hide or escape.  The sound of footsteps in the hallway, the echo of sounds in a parking garage, the smell of burning wood or flesh or the unexpected touch of a friend may leave you engulfed by fear and anxiety at times when others nearby are startled and bewildered by your behavior. 

You might seek medication or any kind of psychotherapy to resolve the problem, but the recommended techniques are CBT, a very structured talk therapy process, and EMDR, a research-developed technique that commonly involves eye movements and the concept of "reprocessing the experience."   The goal of EMDR is to separate the memory of the event from the violent and extreme emotional states that have been associated with it in your memory.  After EMDR treatment, you will be able to think of the event without triggering the extreme emotional response.

An international organization called EMDRIA (EMDR International Association) formed in 1995, provides professional support for clinicians trained in EMDR.  EMDRIA sets standards for training, provides ongoing professional education, provides a forum for discussion and the development of EMDR, and encourages quality research.

In 1999, EMDRIA launched its professional development programs, including the EMDRIA Credit Program (continuing education in EMDR) and the Certification Program for (1.) Certified Therapist in EMDR and (2.) Approved Consultant in EMDR.

Contact Information: EMDR International Association, 5806 Mesa Drive, Suite 360, Austin, Texas 78731. Tel: 512-451-5200 Toll Free in the US: 866-451-5200, Email: info@emdria.org.

Find an EMDRIA Certified EMDR therapist in the Puget Sound area on CounselingSeattle.com

OR Find an EMDRIA Certified EMDR therapist elsewhere in the nation.     More about PTSD.
 

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EMDRIA Certified EMDR therapists and
counselors in the
Puget Sound area (on this website)
 

Deborah Adams, MA, LMHC, Certified EMDR Therapist, Gig Harbor, Washington 98335

Judith Capili, MA, LMHC, Certified EMDR Therapist, Seattle, WA 98102

Rosie Carey, MA, LMHC, Certified EMDR Therapist, Kirkland, WA 98033

Jeanne Emrich, MA, LMHC, NCC, Certified EMDR Therapist, Seattle, WA 98102

Lynda Lahman, MA, LMFT, Certified EMDR Therapist, Bellevue, WA 98004

Becky Morehead, MA, LMHC, Certified EMDR Therapist, Bellevue, WA 98004.

Loryanne Nichols, MS, LMFT, Certified EMDR Therapist, Kirkland, Washington

Carol Peters, MC, LMHC, Certified EMDR Therapist, Seattle, Washington 98115
 

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EMDR is approved by most insurance companies and professional organizations for treatment of PTSD.  See: Clinical Practice Guidelines

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EMDRA: Basic Eligibility Criteria
for Mental Health Professionals to Apply for
EMDR Certification

§ "Qualifying Medical Doctors must have specialist training in Psychiatry AND also must be licensed."

§ "Qualifying Registered Nurses must have a Master’s Level psychiatric nursing degree AND also must be licensed and/or registered through their state or national nursing board."

§ "Qualifying mental health clinicians must have completed a Master’s level or Doctorate level Graduate Program with a focus in the mental health field (social work, counseling, psychology) AND also must be licensed or certified through their state or national credentialing board."

§ "Clinicians who have completed a program in one of the following fields must submit detailed information to EMDRIA about the program that they completed in order to determine their eligibility: Art Therapy, Dance Therapy, Drama Therapy, Poetry Therapy, Music Therapy, Psychodrama Therapy, Hypnotherapy, and Drug & Alcohol Counseling.  These clinicians will also need to submit their current license or certification through their state or national board in order to determine their eligibility for registering for an EMDRIA Approved Basic EMDR Training."
 

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The CounselingSeattle.com Counselor Locator serves mental health consumers and therapists in the Island County, Washington including Whidbey Island and Camino Island; the
Jefferson County, Washington State cities of Brinnon, Center, Chimacum, Irondale, Port Hadlock, Port Ludlow, Port Townsend, Quilcene, WA Washington State, the
King County, Washington State cities of Algona, Auburn, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Bothell, Burien, Carnation, Covington, Des Moines, Duvall, Enumclaw, Kenmore, Fall City, Federal Way, Hunts Point, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Lake City, Lake Forest Park, Maple Valley, Medina, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Normandy Park, North Bend, Pacific, Renton, Sammamish, SeaTac, Seattle, Shoreline, Snoqualmie, Tukwila, Vashon Island, Woodinville (not Woodenville), and Yarrow Point, WA; the
Kitsap County, Washington State cities of Bremerton, Kingston, Port Orchard, Poulsbo, and Silverdale, and Bainbridge Island, WA; the
Mason County, Washington State towns of Shelton, Allyn-Grapeview, Hoodsport, Lilliwaup, Eldon, Union, Matlock, Tahuya, and Potlatch, the
Pierce County, Washington State cities of  Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Lake Wood, Steilacoom, Fife and University Place, WA; the
San Juan County, Washington State and San Juan Island, Lopez Island, Shaw Island and Orcas Island and Friday Harbor; the
Skagit County, Washington State cities and towns of Anacortes, Burlington, La Conner, Mount Vernon, Sedro Woolley
Snohomish County, Washington State cities of Edmonds, Everett, Lynnwood, Marysville, Mill Creek and Mountlake Terrace, WA; the
Thurston County, Washington State cities and towns of Lacey, Olympia, Rainier, Tenino, Tumwater, Yelm, and Bucoda or the
Whatcom County, Washington State cities and towns of Acme, Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Deming, Everson, Ferndale, Glacier, Lummi Island, Lynden, Maple Falls, Nooksack, Point Roberts, and Sumas, WA., Washington State.

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