The EMDR Center of Canada Inc.
Comprehensive Basic Training in EMDR
Participant Agreement
This program is for relatively experienced clinical practitioners who understand the importance of reflexivity which is necessary for the safe and effective practice of psychotherapy. Therefore, this agreement is very clear and explicit in its requirements. The intention is not to dissuade qualified clinical practitioners from taking the training. The intention is to recruit participants genuinely ready to learn from this training.
The undersigned participant acknowledges that he / she / they has thoroughly and carefully read, understands, and agrees to the following:
1. The empirical basis of EMDR:
EMDR is widely recognized as an empirically supported treatment for PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder. Its safety and efficacy for other clinical applications have yet to be adequately evaluated by controlled research. The cautions described in the published literature and in The EMDR Center of Canada Inc. Comprehensive Basic Training in EMDR are based primarily on anecdotal reports by trained clinicians.
2. Licensing and registration requirements:
a. All participants must have a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology to be eligible to receive training from The EMDR Center of Canada Inc. Graduate training must have been completed with a clear clinical focus in counselling therapy and include supervised clinical experience with clients. Graduate training programs with an advocacy, leadership, or coaching focus will not be deemed equivalent to supervised therapeutic counselling experience, and are not deemed sufficient for eligibility to receive training through The EMDR Center of Canada Inc.
b. All participants must be licensed or registered with a recognized counselling college or association and covered by professional liability insurance. If you are a student, you must: be enrolled in a Master’s level program in counselling psychology; have completed all core coursework; be on a licensing or registration track; be supervised by a licensed or registered clinician; and have the appropriate documentation on file. A letter from the supervising clinician must be submitted to The EMDR Center of Canada Inc. The letter must state that you have the opportunity to practice psychotherapy under supervision in an appropriate setting, and that your supervisor endorses your participation in this training
c. EMDR Therapy is a form of psychotherapy used to treat trauma. Establishing a strong, authentic therapeutic relationship with clients is essential before moving through the phases of EMDR Therapy. Therefore, all participants registered for the training must have a strong educational background in counselling therapy and adequately understand what constitutes a strong, authentic therapeutic relationship. Participants must be capable of demonstrating this understanding in practice.
d. EMDR Therapy will be taught from a relational perspective such that trainees are expected to work from a place of ongoing awareness of their own experiences and feelings. The ability to engage in such self-reflexivity is not optional and is a necessary component for conducting EMDR Therapy.
3. Current practice requirements:
a. Participants hereby warrant and agree that they are independently registered for practice, have professional liability insurance (or have a supervisor who is legally responsible for their work), and are legally responsible for their use of EMDR Therapy with their clients. Participants are responsible for their own professional obligations and the requirements of their licensing or registration bodies. Participants are required to ensure their practice of EMDR Therapy is consistent with their own professional obligations to all professional bodies they are members of, clinical practice standards, ethical standards, codes of conduct, and any other applicable practice standard or obligations.
b. All participants must have a current, active psychotherapy caseload, and a minimum of at least two clients with whom they can practice EMDR therapy. Participants must demonstrate reprocessing of the Standard EMDR Protocol (minimum of Phases 3 and 4) with at least one of those clients and present their work to training faculty. Clients must be independent, third-party clients. Additionally, participants’ clinical practices must allow for longer term work with clients (at least eight sessions or more).
c. Participants must not practice EMDR Therapy with family, friends, or anyone else they are in an over-lapping relationship with in order to fulfill training requirements. If there is any doubt about the acceptability of a client, then the matter must be discussed and approved by the Director of Training. If a participant is found to be practicing EMDR Therapy with a client who would be deemed unacceptable due to an overlapping relationship that was not discussed with the Director of Training, then that participant will be required to withdraw from the training cohort. It will be a matter of professional judgement for the Director of Training whether or not the participant will be allowed to join a subsequent cohort or if they will be dismissed from the training.
d. This training is designed to help participants integrate the use of EMDR Therapy in their current clinical setting. This training program is not intended for managers, researchers, or clinicians who do not carry an active psychotherapy caseload in which they conduct individual psychotherapy.
4. Course Parameters
a. This is an instructional training only. This program is not an encounter group nor is it intended for any type of psychodynamic group processing.
b. Participants should be aware that EMDR Therapy is a manualized, directive approach and that this training must teach what EMDRIA defines as EMDR Therapy. It will be necessary for all participants to conduct clinical work with some of their clients in a manner strictly consistent with the EMDRIA requirements of this training program. Participants whose current clinical practice is less manualized and directive need to commit to working with some of their clients in the above prescribed manner.
c. All feedback and supervision provided by training faculty will adhere strictly to the EMDRIA defined parameters of EMDR Therapy. Any participant experiencing a personal or emotional response to feedback or supervision will need to seek support outside the training program. I affirm that I am able to provide for any personal needs arising in consequence of feedback and supervision experienced in this training program.
d. Due to EMDRIA requirements, participants must attend all training days they have registered for. It is not possible to make exceptions for this requirement. If a participant does fail to attend even one training day, they will need to re-register, repeat the training, and pay for tuition again.
e. Further to 4 (d), in the case of severe and extenuating circumstances (e.g. documented illness, hospitalization, bereavement), accommodations may be made to enable the participant to complete the required training hours without having to pay tuition again. Instead, a transfer fee of $150 will be charged.
5. Trauma-related material:
a. A significant component of the training involves clinicians practicing EMDR Therapy and related procedures in small groups (dyads or triads) under the supervision of the instructor or qualified training faculty. These experiential exercises are for training purposes only and are not intended for personal therapy.
b. Participants must be prepared to be forthcoming and willing to share aspects of their personal history with other participants they are directly working with during the practice exercises. Additionally, participants must also be prepared to share aspects of their personal history with training faculty to ensure the material they wish to address is appropriate to the training environment. Training faculty will also be assisting participants in understanding case conceptualization with their own personal material.
c. Because role-play has no place in this training program, all participants should be prepared to address real-life, disturbing experiences in order to 1) appreciate the client’s subjective experience of EMDR Therapy, and 2) provide valid training experiences for their colleagues. This means that when a trainee is in the position of clinician, they will at all times conduct themselves as they would with any other client. Because we will be working exclusively with real personal material, it is essential that a colleague in the position of client experience appropriate professionalism, compassion, acceptance, and respect from their practice exercise partner.
d. Further to 5 (c), participants in the position of client must follow the parameters of mindful noticing as required in EMDR Therapy in order to provide valid training experiences for their colleagues. This means that participants in the position of client are expected to be comfortable with vulnerability during the practice exercises. I affirm I will be able to tolerate any psychological, physical, or emotional disturbances should they arise during reprocessing, and that my practice exercise partner and training faculty may witness such responses should they occur. I further affirm I will be transparent and honest with my practice exercise partner about my felt experiences, and will disclose if I have received EMDR Therapy previously.
e. Further to 5 (d), the reprocessing of targeted incidents during practice exercises may lead to the emergence of other disturbing memories. It is not unusual for a target memory to be linked to other, unexpected, disturbing memories or material which might surface during or after the practice exercises. It is the responsibility of the participant to seek, obtain, and pay for appropriate professional assistance if needed. Providing such assistance is not part of the training in EMDR Therapy and will not be provided by the Director of Training or training faculty. Clinicians who elect to do personal EMDR therapy can find EMDR trained clinicians through www.emdria.org or www.emdrcanada.org or request for referrals from training faculty.
f. Related to 2 (d), trauma-related case material presented didactically in consultation sessions or on video may be disturbing to those with unresolved issues. Working with colleagues, being in an evaluative training environment, and partaking in clinical practice may also at times prove disturbing. These things can bring up memories and experiences that are uncomfortable and painful. I affirm I am able to cope with exposure to the relevant materials and experiences that are inherent within this training program.
6. Further, with reference to number 5 above:
a. Clinicians presently engaged in personal therapy or psychiatric treatment should inform their therapist or psychiatrist about all aspects of this training including the experiential component. Clinicians should secure their therapist’s or psychiatrist’s support to participate.
b. Those with limiting or special medical conditions (e.g. high risk pregnancy, heart condition, ocular difficulties, etc.) should consult their medical professionals before participating in this training. Additionally, they should discuss their circumstances with the Director of Training in advance of submitting their application to participate.
c. Those who presently have, or who have previously been diagnosed with, a dissociative disorder, acute or complex PTSD, GAD, panic disorder, substance use disorder, personality disorder, or affective disorder should not participate without special arrangements being made with the Director of Training as part of the application for registration. Failure to advise the Director of Training of such issues in advance could place you and other participants at risk, and result in dismissal from the training.
7. The training and the training environment
a. The purpose of the training is to teach EMDR Therapy consistent with EMDRIA requirements, and provide corrective feedback to participants to aid in the development of their understanding, ability, knowledge, and skills as an evolving EMDR Therapist. Therefore, participants must implement all aspects of what they are learning in the training with clients and their practice exercise partners. EMDR is not a therapy where clinicians can “pick and choose” what they like to use with clients.
b. Related to 2 (d), I acknowledge that this training is a collaborative process whereby training faculty will be fostering supported growth and higher-level thinking about issues of diversity within the context of EMDR Therapy. While I recognize that diversity dialogues can be difficult, they are a necessary part of the training and essential to effective case conceptualization.
c. Related to 5 (c), (d), and (e), participants will be working in dyads (and occasionally triads) in the practice exercises whereby one participant will be in the position of client, and the other in the position of therapist. Participants will be expected to switch positions and must be prepared to appropriately bracket and manage any emotional, physiological, or psychological responses before and after they change positions. It is essential that participants are transparent and honest with their practice exercise partner at all times. Effective EMDR Therapy requires a transparent and honest relationship between counsellor and client.
d. Consistent with 4 (c ), training faculty will observe and evaluate the work of participants in the training. Participants in the position of therapist will be evaluated during the practice exercises for their ability to understand and therefore facilitate EMDR Therapy. Participants in the position of client will be expected to fully engage with the therapy, their own personal issues, and to be practicing mindful noticing. Participants will also be evaluated for the work completed in consultation for case presentations. An objective Likert evaluation scale will be utilized for the evaluation of participants in the practice exercises and in consultation.
e. Consistent with 4 (c), and 7 (d), EMDR is a complex therapy that if applied incorrectly by the therapist could result in harm to the client. Therefore, training faculty will be providing live supervision and corrective feedback to all participants in order to ensure fidelity to, and correct application of, the procedural skills and techniques used in EMDR Therapy. Feedback will be provided verbally as well as written. Participants are expected to be open to receiving such feedback. Participants who are resistant and defensive to receiving such feedback will be interviewed by the Director of Training and dismissed from the training.
f. Further to 7 (e), feedback will pertain to not just the correct application of EMDR Therapy but to all aspects of participants’ clinical presence and practice. This is because the two are fundamentally inseparable. Safe and effective therapeutic practice demands that attention is paid to both because counselling and psychotherapy involve a real human relationship regardless of the modality of therapy the practitioner is offering. EMDR is not viewed as a technique behind which a clinician can hide from real engagement with their clients. Therefore, feedback will be given regarding participants’ engagement in the therapeutic relationship, and in all aspects of their training interactions.
g. Further to 7 (b) and related to 2 (d), participants will be challenged and encouraged to consider and explore their thoughts, behaviors, feelings, biases, prejudices, misconceptions, privilege, and multicultural knowledge as they conduct EMDR Therapy sessions both inside and outside the training environment. This is because such personal aspects of the clinician can be stimulated by the client, interactions with colleagues, and in the training environment.
h. Further to 7 (g), and related to 2 ( c) and (d), transference and countertransference may prove to be barriers to facilitating effective EMDR Therapy; therefore, participants will be encouraged to reflect on issues of transference and countertransference, and to consider appropriate steps to address the transference and countertransference. A therapeutic relationship is a real human relationship with real human beings. Therefore, case conceptualization cannot be viewed as simply an academic exercise. Transference and countertransference must always be explored and included where relevant as part of case conceptualization. This also applies to interactions within the training environment and with colleagues.
i. Participating in a training environment can reveal difficult unresolved issues including for example feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, and social anxiety. Participants will be encouraged to identify, openly discuss, and engage with any such issues that do emerge in the training environment. Trainees will be expected to utilize case conceptualization from the AIP Model to identify what personal past experiences are etiological to these unresolved issues and to their transference responses. They will be encouraged to address these in the practice exercises.
j. Participants are expected to progress in their understanding and application of EMDR Therapy. Participants are expected to demonstrate adequate fidelity to the procedural skills in all 8 Phases of EMDR therapy. As the training proceeds, training faculty must agree that you are ready and able to move on to the more intensive and demanding work involved in this training.
k. I agree the Director of Training has the right to dismiss any participant who does not appear to be integrating, assimilating, or understanding the material taught; and does not appear to be improving in their application of EMDR Therapy despite corrective feedback and guidance from training faculty.
8. Limits of this training:
a. This experiential training is only intended to prepare participants to apply EMDR in their clinical practice. It will not qualify participants to train others in EMDR. Attempts to train others in EMDR without meeting the standards defined by EMDRIA would be a violation of professional ethics and standards.
b. Further to 8 (a), supervisors who are newly trained in EMDR Therapy should refrain from providing feedback to their supervisees who are also EMDR trained. Because EMDR is a specialty therapy, attempting to provide feedback and supervision to supervisees when supervisors are newly trained themselves would also be a violation of professional ethics and standards. Only those clinicians who have received the designation of EMDRIA Approved Consultant or EMDRIA Consultant in Training should be providing feedback to other clinicians regarding their use and application of EMDR Therapy.
c. The training program is limited to the acquisition of basic EMDR competencies. Issues regarding cultural diversity, cultural humility, cultural sensitivity, and ethics will be addressed in the training as appropriate and as mandated by EMDRIA.
9. Conflict and Concerns:
a. Should conflict arise between participants, or other training related concerns, participants are expected to bring their concerns and grievances to the Director of Training immediately. The Director of Training will clarify and address the conflict or concern and seek to foster an effective resolution.
b. Further to 9 (a) and related to 2 (d), 5 (g), 7 (g), (h), and (i), participants are expected to demonstrate an openness to exploring the conflict or concern, and to use their relational counselling skills to respectfully resolve the conflict.
c. Further to 9 (a) and (b), and related to 5 (g) and (h), should the Director of Training be required to discuss any grievance or concern separately with any participant(s), it is understood and agreed that participants expressly consent to any discussions needed in order to pursue resolution (e.g. with other participants or with training faculty). Participants who are resistant and defensive to exploring and resolving the conflict or concern will be interviewed by the Director of Training and dismissed from the training.
10. Additional support:
Training faculty are available to support participants in between training sessions. Participants may elect to request support from any training faculty member; however, support will be limited to 15 minutes. Should a participant require more than 15 minutes, training faculty may charge for their time in 15-minute increments. The member of the training faculty will inform the participant of the hourly rate.
11. Email communication:
Communication regarding the training will be sent via email. I agree that I will contact the Director of Training immediately if I am unable to open, receive, or access communication emails.
12. Confidentiality within the training environment:
a. In order to assure confidentiality of personal and clinical information, audio or video recording, photography, or live streaming of training material by participants is strictly prohibited. It is expected that all participants shall maintain the highest standard of confidentiality regarding all personal and clinical information shared by other participants. This includes not discussing case material outside the training. Failure to maintain confidentiality will be treated as a breach of professional ethics and may result in dismissal from the training program.
b. I agree that the Director of Training has the right to dismiss any participant breaking confidentiality without refund. Confidentiality shall apply to everything - including training material, consultation, and practice exercises - that occurs, or is shared, during the training. The content of the information stated in 12 (a) may be discussed only with participants in the training and with training faculty.
c. The content of small group discussions during practice exercises is to be shared only with participants of that group and training faculty. A participant may, of course, share their own personal emerging material with anyone they choose.
d. Further to 7 (j), I understand members of the training faculty are required to discuss the performance and participation of each participant during each training session. I understand that any written or verbal communication with the training faculty may be discussed, shared with, or distributed to other training faculty members as part of the open communication required to facilitate this evaluative training.
13. Confidentiality of case material:
a. Participants must obtain written consent for the release of information from each client prior to presenting case material during the training and must keep that written consent with their client’s clinical record. All case material shared during the training should refer to clients in such a way that they cannot be identified.
b. I agree not to disclose my clients’ names or other identifying information when making verbal presentations and in sharing written documentation of client sessions during consultation.
c. If training faculty has any sense that an anonymized client presented might be known to, or be identifiable by, any member of the training environment, a confidential conversation with the participant will be arranged.
14. Certificate of Completion and Continuing Education (CE) credits:
a. This is an academically rigorous and clinically focused training. All participants are expected to complete the required readings before each training session, allot time to complete assignments between training sessions, submit all evaluation forms, and actively participate in the training. In addition, participants must also demonstrate through group discussion, practice exercises, and consultation an understanding of the EMDR treatment approach with specific focus on case conceptualization.
b. Related to 4 (d), the attendance policy will be enforced: Participants must attend all training days, and they must actively participate in all practice exercises and group consultation sessions in their entirety.
c. Participants agree to read in their entirety the following two text books: Shapiro, F. (2018) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Basic Principles, Protocols and Procedures. New York: The Guilford Press; and Leeds, A. M. (2016). A Guide to the Standard EMDR Protocols for Clinicians, Supervisors, and Consultants. New York: Springer Publishing. Participants must pay for these study materials in addition to the course tuition fee. Additionally, EMDRIA requires for all participants to read additional resources. These resources are located in the online scholarly platform Canvas.
d. It is expected that participants will not miss more than 15 minutes at any time during the training. In order to receive a Certificate of Completion and CE credits, those who do miss more than 15 minutes at any time during the training will be required to make up this time, and they may have to pay training faculty. The Director of Training will determine the appropriate way to make up missed time.
e. Participants will be required to complete evaluation forms, several quizzes, read two text books, and complete homework. The quizzes will consist of multiple choice and true / false answers. Participants are required to obtain at least 75% on each quiz. There is no time limit on the quizzes, they are open book, and participants are allowed at least 3 attempts.
f. All participants are expected to engage fully with the training in all its aspects. I agree to work diligently towards acquisition of the necessary understanding of EMDR therapy in order to demonstrate to training faculty adequate fidelity in all 8 Phases of EMDR Therapy.
g. In preparation for consultation sessions, participants are required to develop comprehensive written summaries of their actual clinical use of specific EMDR procedures with actual ongoing clients. I agree that I will be diligent in gathering and completing all the information required of me for consultation sessions.
h. Further to 12 (f), participants are required to present a minimum of six cases to receive credit for consultation. Should participants not be able to complete the homework for six case presentations within the parameters of the training sessions, participants will be allowed to present one case after the training is completed without charge. Participants will be required to pay for training faculty’s time to review additional cases beyond the completion of the training to receive credit for consultation to meet training requirements. In this case, a fee schedule will be provided.
i. A Certificate of Completion will be issued to participants who satisfactorily complete the above requirements. Participants eligible for a Certification of Completion will also receive CE documentation. CE documentation cannot be provided otherwise.
j. Participants who begin their EMDR training virtually must complete the entire training within 12 months from their initial start date. This includes completing all the required homework, evaluation forms, and several multiple-choice exams enabling participants to demonstrate a satisfactory understanding of EMDR Therapy to training faculty. Participants unable to complete these requirements within 12 months will not receive their certificate of completion or CE documentation.
15. Course manuals:
a. Participants will be provided one hard-copy of the course manual, and one hard copy of the mini-manual. These manuals will be provided to participants on or before the first day of the training.
b. Participants who receive training manuals but subsequently need to withdraw from the training (at least 30 days before the commencement of the training) will be required to return the manuals to The EMDR Center of Canada Inc. at their own expense.
c. I understand I am responsible for notifying the office if my shipping address should change after submitting my registration. I understand I will be responsible for the cost of shipping and the cost of replacement manuals if I do not receive them. The cost of shipping is approximately $25 and the cost of the replacement manuals are approximately $100.
16. Special needs and requirements:
a. I agree to inform the Director of Training of any particular disability / special learning needs which might conceivably affect my participation in the training when I submit my application.
b. Additionally, I agree to describe any specific accommodations that I may need to the Director of Training upon submitting my application.
c. I recognize that if I fail to do so, and my disability or special educational need becomes an issue, the Director of Training may determine that my application was dishonest and I may be dismissed from the training.
17. Virtual training
a. It is the responsibility of all trainees to ensure they have a strong Internet
connection, updated software, and a functional webcam and microphone to
participate in this training.
b. The training requires for participants to access websites and web programs. Participants experiencing difficulty navigating the online scholarly platforms or software used to facilitate the training agree to contact the office as soon as possible to request technological or administrative support prior to the start of the training.
c. In the event that it is necessary to cancel a training session, participants will receive telephone and email notification.
d. The lecture and consultation portions of virtual trainings will be recorded for auditing purposes in accordance with EMDRIA requirements.
e. I understand appropriate attire is required when I attend virtual trainings.
18. Use of Copyrighted Training Materials:
a. The printed course manual and other original materials provided by The EMDR Center of Canada Inc. and through the Box.com service are copyright by Andrew M. Leeds, Ph.D. unless otherwise stated. Each participant is granted a limited license to copy these materials for their own personal study and use in their own clinical settings. I agree not to distribute or share these materials unless I have received written permission from Andrew M. Leeds, Ph.D or Jasmine Alexander, PsyD (cand) CCC. I agree that to violate this limited license without such written permission will make me liable to the full legal penalties of copyright infringement.
b. Clinical information forms, templates, and assessments developed and provided for the training must not be altered by participants. I agree not to alter any forms, templates, or assessments unless I have received written permission from the author. I agree that to alter the documents provided to me without such written permission makes me liable to the full legal penalties of intellectual property theft.
19. Conduct & Dismissal
a. Participants are expected to display a high degree of professionalism during the training. Participants who engage in conflict generating behavior deprive others from their learning. Those who engage in such behaviors will be interviewed by the Director of Training and dismissed from the training. Hostility or passive aggressive behavior will not be tolerated.
b. Participants are expected to maintain a spirit of cooperation with, and mutual support for, all other participants and the training faculty. Appropriate behavior for a professional learning environment is expected throughout. Those who are disruptive, uncooperative, or disrespectful at any point will be interviewed by the Director of Training and will be dismissed from the training.
c. Participants agree they may be dismissed from the program if they violate any material aspect of this Agreement, or they behave in an inappropriate or abusive manner towards the trainer, other participants, or training faculty. Dismissal is at the sole and complete discretion of the Director of Training.
d. Participants agree that if there are perceived microaggressions, microassaults, microinsults, microinvalidations or implicit bias, they will raise these concerns directly with the Director of Training in private.
e. I affirm I will not use the training as a forum for publicly criticizing the trainer, training faculty, or other participants.
f. Participants agree that all aspects of this agreement will be enforced throughout the training.
20. Grievance
a. Participants who have concerns regarding any aspect of this training should arrange to speak with the Director of Training as soon as possible. The EMDR Center of Canada does have a genuine desire to provide quality training. Any valid concerns brought to the attention of the Director of Training will be carefully considered and responded to as necessary. Concerns really are best dealt with through open conversation. While comments made on feedback forms can be useful, they are no way to raise a genuine, personal concern.
b. If a participant and the Director of Training are unable to agree about a concern and the best way to address it, the Director of Training can arrange for a third party to speak with them to pursue a solution.
c. Presently, EMDRIA does not have a formal grievance procedure. It really is the case that concerns need to be dealt with directly and in-person with the Director of Training.
21. Waiver and Indemnity
a. Participants hereby release The EMDR Centre of Canada Inc., and its employees, directors, officers, agents, and assigns from any and all claims of loss or damage in relation to the training, including, without limitation, personal, emotional, or psychological injury, property damage, economic loss, and third-party liability, with the exception of any claims associated with the gross negligence or malice of The EMDR Centre of Canada Inc.
b. Participants hereby indemnify The EMDR Centre of Canada Inc. and its employees, directors, officers, agents, and assigns for all claims, suits, orders, or any other third- party claims, including solicitor fees on a full indemnity basis, related to the training and their practice of EMDR Therapy.