EMDR Consultation

Consultations at The EMDR Center of Canada

At The EMDR Center of Canada, we offer both individual and group virtual consultations led by EMDRIA-approved Consultants. Our goal is to help you hone your clinical skills, deepen your theoretical understanding, and build unwavering confidence in your practice. We pride ourselves on cultivating a compassionate, transparent, and non-judgmental environment where clinicians can grow through collaborative learning.

Our Approach to EMDR Consultation: Ensuring Fidelity to Shapiro’s (2018) Standard EMDR Protocol 

We are deeply committed to providing consultation aligned with the pure form of EMDR Therapy as established by Francine Shapiro (2018). Because basic training curriculum can vary widely across providers, many clinicians enter consultation with differing background knowledge and techniques.

Our consultation emphasizes a strong focus on Case Conceptualization. This comprehensive approach guides clinicians in gathering detailed client histories without relying on the “Float Back Technique”—a method where memories are hypothesized as etiological to presenting symptoms, issues, or triggers. To ensure complete clarity: clinicians trained to utilize the Float Back Technique five times to retrieve five memories for Prong 1 are practicing outside the parameters of Shapiro’s (2018) standard protocol and EMDRIA’s definition of EMDR Therapy. Clarifying these nuances is a key part of how we help clinicians refine their clinical fidelity.

Growing Together in Consultation

If your past training or current methods differ from this standard Case Conceptualization framework, we warmly invite you to join our consultation program with an open mind. We view the consultation space as a dynamic partnership, one that requires a willingness to re-examine prior habits, embrace constructive feedback, and align with foundational EMDR principles.

To support you in this learning transition, we may recommend:

• Targeted Refresher Training: Enrolling in our on-demand Comprehensive Refresher on EMDR Therapy (eligible for 12 EMDRIA education credits).

• Core Reading: Revisiting Shapiro’s (2018) foundational text alongside Andrew M. Leeds’ (2016) A Guide to the Standard EMDR Therapy Protocols for Clinicians, Supervisors, and Consultants.

• Enhanced Documentation: Incorporating expanded client information and case history details into your case presentations.

A Supportive, High-Standard Environment

Receiving feedback on clinical work can naturally feel vulnerable or frustrating, especially if you discover that past training taught methods that deviate from standard EMDRIA definitions. Our faculty is dedicated to navigating these moments thoughtfully, gently addressing practice gaps during individual sessions or appropriate group discussions.

Because open, reflective learning is essential for professional growth, we encourage clinicians to approach constructive feedback with curiosity rather than defensiveness. If receiving feedback triggers intense emotional responses or personal distress, we encourage exploring those feelings within your own personal therapy. Should these personal reactions consistently impede your progress in consultation, we may respectfully pause our work together and invite you to rejoin once those internal barriers and learning gaps have been given the time and personal space to resolve.

Our ultimate commitment is to walk alongside you as you master the pure form of EMDR Therapy, delivering high-fidelity care that produces meaningful outcomes for your clients.