By now, you’ve may have heard of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)—maybe from your therapist, or maybe from celebs like Prince Harry, Lady Gaga, David Beckham or Miley Cyrus, who’ve talked openly about how it helped them heal. EMDR is growing in popularity for a reason: it works.
Because of that, more and more therapists are getting trained in it—which is awesome. But here’s where things can get confusing: what’s the difference between someone who’s trained in EMDR and someone who’s certified?
Let’s break it down.
A trained EMDR therapist has completed the basic training. That means they’ve learned the core protocol and can use EMDR in their sessions. Some may have just finished training, while others might have completed it years ago and integrated EMDR into their practice ever since.
A certified EMDR therapist, on the other hand, has gone several steps further. They’ve completed the basic training plus ongoing consultation with an EMDR-approved supervisor, additional advanced trainings, and continuing education every year to maintain certification. In short: certification means more experience, more supervision, and more refined skill.
That doesn’t mean a trained therapist isn’t great—there are plenty of skilled, compassionate EMDR therapists who stop at the basic training. But a certified therapist has gone the extra mile to deepen their expertise and stay current with best practices in trauma treatment.
If you’re considering EMDR therapy, it’s worth asking your therapist about their training and experience. Whether they’re trained or certified, what matters most is that you feel safe, seen, and supported in the process.
Ready to learn how EMDR can help you move through what’s been holding you back? Take a look at my Trauma/EMDR page.
EMDR Therapy in Issaquah, WA | Serving Sammamish, Bellevue, North Bend & Snoqualmie
Virtual across Washington State.