As an EMDR consultant and clinical supervisor, a theme has presented in EMDR supervisions with both experienced practitioners and trainees, around the integration of EMDR with their original modality.

Training in EMDR emphasises how complimentary it can be to other sets of core skills. However, feedback from supervisees, with original modalities in psychodynamic, psychoanalytic or person-centred trainings, has been that this can be very difficult to implement practically within their existing work.

Some supervisees have identified that because EMDR works in a very different way to their original modality, it has sometimes meant that their confidence in the use of EMDR has been compromised or that there can sometimes be avoidant reactions to its use.

Although EMDR has a very specific protocol and processes traumatic material in a unique and powerful way, use of core modalities to develop a case conceptualisation, form a safe therapeutic relationship and gauge aspects of dissociation and resourcing are essential to integrate.

Fundamentally, we don’t need to throw out the extensive knowledge and experience we have already gained as therapists from our original modalities to effectively become EMDR therapists.  These need to exist together to hand our clients a safe, unique and connective experience.

I provide a safe supervisory space where this can be analysed and worked through to build confidence and allow therapists to begin to fully integrate EMDR as a central part of their clinical work. This can be essential to finding a place for EMDR within your existing practise and understanding it as a stand-alone therapy or an integrated part of a treatment plan whether working with the standard or the attachment informed protocol.