If you are looking for an EMDR therapist, you will quickly notice that credentials vary. Some therapists describe themselves as “trained in EMDR.” Others say “EMDRIA-Trained.” Some mention “EMDRIA-Approved” protocols. These terms sound similar, but they represent meaningfully different levels of training, and the difference matters for the quality of care you receive.
At Self Care Impact Counseling, we are transparent about what our credentials mean because we believe you deserve to know what you are getting when you trust someone with your trauma.
What EMDRIA Is
The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) is the professional organization that sets the standard for EMDR therapy training and practice. EMDRIA does not train therapists directly. It accredits training programs that meet its rigorous curriculum requirements and certifies individual therapists who complete those programs and demonstrate competency through supervised practice.
EMDRIA’s standards exist because EMDR is a specific, protocol-driven therapy that works best when it is delivered the way the research validated it. Shortcuts in training produce shortcuts in delivery, and shortcuts in delivery reduce effectiveness and increase the risk of harm. Trauma therapy done poorly is not just unhelpful. It can be destabilizing. The EMDRIA framework is designed to prevent that.
What EMDRIA-Trained Means
When a therapist is described as EMDRIA-Trained, it means they have completed a training program that EMDRIA has reviewed and approved. This is not a weekend workshop or an online course. The training involves a minimum of 50 hours of clinical instruction covering the neuroscience of trauma, the eight-phase EMDR protocol, and the specific techniques for managing the emotional activation that trauma processing produces. It includes a supervised practicum where the therapist practices the protocol under the direct observation of experienced EMDR instructors, receiving real-time feedback on their technique. And it requires a minimum of 10 hours of case consultation with seasoned EMDR clinicians, where the therapist reviews their actual client work and receives expert guidance on complex cases.
The distinction between “trained in EMDR” and “EMDRIA-Trained” is significant. Any therapist can attend a non-accredited EMDR training, which may vary widely in rigor, depth, and adherence to the established protocol. An EMDRIA-Trained therapist has completed a program that met a specific, externally verified standard. The difference is comparable to the difference between someone who took a first aid class and someone who completed medical school. Both have learned something about the subject. The depth and reliability of what they learned are not the same.
What EMDRIA-Approved Means
You may also see the term “EMDRIA-Approved” used in connection with our therapists. This refers to the training program itself, not the individual therapist. An EMDRIA-Approved program is one that has been formally reviewed by EMDRIA and determined to meet the association’s standards for curriculum, instruction, and supervised practice.
The simplest way to think about it: the program is Approved, and the therapist who completes the program is Trained. Both terms point to the same thing: your therapist went through a formal, recognized, and rigorously evaluated professional training pipeline, not an abbreviated or unaccredited alternative.
Why This Matters for Your Care
Trauma therapy requires a level of clinical skill that goes beyond good intentions. When you are processing traumatic material, your nervous system is in a vulnerable state. The therapist needs to know how to manage that activation skillfully, which means knowing when to push forward with processing, when to slow down, when to ground you, and how to ensure that you leave each session in a stable emotional state rather than a destabilized one.
EMDRIA-Trained therapists are taught specific stabilization and grounding techniques that are integrated into every phase of the protocol. They are trained to deliver the eight-phase EMDR model with fidelity, meaning they follow the protocol as it was designed and researched rather than improvising or skipping phases. Research consistently shows that EMDR is most effective when the full protocol is followed. Deviations from the model reduce effectiveness, and in some cases, can leave traumatic material partially activated without adequate resolution, which can worsen symptoms rather than improve them.
EMDRIA-Trained therapists also stay connected to the evolving research. Trauma science is advancing rapidly, and the techniques available for processing traumatic material continue to develop. Therapists who maintain their connection to EMDRIA’s professional community, through continuing education, advanced trainings, and consultation, bring current knowledge and methods to their work rather than relying solely on what they learned during their initial training.
What to Ask When You Are Choosing an EMDR Therapist
If you are evaluating EMDR therapists, a few questions can help you assess the quality of their training. Ask whether their training was EMDRIA-Approved. Ask how many hours of supervised practice they completed. Ask whether they follow the standard eight-phase protocol or use a modified approach. And ask whether they participate in ongoing consultation or continuing education specific to EMDR.
These are not confrontational questions. Any well-trained EMDR therapist will be happy to answer them, because they know the training matters and they are proud of having completed it. If a therapist is reluctant to discuss their training background, that reluctance is information worth considering.
Our Team at Self Care Impact Counseling
At Self Care Impact Counseling, EMDR is not a supplementary offering. It is central to our clinical identity. Our founder, Alayna Baillod, LCSW, is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant, which is the highest level of EMDR credentialing available. She supervises and consults with our clinical team, ensuring that every EMDR provider at our practice meets the standard that our clients deserve.
Our EMDR team, including Alayna Baillod, Emily Stafford, Jenn Bosman, Kelly Yang, and McKenna Mesak, has each completed EMDRIA-Approved training and participates in ongoing clinical consultation. When you work with an EMDR therapist at our practice, you are not just getting an individual clinician. You are getting a therapist who is supported by a team and held to a standard.
EMDR Therapy in Lakewood and Longmont, Colorado
We offer EMDR therapy and trauma therapy at our offices in Lakewood and Longmont, as well as online sessions for anyone in Colorado.
We invite you to call us at 720-551-4553 for a free 20-minute phone consultation, or try our Find-Your-Therapist tool to get matched with an EMDR therapist who fits your needs. You can also reach us through the contact page on our website.
Self Care Impact Counseling envisions a new age of counseling for adolescents, adults, couples and groups that makes a REAL difference with core values of GROWTH | BALANCE | COMPASSION | INNER HARMONY.
About the Author
Alayna Baillod, LCSW, is a Clinical Supervisor and the Owner of Self Care Impact Counseling. She is an EMDRIA Approved EMDR Consultant and EMDR Therapist, extensively trained in Gottman Couples Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), DBT, Somatic Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Attachment Theory. Alayna specializes in couples counseling, EMDR trauma therapy, and codependency recovery. Find your therapist here.