EMDRIA Approved EMDR Therapist Training

Our EMDR Therapist Training was developed by Jose Carbajal, PhD, LCSW and Jordan Shafer, MS, LPC to provide a full, complete, and comprehensive training program that is either done online or in-person. The CompassionWorks’ training is approved by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) the governing body for EMDR in the United States and Canada. This training is for therapists who want to learn EMDR to incorporate it into their practice of psychotherapy.    

The training consists of two 3-day weekends and 10 hours of consultation, which is all included in the cost. Times are usually 9:00 am to 5:30 pm on the Fridays and Saturdays and 9:00 am to 3:30 pm on the Sundays.  The 10 hours of consultation  are done in a group format, and are done online, in 5 two-hour regularly scheduled blocks.  Go here for more information on how the groups are set up and organized.

The training is based on the book:  Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Third Edition: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures, by Francine Shapiro.   This is the link to the text and reading requirements for the course.

This training is designed to give you the depth of understanding, practical experience, and the confidence you will need to use EMDR effectively with your clients. Even after the first weekend, you will be encouraged to use it with appropriate clients and begin preparing the others who are not ready.

All trainees will be asked to participate in practicum exercises as part of the training. You will be encouraged to work on personal issues that are appropriate for the training environment.

There will be demonstrations with individual attendees throughout the 6 days, and you are encouraged to consider being a volunteer. In addition, all participants will be paired to practice the newly learned material. This will be done in a safe, supportive environment, in which confidentially will be maintained.

40 CE credits are included for those licensed in the state of Texas. CE credits for those licensed outside of Texas are available to be purchased at checkout.

With EMDR therapy we can end symptoms of PTSD, such as a nervous stomach, nightmares, negative self-talk, and recurring self-defeating patterns of behavior that result in conflicts.  In addition, you can get relief from unconscious patterns of desire, such as over-eating and the other process addictions as well as relief from attachment to substances, including drugs and alcohol.

EMDR therapy also, shows positive results with:

  • Sexual and/or physical abuse
  • Complicated grief
  • Disturbing memories
  • Panic attacks
  • Phobias
  • Dissociative disorders
  • Body dysmorphia and eating disorders

“The nice thing about EMDR is that sometimes it’s really powerful and you get a lot out of it, and sometimes it’s pretty quiet, not much seems to happen,  and you still get a lot out of it.” ~ a client

Being an EMDR therapist allows you to look at the human experience from the alternate viewpoint that the client’s inner wisdom is creating their healing and growth. Positive changes within the client are often evident within just a few sessions. EMDR therapy takes stress off the therapist as the one who has or knows all the answers as the client’s brain is doing most of the work. The therapy you already do and have always done, works even better.

It’s important to consider that EMDR is:

  • The most highly studied, evidence-based therapeutic approach for mental health treatment.
  • Clinically supported by observable results by clients and therapists.
  • At work below the level of the “thinking mind” with processing at the subcortical level.
  • Supported by neuroscience.
  • A way for clients to go “deeper, quicker” and stay longer through the completion of difficult issues.

“Being an EMDR therapist has allowed me to help clients process disturbing material more completely and adds a component of cognitive restructuring that promotes long lasting symptom relief.” ~Amanda Martin, PhD, LMFT-S, LPC and an EMDRIA Approved Consultant for EMDR

“EMDR therapy connected all the dots for me as a therapist. No other training in my career has made as much of an impact on my work.” ~ Beth Coles, M.Ed. LPC-S, RPT-S and EMDRIA Consultant.

  • Licensed Mental Health Professionals

    • Qualifying medical doctors must be licensed to practice in their state or province.
    • Qualifying advanced practice registered nurses must have a Master of Science in Nursing (or higher) with a specialization in psychiatric mental health nursing and must be licensed to practice through their state board or province.
    • Qualifying Mental Health Clinicians must have a master’s degree in the mental health field (Counseling, Marriage Family Therapy, Psychology, Psychiatry, Social Work) or related mental health discipline and be licensed to practice through their state board or province.
    • Individuals who only hold a chemical dependency or substance abuse license are not eligible as these licenses generally do not allow for a mental health scope of practice. 

    Pre-Licensed Mental Health Professionals

    • These are clinicians who are actively pursuing a mental health license through their state board (or province) while working under a licensed supervisor. Some of these license types include associate, intern, limited, provisional, temporary and pre-license.
    • Qualifying pre-licensed mental health clinicians must have a master’s degree in the mental health field (Counseling, Marriage Family Therapy, Psychology, Psychiatry, Social Work) or related mental health discipline and must be actively pursuing a full license through their state board (or province) while working under a licensed supervisor.
    • Individuals who only hold a chemical dependency or substance abuse license are not eligible as these licenses generally do not allow for a mental health scope of practice. 

    Graduate Students

    • Qualifying graduate students must be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program in the mental health field (Counseling, Marriage Family Therapy, Psychology, Psychiatry, Psychiatric Nursing, Social Work) or related mental health discipline. Students must have completed their core graduate academic coursework and must be in the practicum/internship portion of their graduate program. First year graduate students are not eligible. Graduate students must be on a licensing track and working under the supervision of a fully licensed mental health clinician.
    • Graduate students who would like to take an EMDR Training will need to submit certain documentation (graduate transcript, practicum or internship details, and a letter from their supervisor which includes the supervisor’s license information and number) in order to verify their eligibility. Students do not need to provide EMDRIA with any documentation unless specifically asked to do so by EMDRIA staff. Any documentation that needs to be submitted would go directly to the training provider either prior to or during the training registration process.

Please email CompassionWorks or otherwise submit documentation from one of the following options:

  • Documentation that shows your standing as a mental health professional, have a master’s degree (or doctorate) in a mental health related field (Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Psychiatry, Psychiatric Nursing, etc.) and are licensed to practice as a mental health professional by your state board.  Full eligibility requirements.
  • If you have a graduate degree in the mental health field but are not yet licensed to practice, please document that you are working towards state licensure and under a licensed supervisor. (A copy of your intern license and letter from your supervisor will suffice.)
  • If you are currently enrolled in a graduate program, please submit transcripts (unofficial) that show you have completed your core coursework and a letter from your licensed supervisor in the internship/practicum setting.
  • First-year graduate students are not eligible.

Email Jordan

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Dr. Amber Quaranta-Leech, LPC-S

Amber holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Texas and Oklahoma and holds Supervisor credential for Texas. Amber is an EMDRIA consultant and trainer. She has over a decade of experience in the trauma field in work with uniformed services, domestic violence, childhood trauma and abuse, and recent mass trauma events. Amber provides consultation for EMDRIA certification, for consultants-in-training, and supervision for LPC-Associates. Amber continues to research the benefits of EMDR therapy with a variety of populations. Her goal is to help build strong clinicians who are well versed in trauma interventions to better support their clients. Amber sees a limited number of clients with a focus on trauma work, she is also a Certified Career Counselor and Certified through EAGALA to provide equine-assisted therapy. 

Dr. Jose Carbajal, LCSW

Dr. Jose Carbajal, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and a master’s in theological studies from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive teaching experience, Jose specializes in trauma, sexual abuse recovery, domestic violence, and substance abuse. His research focuses on trauma interventions, neuroscience, and faith. He is EMDR Certified, an Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Approved Trainer, with numerous publications and professional presentations to his name.

Dr. Amanda Martin, LMFT-S, LPC, BCN

Amanda Martin holds a PhD in Family Therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in trauma therapy for individuals and families in residential and outpatient settings. Amanda also provides supervision for EMDR certification, EMDR consultants-in-training, and LMFT-Associates. Her mission is to help people find a healthy, joyful, and fulfilling path in life. Her warm, supportive, and interactive counseling style incorporates Symbolic Experiential Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, HeartMath, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Collaborative Problem Solving.