EMDR Basic Training for Therapists: EMDRIA Approved & Neuroscience-Informed
Become an EMDR Therapist in a Live, Connected, Virtual Training Cohort
Talk therapy isn’t always enough. Our live, virtual EMDR Basic Training helps you heal trauma at its roots with a neuroscience-informed approach you can apply immediately — all while learning in real time, with a supportive cohort of like-minded therapists.
You don’t have to do this alone. Train from anywhere, build your EMDR skills step by step, and stay connected with experienced trainers and peers who get what it’s like to do this work.
"Hands down, the best training I've ever taken in my 20 year career. Clients get better and I feel inspired again by my work. Worth every penny and hour spent in learning."
Lori P - Therapist in private practice
"I was hesitant at first but this training paid for itself in just a few new clients. I’m getting steady referrals from other therapists who don’t offer EMDR, which has boosted my private practice income. The consultation included in the program helped me hit the ground running.”
Mia L - therapist in private practice & IOP program
Is EMDR Basic Training Right for Me?
Curious about EMDR Basic Training? This guide breaks our comprehensive EMDRIA approved training program down - so you can choose with confidence.
Why EMDR Therapy Training Matters
Even when clients understand their trauma—when they can name their triggers, explain their past, and connect the dots—they often remain stuck.
That’s because trauma isn’t just in the mind. It lives in the nervous system.
You need an approach that helps your clients process trauma where it lives—in their neurobiology and body.
Insight and coping strategies only get you so far. That's why EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing - therapy that works with the neurobiological systems that hold trauma is imperative for producing lasting change and true healing.
“I used to hit a wall with my clients—they understood their trauma, but we couldn’t move past it. EMDR gave me a way to help them actually process what was stuck in their system. It’s changed everything about how I practice.”
Samantha R. - LCSW, group practice
“I’d put off EMDR training for years because I didn't want to take another boring training. TTI made it so approachable and engaging— the trainers meet you exactly where you are. I left feeling truly capable, not just in theory but in real practice. I’m so glad I took this training.”
Rachel - LPC, outpatient clinician
Why Talk Therapy Alone Isn’t Enough for Treating Trauma
You became a therapist to help people heal. And you do—every day. But sometimes, you hit a wall.
Progress stalls out.
Clients get stuck.
Talk therapy just isn’t cutting it.
The techniques you have are useful and impactful - but it can feel like applying band-aids, falling short of deeply healing the wound.
Coping strategies are helpful—but they’re not the end goal. You want to help clients truly heal, so they can live, not just manage.
EMDR therapy is a proven, evidence-based method that addresses trauma at its core. Our EMDRIA-approved training helps you integrate EMDR confidently—so you can help clients truly move forward.
Real results
In a randomized controlled study, 84–100% of participants were no longer diagnosed with PTSD after EMDR treatment.
—Journal of Traumatic Stress
EMDR is effective in treating depression, particularly in severe cases.
- Seok & Kim, 2024
EMDR has been demonstrated to have significant efficacy in decreasing cravings in people with substance use disorders.
- Martínez-Fernández, et al., 2024
EMDR Basic Training Rooted in Neuroscience and Real World Application
You’ve seen what trauma steals from people. Now you want to be the kind of therapist who helps clients rewrite the story.
EMDR is one of the most effective, evidence-based approaches for treating trauma. Backed by over 40 randomized controlled trials and recognized as a first-line treatment for treating trauma by leading organizations—including the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)—EMDR is proven to create lasting, meaningful change.
Learning to practice EMDR is more than a skill—it’s a shift in how you understand and treat trauma. Our training doesn’t just teach the protocol. It equips you to use EMDR in real-world practice, with clarity, confidence, and impact.
At Trauma Therapist Institute, our EMDRIA-approved EMDR Basic Training is:
- Rooted in neuroscience, research, and cutting-edge approaches.
- All-inclusive: Lecture, practicum, consultation hours, CEs, a comprehensive manual, clinical tools, and ongoing support—all included.
- Packed with real-world tools, scripts, and session demos.
- Led by industry experts who know the complexities of trauma therapy.
- Supported with mentorship, peer consultation, and a private community.
More effective treatment in fewer sessions
EMDR has been shown to be as effective as or more effective than CBT, with fewer sessions required.
— National Center for PTSD (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
"I discovered something called EMDR, which has been the most healing."
- Sandra Bullock, actress
"EMDR saved my life."
- Whitney Cummings, comedian and actress
EMDR Training Isn't Just Another Training - It's A Professional Transformation
When you train with the Trauma Therapist Institute, you get an all-inclusive EMDR Basic Training program - packed with all your required training portions along with support and resources.
- An EMDRIA-approved, live-synchronous-virtual, EMDR Basic Training.
- Over 50 hours of EMDR training.
- 40 APA, NCC, and ASWB CEs.
- 10 hours of small group consultation with a TTI-trained consultant.
- A live, synchronous, online training cohort. Find community, reduce isolation, and deepen your learning with cohorted training.
- A course library that includes TTI's trademarked EMDR Basic Training manual along with downloads, assessments, and client worksheets.
- On-demand EMDR training demo videos with Rebecca Kase to support you outside of training.
- Practice sessions and peer feedback.
- A private online trauma therapist community.
- Join our Shame-Free Spaces for Learning™—where compassion, play, and realness are part of the process
Why Choose EMDR Training with the Trauma Therapist Institute
Why Therapists Choose Trauma Therapist Institute’s EMDR Basic Training over others
- Practical real world application: We teach EMDR the way you’ll actually use it—with real clients, in real sessions.
- Neuroscience informed: We teach you how trauma affects the nervous system—and how EMDR can help restore balance and integration. You'll learn about the vagus nerve, memory networks, and the neurobiology of trauma and healing in our sneurocience backed course.
- Learn from the experts: Our trainers aren’t just educators—they’re practicing trauma therapists who know what it’s like to be in the room. They bring fresh insight from their ongoing clinical work, sharing practical tools and case examples that translate directly to your sessions. They're experts in EMDR Therapy and all things trauma.
- Support You Can Feel: Between consultation, community, and expert-led mentorship, you’re never doing this alone.
- Inclusive and Values-Aligned: We’re equity-focused, trauma-informed, and offer BIPOC scholarships every quarter.
"Every detail of this training felt intentional. From the pacing to the flow of information to the holding of space, this team goes above and beyond when it comes to delivering a quality program."
Michael, PsyD, Clinical Director of University Counseling Services
"I was so nervous I’d feel overwhelmed, but the way TTI structures the training and the practicums made it all click. I never felt lost — I always had someone to ask, from my group to my consultant. It was the first training I didn’t just survive, I thrived."
Lydia, LMFT, outpatient treatment center
Real Stories. Real Results.
Join hundreds of trauma therapists who have completed our EMDR Basic Training and now use EMDR therapy to help clients heal trauma at the roots.
What you gain from EMDR Basic Training at Trauma Therapist Institute
This isn’t just a training—it’s the start of a new chapter in your trauma work.
A chapter where you gain tools that actually work.
A supportive community that understands the weight of this work.
And a clear roadmap for helping clients truly move forward.
You’ll leave with more than just theory.
You’ll understand the EMDR phases, know how to begin with the right clients, and feel more skilled, more competent, and more grounded in your role as a trauma therapist.
Most importantly, you’ll walk away with a toolkit you can use right away—plus a network of mentors and peers to keep you supported as you grow.
Because learning EMDR is a journey—and we’re here to walk it with you.
"I did the largest NIH-funded study on EMDR. And what we found, of people with adult-onset traumas...it had the best outcome of any treatment that has been published."
- Bessel van der Kolk
EMDR Basic Training Elevates your Practice
EMDR is one of the most in-demand and respected trauma therapies available today. Getting EMDR trained doesn’t just sharpen your clinical skills—it elevates your credibility as a trauma therapist.
Therapists trained in EMDR Therapy often attract more of their ideal clients and receive referrals from colleagues who aren’t trained in EMDR themselves. Simply put: EMDR Basic Training opens doors.
But the benefits don’t stop there.
Completing EMDR Basic Training gives you access to the EMDRIA community—the EMDR International Association. As a member, you’ll gain entry to a growing community of over 16,000 trauma therapists, as well as:
- Special Interest Groups focused on niche clinical topics
- A quarterly peer-reviewed journal
- Exclusive continuing education opportunities
- An annual summit AND annual national conference
- And so much more
EMDR Basic Training is more than a credential—it’s an access point to greater professional visibility, clinical mastery, and meaningful community.
Top 5 Most Searched Therapies By Clients
EMDR is one of the top 5 most searched therapy modalities on Psychology Today.
- Psychology Today, 2022
60% of therapists report increased referrals after completing EMDR Basic Training.
- Internal survey of EMDR trainers and consultants
THE BREAKDOWN: WHAT TO EXPECT & WHAT YOU'LL LEARN in our EMDR Basic Training Program
Our all inclusive EMDR Basic Training is delivered over two, three-day training intensives, and five monthly group consultations.
This is a virtual, LIVE, training. That means you can attend with your cat and a cozy blanket from home - but we are in live, synchronous time.
Each training intensive blends a dynamic morning lecture with hands-on afternoon practicum in small practice groups led by one of our expert training team members. Yes, this training is virtual—but don’t let that fool you. You’ll be fully prepared to deliver EMDR confidently in both in-person and telehealth sessions.
But you don't have to wait for training to start diving in! Upon registration you'll get access to our EMDR Learning Hub. Inside the course hub you'll find everything you need - a community chat, protocols and clinical aids, training manuals, and demo videos. We've thoughtfully organized this 50-hour training to make learning seamless - and your EMDR Basic Training Roadmap will help guide you step-by-step.
Special Populations We'll Cover Include:- Children & Adolescents
- Veterans
- Addictions
- Complex Trauma
- Dissociative Disorders
- Chronic Pain
- Anxiety Disorders
Part 1
Part 2
Consultation
How It Works
Attendance Policy
EMDR has been one of the most profound healing experiences I have ever personally experienced. It has been instrumental in helping me heal PTSD. It's also been the most powerful therapy I have ever provided to clients.
- Rebecca Kase, Author of Polyvagal Informed EMDR, The Polyvagal Solution, and EMDR Senior Trainer
