PROFESSIONALS / ACCREDITATION / FAQS
Frequently asked questions about accreditation
Q1: I have just joined the EMDR Association. Can cases I have worked on before becoming a member be counted towards numbers of cases needed for accreditation?
A: You are required to be a member of the Association to apply for accreditation but do not need to be a member to undertake the training and you can count cases from the point that you complete level 1 of the basic training, provided they have been supervised by a Europe-Accredited EMDR Consultant supervisor.
Q2: Can supervision hours prior to membership be counted? Please see above. You do not have to be a member of the Association to train or be supervised by an accredited consultant.
A: From Jan 2011 it became compulsory to add additional supervision hours to training. Part 4 provides 10 hours of supervision . Once you have completed all parts of your EMDR basic training you will have accrued 10 hours of supervision which counts towards accreditation. Please note that trainings before that date did not include a supervision element.
Q3: My supervisor is not an EMDR Accredited Consultant. Can this supervision be counted?
A: Only supervision by a Europe-Accredited EMDR Consultant can be counted for your application for accreditation.
Q4: Since becoming fully trained I have attended groups run by an Accredited EMDR Consultant. Can I count the cases I have discussed at these groups towards my application for practitioner accreditation?
A: You can count cases for which you have received supervision by an Accredited EMDR Consultant if that consultant provides written confirmation of the supervision and you include it with your application.
Q5: I have not yet completed the necessary hours of supervision to allow me to apply for accreditation and my supervisor is no longer able to provide me with supervision. Can my new supervisor sign off previous cases supervised by my previous supervisor?
A: No. Ask your previous supervisor to provide you with written confirmation of the work you have done together and sign off the cases he/she has supervised.
Q6: I have been attending a supervision group run by an Accredited Practitioner. Can I count these hours of supervision towards my accreditation?
A: No. Only supervision by an EMDR Europe Accredited Consultant is recognised for accreditation (though Peer Supervision can be helpful).
Q7: I have attended EMDR supervision groups run by a Europe-Accredited EMDR Consultant. Can I count these hours towards the hours of supervision required for accreditation?
A: Yes. Group supervision hours are counted in the same way as individual supervision hours.
Q8: I am providing group supervision. How long should each group session last and how many participants should attend?
A: Ideally a group should consist of no more than five participants and should last for around two hours. EMDR Consultants need to be able to be sure that they can safely supervise the practice of all of their supervisees. EMDR Consultants need also to be able to gain a clear picture of their supervisees practice and to take into account the regularity of attendance of their supervisees at groups.
Q9: I cannot get permission from any of my clients to video therapy sessions. My employers do not permit the recording of any sessions for confidentiality reasons. Can I apply for accreditation without submitting a DVD?
A: The guidelines make it clear that in order to fulfil the conditions for accreditation your EMDR consultant must either see a recording of your work OR have seen an in vivo session which satisfies him/her that you are able to utilise the standard protocol.
Q10: I work only with very young children and have to adapt substantially the standard protocol. I do not have a DVD of the standard protocol. Is a DVD of the adapted work sufficient?
A: The guidelines make it clear that in order to fulfil the conditions for accreditation your EMDR consultant must either see a recording of your work OR have seen an in vivo session which satisfies him/her that you are able to use the standard protocol.
Q11: How long must the video of my work be? Does it need to show all stages of the standard protocol?
A: You need to be able to demonstrate competency in all eight phases of the EMDR protocol. This may be in combination with examples from your video material.
Frequently asked questions about re-accreditation
Q1: I have not been able to work for many months because of illness/unemployment. I will not be able to fulfil the requirements for re-accreditation within the five year time frame. What can I do?
A: Write to the Association administrator explaining your circumstances. A member of the committee is responsible for considering all mitigating circumstances. The committee will consider mitigating circumstances. It is also advisable that your EMDR Supervisor/consultant writes to the Chair stating their support for the request.
Q2: Do I need a reference from two EMDR Consultants to support my application for re-accreditation?
A: For re-accreditation as an EMDR Practitioner, you will need one reference from an EMDR Accredited Consultant, plus one other professional (clinical supervisor/manager) reference.
For re-accreditation as an EMDR Consultant you will need references from two EMDR Accredited Consultants; one of whom needs to be able to comment on your clinical work.
Q3: I have allowed my membership of the Association to lapse. Am I still an Accredited Practitioner or do I have to reapply for accreditation?
A: If you have a break in membership of more than three months you must reapply for accreditation.
Q4: I was not told that my membership had lapsed and/or I have forgotten to apply for re-accreditation. Must I reapply for accreditation or simply apply for re-accreditation?
A: It is your responsibility to keep track of your accreditation. If your membership has lapsed for more than three months then you must reapply for accreditation. NB: All members are sent reminders.
Q5: My employers will not provide any funding for CPD and I have not attended any CPD events during the past five years. Can I still apply for re-accreditation?
A: It is your responsibility to satisfy the criteria for re-accreditation. If you do not satisfy the CPD criteria you cannot be reaccredited.
Q6: I have attended EMDR supervision groups. Can I count this towards CPD hours?
A: CPD points are not awarded for supervision, but attendance at a supervision group fulfils one of the criteria for re-accreditation and you should make reference to it in your application.
Q7: I have read books and articles about EMDR and given presentations on EMDR. Can this be counted towards my CPD?
A: It is expected that you would engage in such activities throughout your period of accreditation but this would be over and above your attendance at CPD events.
Q8: I have not put anyone forward for accreditation during my period as an EMDR Consultant. Can I still apply for re-accreditation?
A: We recognise that you may be supervising people who do not wish or are not ready to seek accreditation. Putting people forward for accreditation is not a requirement for re-accreditation, though we would like you to encourage supervisees to apply for accreditation.
Q9: I have not supervised anyone during my period as an EMDR Consultant. Can I still apply for re-accreditation?
A: You can apply, but the role of an EMDR Consultant is to provide clinical supervision. Your lack of provision of supervision may be a factor when considering your re-accreditation.