Continued Excellence: Why EMDRIA Certified Therapists Should Attend Consultation
If you have already become an EMDRIA Certified EMDR clinician, you have earned a meaningful credential that signifies your competence and commitment to evidence-based practice. But certification is not the end of the journey, it is a milestone that opens a doorway to ongoing growth, quality care, and professional resilience. Here is why attending consultation remains a valuable - even essential - component of a thriving EMDR practice.
Consultation is a commitment to competence.
EMDRIA certification demonstrates baseline knowledge and skill, but clinical mastery is built over time through real-world practice, reflection and feedback. Regular consultation helps you to maintain high standards, catch blind spots, and stay aligned with evolving best practices in EMDR therapy.
When in doubt, talk it out.
Many clients are multi-faceted and present with complex cases involving trauma, attachment ruptures, dissociation, or co-occurring disorders. Consultation provides a space to discuss your case thoroughly and receive support. A seasoned consultant can help you discern how to proceed, pause, or adjust the treatment plan to ensure safety.
Staying current with evolving protocols and research
EMDR research and clinical guidelines evolve with time, consultation groups discuss new research, guidelines, and refinements to the standard protocol.
Professional longevity and burnout protection.
Peer support reduces isolation, and regular consultation builds a community of practice, providing encouragement, accountability, and a sounding board. Consultation is self-care.
Ethics
Decision making in a vacuum is just not ideal, we are duty bound as therapists to offer our clients ethically sound treatment. Consultation helps to navigate ethical dilemmas, boundary questions, and consent issues. Quality feedback can also improve your case formulation, treatment planning, and adherence to protocols.
Skill Refinement
Regular case presentations train your eye for subtle indicators – such as distress tolerance, rumination, or dissociative processes. Practicing clear and concise client-centered explanations allows you to do the same with your clients, increasing buy-in and engagement.
Holding EMDRIA Certification signals a commitment to high standards in trauma-focused care. Consultation is not a sign of inefficiency, it is a protective strategy to sustain excellence, manage complexity, and protect the well-being of both client and therapist. If you are not already attending consultation, consider it an investment in ongoing professional development that pays dividends in treatment outcomes and professional satisfaction.
-Reannon Ketabian, LMFT
For questions about individual or group consultation, please visit the consultation page here.
