EMDR Basic Training: A Journey to Holistic Healing

This EMDRIA-approved Basic Training provides clinicians with the knowledge and skills to effectively utilize EMDR therapy with clients experiencing trauma and other mental health concerns.

Participants will:

• Learn the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model
• Develop competency in all 8 phases of EMDR therapy
• Engage in supervised practicum experiences
• Build confidence through guided practice and consultation
• Explore culturally responsive and trauma-informed adaptations

This training meets all requirements for EMDR Basic Training and prepares clinicians to begin integrating EMDR into their clinical work.

This EMDR Basic Training is intentionally designed as a layered and immersive learning experience - one that supports not only skill acquisition, but true clinical integration over time.

The training includes:

• 5 full training days, delivered across two parts
• 5 required consultation sessions to support continued learning and application
• A balance of didactic instruction, live demonstration, and experiential practicum

This is not a one-time learning experience -it is a process.

The spacing between Part 1 and Part 2 is intentional. It creates room for you to begin working with the material, notice what comes up in your clinical work, and return with deeper questions, reflections, and insight. Rather than rushing through content, this structure honors the reality that learning EMDR requires time, embodiment, and practice.

Throughout the training, you will not only learn the mechanics of EMDR, but also develop your clinical decision-making, attunement, and presence - the pieces that cannot be scripted, but are essential to effective and ethical practice.

Consultation is a core part of this process, not an add-on.

The required consultation sessions are designed to:

• Support the transition from training into real-world clinical application
• Strengthen your confidence in using EMDR with clients
• Provide space for case discussion, troubleshooting, and refinement
• Deepen your understanding of the “why” behind the protocol - not just the “how”

This ongoing support helps bridge the gap between learning EMDR and truly integrating it into your clinical work in a way that feels grounded and aligned.

To receive a certificate of completion, participants must:

• Attend all training days in full
• Complete the required consultation hours

Because this training includes experiential components and builds across each day, full participation is essential—not only for your own learning, but for the integrity of the group experience.

Training and consultation dates are listed above.

This training is held live via Zoom and is designed to be fully interactive and experiential.

It is not self-paced or pre-recorded.

Because EMDR training involves practicum and relational learning, your presence matters. This is not a passive learning experience—it is one that requires engagement, reflection, and participation.

Participants are expected to:

• Attend from a private, confidential space that supports client-level privacy
• Maintain camera on during practicum sessions to support connection and attunement
• Have a stable internet connection and functional audio/video
• Be fully present and engaged throughout the training
  

You will be practicing EMDR in real time, which means showing up not just cognitively, but relationally and somatically.

All training materials will be provided digitally in advance.

This training provides a comprehensive foundation in EMDR therapy while supporting you in developing both competence and clinical confidence in its application.

You will learn:

• The Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model and how it informs case conceptualization
• The 8 phases of EMDR therapy, from history taking through reevaluation
• How to conceptualize treatment using the 3-prong protocol:
  Past experiences that inform current distress
  Present triggers (current situations, emotional and somatic activation)
  Future Template, used to support adaptive responses and integration
• How to identify and prioritize targets across all three prongs
• Preparation and resourcing strategies to support stabilization and readiness
• The full desensitization and reprocessing process
• Installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation
• How to navigate blocked processing and complex trauma presentations
• Ethical considerations and clinical decision-making within EMDR

Participants will also be introduced to additional EMDR-informed approaches that may be used based on clinical need, including:

• Recent events-focused work
• Somatic and emotional pain targets
• Urges, impulses, and behavioral patterns
• Mental rehearsal strategies

These approaches are not required components of the standard protocol but are included to support flexibility and responsiveness in real-world clinical practice.

This training emphasizes not only learning the protocol, but developing your ability to think, adapt, and respond with clarity and attunement.

This training intentionally goes beyond a surface-level understanding of EMDR.

While grounded in EMDRIA standards, we recognize that many clinicians are working with clients navigating complex trauma, systemic harm, and layered lived experiences.

Participants will receive:

• Additional handouts and clinical frameworks to support complex trauma work
• Expanded discussion on when and how to adapt the standard protocol
• Guidance on working with:
  - Fragmented or diffuse targets
  - Nervous system dysregulation
  - Clients with limited access to safety or stabilization
  - Identity-based and systemic trauma

At Sankofa Healing Studio, EMDR is not about rigid adherence - it is about understanding the why behind the work.

This supports clinicians in developing:

• Clinical flexibility
• Somatic attunement
• Context-aware, culturally responsive care

This training is highly experiential and designed to support real-time integration.

Participants will engage in:

• Live demonstrations
• Guided practicum sessions
• Practice as therapist, client, and observer
• Real-time feedback and support

This process supports movement from understanding EMDR conceptually to feeling grounded in its application.

Participants must complete 10 hours of group consultation.

These sessions are designed to:

• Support clinical application
• Provide space for case discussion and guidance
• Strengthen confidence and decision-making
• Deepen integration of EMDR into practice

Consultation is not just a requirement—it is a space for growth, refinement, and integration.

This training is appropriate for:

• Licensed mental health clinicians
• Pre-licensed clinicians under supervision
• Therapists seeking to expand their trauma work

Participants must have a master’s degree in a mental health-related field or be working toward licensure under supervision.

This training is EMDRIA-approved and serves as the required foundational course for clinicians seeking to practice EMDR therapy and pursue advanced EMDR trainings.

Completion of this training fulfills the educational requirement necessary prior to enrolling in advanced EMDR courses.

Continuing Education (CE) credits are not currently offered, as approval is pending.

However, many state licensing boards are familiar with EMDR Basic Training and may allow participants to submit training hours independently for credit. We encourage you to check directly with your individual state licensing board to determine eligibility.

Updates regarding CE approval will be shared as they become available.

• 5 days of live training
• 5 hours of consultation
• Training manual and digital materials
• Guided practicum experiences
• Integration support

This Basic Training is the foundation - not the end.

Sankofa Healing Studio offers a continuum of learning for clinicians who want to deepen their work and expand their clinical practice.

After completing the Basic Training, participants can access:

• EMDR refresher trainings integrating liberation and healing justice frameworks
• Advanced EMDR trainings focused on complex trauma and adaptation
• Specialized work in:
  - Racism-based trauma
  - Somatic integration
  - Cultural and ancestral healing

We are not just offering a training—we are building a learning community and clinical ecosystem rooted in growth, reflection, and transformation.

Commitment to Flexibility and Support

At Sankofa Healing Studio, we understand that schedules can shift and unexpected situations arise. At the same time, this training is a structured, cohort-based experience designed to support your growth, integration, and clinical development.

Our policies are intended to balance flexibility with accountability, ensuring that all participants are able to fully engage in and complete the training requirements.

Training & Consultation Requirements

This EMDR Basic Training includes:

• 5 full training days
• 5 required consultation sessions

Both components are required to receive a certificate of completion.

Because this training builds across each day and includes experiential and group-based learning, full attendance is strongly expected.

Missed Training Days

Due to the structured and cumulative nature of EMDR training:

• Missed training days will impact your ability to complete the course
• Make-up options are not guaranteed and may require joining a future cohort
• Additional fees may apply for rescheduling missed training days

Participants are encouraged to plan accordingly to attend all scheduled training dates.

Consultation Attendance & Scheduling

Consultation sessions are an essential part of the training and are designed to support real-world application of EMDR.

Participants are expected to attend and fully participate in all scheduled consultation sessions within their cohort timeline.

Training Session Cancellations & Rescheduling

More than 48 Hours Notice:
If you are unable to attend a scheduled training-related session (including consultation), you may reschedule without penalty.

24–48 Hours Notice:
You may attend an alternative training-related session (if available) to fulfill your requirement.

Less than 24 Hours Notice:
This is considered a missed session and is not eligible for rescheduling within the standard cohort schedule.

Make-up sessions may be available outside of your cohort and may require an additional fee.

Changes Initiated by Sankofa Healing Studio

If a training day or consultation session must be adjusted due to unforeseen circumstances, participants will be offered:

• 
  A rescheduled session
  
• 
  Or an alternative option to ensure completion of training requirements
  

We aim to provide as much notice as possible.

Communication

For all attendance, scheduling, or support-related inquiries, please contact:

admin@sankofahealingstudio.org

Important Note

This training is designed as a cohort-based, immersive learning experience.

Your presence and participation matter—not only for your own learning, but for the collective experience of the group.

These policies are in place to support fairness, clarity, and the integrity of the training process.

Open registration up to the day of the session, subject to availability. Early booking is recommended to secure your spot, given the limited capacity of four participants per group.

At Sankofa Healing Studio, under the transformative justice principles led by Jacqui Johnson, we maintain the highest standards of community accountability and align with EMDRIA grievance procedures. Recognizing that challenges may arise even in one-on-one settings, we are committed to addressing these issues with the utmost respect and effectiveness.

Addressing Grievances in Individual Consultations:
Our consultants are prepared to address any concerns that may arise during your sessions, ensuring that issues related to the consultation process or interactions are managed promptly and respectfully. If a resolution is not possible during the consultation, we encourage you to submit your grievances in writing. Please direct your concerns to Jacqui Johnson for a thoughtful and thorough community response.

Procedure for Filing a Grievance:
Please send your formal grievances via email to admin@sankofahealingstudio.com. We review all grievances within five working days of receipt and are committed to a comprehensive and fair evaluation. You can expect a detailed response from us within 10 business days, which will address your specific concerns and include steps taken to prevent similar issues in the future.

Conflict of Interest:
We are dedicated to handling all interactions without any conflicts of interest. If conflicts arise, they will be managed transparently, always prioritizing transformative justice and the trust of our community.

Our Commitment:
By viewing grievances as opportunities for growth and improvement, we reinforce our commitment to creating an environment where mutual respect and continuous professional development are at the forefront. Your feedback is invaluable and significantly contributes to the ongoing evolution of our practices at Sankofa Healing Studio.

Accessibility Commitment:
Our individual consultation sessions are conducted with a commitment to accessibility. We strive to ensure that all participants can engage fully and effectively, regardless of disabilities. If you require special accommodations in line with the American Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact us at admin@SankofaHealingStudio.org to ensure your needs are met.

Trauma-Sensitive Approach:
In each individual consultation, we maintain a trauma-sensitive and transformative justice lens. We encourage you to discuss topics you are comfortable with, recognizing that the consultation setting is not intended for processing unresolved major traumas but rather for enhancing professional EMDR skills in a supportive environment.

Respecting Boundaries:
As we navigate your consultation journey, you will be introduced to various grounding and stabilization techniques to manage any emotionally intense discussions effectively. It's important to remember that disclosing specific personal details isn't necessary for the growth and learning outcomes of these sessions. Our focus is on building your capacity to develop treatment plans and process core negative beliefs within a professional context.

Safe Learning Environment:
These sessions are designed to foster understanding and skill development without the pressure to engage in personal therapeutic processes. You are encouraged to maintain your boundaries and communicate your comfort levels throughout the consultations. This approach ensures a safe, supportive environment where learning and professional development are prioritized, adhering to principles of transformative justice and community accountability.

Interactive Learning Dynamics:
Although the primary format of our individual consultations does not include partner exercises, the consultant will engage with you in role-play scenarios as needed to simulate clinician-client interactions. This method enhances understanding and empathy from both professional vantage points, enriching your practical skills in EMDR.