In December 2025, the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) Focal Point Blog asked what EMDR therapists’ greatest fears are and how they overcame them. Almost all of the therapists named consultation as developing their sense of self efficacy and alleviating their fears. Finding an EMDR consultant who aligns with your practice and values and practicing are the best ways to develop competence.
Addressing New EMDR Therapists’ Fears
Most of the identified fears fell into 6 themes, which I address below. Many of these fears relate to being imperfect humans holding therapeutic space with traumatized clients. Other fears revolve around moving established clients into EMDR, and confronting one’s own perfectionism. Finally, some therapists pointed to the difficulty of finding training and consultation that is culturally aware.
EMDR Doesn’t Align With Clients’ Wishes or Therapist’s Expectations
“I worried that I might make a mistake or that clients wouldn’t respond well to the method, especially since most people are used to traditional talk therapy.” – Dina Nygmatova
“The biggest hurdle was overcoming my own idea of what therapy should include: digging deeper into thoughts and emotions.” – Jeehee Moon
Many newly trained EMDR therapists fear that their longstanding clients won’t accept EMDR as an intervention. Some of this relates to the therapist’s own anxieties about trying something new that they don’t have expertise in (yet). When you bring these concerns to consultation, we’ll identify where your fear is coming from to work through it together. It may have been a long time since you were a new therapist and everything was new. It requires bravery to face your own uncertainty to bring something foreign to your clients. This is the nature of therapy practice.
We will use your consultation to identify appropriate clients. The goal of bringing EMDR to your established patients is to cut through an intractable negative belief or behavior pattern. I recommend first suggesting EMDR to longstanding clients with whom you feel safe saying, “I recently took a training that I think can help you. Would you be open to trying something new?”
Starting with “safe” clients builds your sense of self efficacy in broaching EMDR. Getting the opportunity to practice EMDR builds your confidence.
Causing Harm
““My biggest fear was doing it wrong, and getting clients into a triggered, re-traumatized state and doing more harm than good.” – Sue Gonzalves
Taking your time to do an effective case conceptualization will support you and your clients in avoiding retraumatization. Consultation helps you understand how to effectively move from history taking into the next phases through appropriate treatment planning, resourcing, and targeting the right memories.
There is no need to rush through the phases to bring something to consultation: We discuss all phases of EMDR in consultation, from history taking through closure and reevaluation. Each phase is important and it’s crucial that you feel comfortable guiding your clients through each one at a pace that is appropriate for them and for you.
Appearing Incompetent or Imperfect
“The most difficult aspect of learning EMDR therapy was that I was awkward at first and I felt a little embarrassed…” – Christine King
“One of my biggest hurdles was a lack of confidence in knowing the ins and outs of EMDR. Because I had a perfectionist part coming up, it prevented me from implementing this modality with clients because I wanted to avoid the feeling of not being good at it.” – Carmen Montenegro-Sis
One of new EMDR therapists’ greatest fears is appearing incompetent, which is one of the manifestations of perfectionism. If you feel like you can’t start until you firmly grasp the modality and feel confident that you will address any challenge that someone brings into therapy, you will not give yourself the chance to try. EMDR consultation will address the perfectionistic tendencies that are holding you back.
An effective consultant will help you notice your own negative cognitions that are showing up in therapy. We can discuss how to confront these beliefs as they show up in the therapy room and notice them as an opportunity to seek out your own therapy. Group consultation offers an opportunity to bring your own EMDR-related anxieties to practice processing different techniques and experience EMDR yourself.
Not Knowing How To Address Stuck Points In EMDR
“Spending time to reprocess the memory but not being sure about what hinders the process.” – Syh-Kun Lin
Bringing your challenges to EMDR consultation is the best opportunity to learn new skills to support your clients through their stuck points. The standard protocol will be your primary focus as you work towards certification and develop your skills. A skilled consultant will help you learn how to develop your case conceptualization and EMDR treatment plan. While effective history taking is not guaranteed to avoid your client getting stuck or looping, it offers insights into effective interweaves to help move through stuck points.
Some of the initial things we will discuss when looping comes up in consultation are:
- Cognitive interweaves
- Somatic interweaves
- Blocking beliefs
- Integration of other techniques and protocols
- Advanced training opportunities
Fear Of Dissociation and Abreactions
“Having a solid understanding of dissociation and how this unfolds during reprocessing and having the skills to identify and to navigate dissociation.” – Carolyn Black
I do not recommend that brand new EMDR therapists offer this modality with patients who have dissociative disorders. That said, effective consultation and additional training can prepare you to work through dissociation. Use the Dissociative Events Scale to assess frequency of dissociation and the likelihood of dissociative identity disorder.
Taking your time in the early EMDR phases builds trust and adequately prepares you and your client to begin processing. It is good to stay in the preparation phase longer with some clients, focusing on resource development and installation. Foundational knowledge of somatic psychology and Internal Family Systems offers additional skills for noticing and working with dissociation. There are some fabulous trainings on integrating IFS and somatic therapy with EMDR.
One option to safely dip into reprocessing with bilateral stimulation is to begin with restricted processing or recent events protocols. Using somatic tools and Jim Knipe’s Constant Installation of Present Orientation and Safety (CIPOS) protocol both support dissociative clients. Again, I cannot stress enough the importance of good consultation and advanced training to support your clinical practice. This is as important for new EMDR therapists as it is for experienced EMDR therapists working with new symptom presentations, protocols, or client populations.
Lack Of Diversity Among EMDR Therapists and Experts
“Learning to feel confident modifying the standard protocol for diverse client populations.” – Tammy Sutton
“Struggling to find a Black EMDR consultant, and trainer.” – Latasha Burnett
This is not so much a fear as it is a reality of the mental health profession. Over 78% of active psychologists and over 63% of licensed social workers are white. Additionally, both professionals are demographically primarily women.
EMDRIA recognizes the need for more cultural awareness when treating BIPOC clients and the need for clinicians from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. If you are a clinician of color, Shades of Diversity can connect you with EMDR BIPOC professionals.
If you are struggling to find a consultant who shares your cultural and ethnic background, seek out one who practices from an anti-oppressive, anti-racist lens. EMDR therapists are expected to train to effectively work with a diverse clientele. Quiz your identified consultant to find someone you trust.
Remember That You Have Other Skills And Knowledge
Many therapists who seek EMDR training have already developed competence with other modalities. When you learn something new that is fairly regimented, it can be easy to forget that you are already a successful therapist. Good cognitive interweaves are often drawn from the other modalities you use. You likely already have experience with clients who are escalated, over-stimulated, activated, or even dissociated. Our consultation will reinforce the knowledge and clinical skill you already have. Advanced EMDR training is a requirement for your certification and supports your practice with diverse populations and clinical presentations.