EMDR Learning Collaborative

INTRODUCTION

All Star Children’s Foundation (ASCF) is pleased to invite applications for an upcoming 2023 EMDR Learning Collaborative. The goal of this 5-month initiative is to increase access to evidence-based, trauma-informed interventions for at-risk and disadvantaged families in our community.  Drawing from Implementation Science, we have developed a training map that trains mental health providers in high-fidelity delivery of EMDR while at the same time building an organizational culture that sustains the practice. ASCF will accept applications from community mental health providers who serve Medicaid and/or child welfare populations and can commit fully to the Learning Collaborative process that engages not only clinicians, but their supervisors and agency leaders in the 5-month training series. 

WHAT IS EMDR AND WHAT WILL I GET OUT OF THIS TRAINING?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed by Francine Shapiro in 1987 to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. EMDR is an evidence-based treatment approach for children, teens, and adults that enables the accessing and processing of traumatic memories and other adverse life experiences to bring these to an adaptive resolution. After successful treatment with EMDR therapy, affective distress is relieved, negative beliefs are redeveloped, and physiological arousal is reduced. During EMDR therapy the client attends to emotionally disturbing material in brief sequential doses while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus. Therapist directed eye movements are the most used external stimulus but also a variety of other stimuli including hand-tapping and audio stimulation are often used (Shapiro, 1991). There are over 30 controlled research studies that report benefits of EMDR for reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress.

EMDR therapy uses a three-pronged protocol:  1) the past events that have laid the groundwork for dysfunction are processed, forging new associative links with adaptive information; 2) the current circumstances that elicit distress are targeted, and internal and external triggers are desensitized; 3) imaginal templates of future events are incorporated, to assist the client in acquiring the skills needed for adaptive functioning.

Find yourself wanting to learn more about EMDR? Please visit: https://connectemdr.com/what-is-emdr/ 

The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) is the EMDR membership organization and credentialing body that sets strict standards for the EMDR Basic Training and Consultation Process. Training faculty for ASCF’s Sponsored 2023 EMDR Learning Collaborative are all members of EMDRIA and are EMDRIA-Approved Training Providers. Trainees who fully participate and complete this training program can call themselves EMDR Therapists and are eligible to take EMDRIA-Approved advanced trainings and pursue certification.

2023 EMDR LEARNING COLLABORATIVE TRAINING FACULTY

EMDR Trainers

Christine Bergman, M.A., LMHC, EMDRIA-Approved Consultant, Training Facilitator

Christine has studied and provided EMDR Therapy for almost 20 years as a Certified EMDR Therapist, Approved Consultant, Facilitator, and Trainer Candidate. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Christine specializes in working with clients who have experienced complex trauma, in addition to providing treatment for various mental health concerns. She has worked for many years in community mental health settings with children, adolescents, and adults.

Claire Mauer, MA, LMHC, NCC., EMDRIA-Approved Trainer & Consultant

A graduate of Rollins College Masters in Counseling program, Claire is an EMDRIA-Approved Trainer and Consultant with years of experience training and facilitating. She currently works in private practice in Maitland, Florida, where she treats a range of client issues, including complex PTSD and anxiety disorders, using EMDR therapy and mindfulness as part of an integrative trauma-informed approach.

Learning Collaborative Faculty

Jon Ebert, PsyD, Associate Professor, Vanderbilt University

Dr. Ebert is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in consultation, training, and dissemination of best practices for children and families with child welfare involvement.

Chelsea Hernandez, LCSW, Clinical Director, All Star Children’s Foundation

Ms. Hernandez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 10 years of experience providing evidence-based services to at-risk children and families in intensive outpatient settings.

Kristin Hoffman, PhD, Chief Program Officer, All Star Children’s Foundation

Dr. Hoffman is a licensed psychologist with expertise in assessment, treatment, and systems consultation for children in foster care who have experienced complex trauma.

Diana Monzon, LCSW, Clinician, All Star Children’s Foundation

Ms. Monzon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and EMDR clinician with extensive experience providing services and supports to children and families with trauma histories across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings.

Cindy Howard, Administrative Assistant, All Star Children’s Foundation 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Organizations applying to be part of the 2023 EMDR Learning Collaborative must apply as a TEAM (see team composition requirements below). The number of members allowed on each team will depend on the number of applications received and will be announced to each team upon acceptance into the training cohort.

SPACE IS LIMITED. Agencies will be selected based on ability and commitment to participate fully in the 5-month long training process as demonstrated through their application. Participation requires attendance at each day of the training sessions (3-day Learning Session 1: May 18-20 AND 3-day Learning Session 2: June 22-24), attendance and participation on 80% of the consultation calls for each track, and completion of assessments, readings, and monthly metrics.

COMPOSITION OF AGENCY TEAMS:

Learning Collaborative Teams consist of 4-6 people and include at least two clinicians, one Clinical Supervisor, and one Senior Leader to participate in all EMDR-related activities as noted below.

SENIOR LEADER

The Senior Leader is responsible for leading this initiative in their organization. They are responsible for directing their team’s efforts and helping to ensure success. The Senior Leader is an individual who has administrative responsibility within the larger organization (e.g. organizational director, management, executive level) and who has the influence and authority to make systemic changes (e.g., to make changes to organization policies or procedures, to allocate funds from the organization’s budget, etc.). The Senior Leader is required to attend day 1 of EMDR Learning Session 1 (May 18) and day 1 of Learning Session 2 (June 22). Additionally, they are expected to complete any pre-training assessment measures, participate in monthly Senior Leader Videoconference Calls, and complete associated readings and metrics as requested.

CLINICAL SUPERVISOR

The Clinical Supervisor must be an individual who has a master’s degree or higher in a human services/mental health field with the appropriate training to provide clinical supervision for clinicians on the team. Most supervisors have minimal to no knowledge of EMDR at the start. This is ok! We are looking for supervisors who are willing to develop their supervision skills through the EMDR Framework over the duration of the collaborative. The Clinical Supervisor is required to attend all training sessions, participate in monthly Supervisor consultation videoconference calls, attend all EMDR clinician training calls, facilitate regular EMDR supervision in your agency, and complete assessments/measures, relevant readings, and metrics as requested. The Clinical Supervisor will also be required to carry at least 2 EMDR cases throughout the learning collaborative. That means if your selected Clinical Supervisor typically does not carry a caseload, changes will have to be made so that they will have allocated time in their weekly schedule to see a least 2 cases. Based on previous experiences with implementation, it cannot be overstated how important the role of the Clinical Supervisor is for successful implementation and adoption of EMDR long-term. It is imperative that this individual be carefully selected and supported.

CLINICIANS (master’s level or higher)

The Clinicians must be individuals who are master’s level or higher in a human services/mental health field and who will be implementing EMDR at the target site. (“Target site” refers to the outpatient, in home, or organization where EMDR will be implemented.) Registered Interns and other trainees will be considered for participation on a limited basis and cannot constitute all of an agency’s Clinician trainees. Clinicians are required to attend all training sessions, participate in EMDR consultation calls with their team, demonstrate participation in regular EMDR supervision within your agency, and complete assessments/measures, relevant readings, and metrics as requested.

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS:

Following your team’s acceptance into the 2023 EMDR Learning Collaborative, the following requirements must be met to successfully complete the Collaborative. 

Pre-Work Phase:

1. Attend EMDR Informational Acceptance Call
   All Senior Leaders, Supervisors, and Clinicians are required to attend.
   • Videoconference Call – 4/17/2023 (Time TBD)
2. Complete Pre-Surveys
   • All participants will complete a brief EMDR Pre-Training Survey.
   • Senior Leaders will complete an organizational readiness survey.
   • Supervisors will complete supervision surveys.

3. Register on Connect EMDR online learning management system
   Required for all Clinicians and Supervisors. 
   The online learning management system holds materials and information needed to prepare for the training. Clinicians and Supervisors will receive login information and instructions following the EMDR Informational Acceptance Call. In the system, Clinicians and Supervisors need to do the following:
   • Read and sign Connect EMDR’s Participant Agreement
   • View 20-minute EMDR Introduction Video with Connect EMDR trainer, Bill Brislin
   • Complete short required reading assignments within the course

4. Read Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, 3^rd Edition (2017) by Francine Shapiro (ASCF will provide all Clinicians and Supervisors with this book following acceptance into the Learning Collaborative).

5. Sign up for Consultation Call Group
   When prompted (several weeks prior to the start of EMDR Learning Session 1), log in to Connect EMDR’s Online Learning Management System to register for a Consultation Call Group. This can be accessed by clicking on the course lesson titled Consultation Group Registration Links, which will have instructions and links for you to register for a Consultation group. 

Training Phase:

1. Attend EMDR Learning Session 1 
   Attendance at the full 3-day training required for all Clinicians and Supervisors. Senior Leaders are required to attend the morning of Day 1 (May 18). All sessions held in-person at All Star Children’s Foundation in Sarasota, FL.
   • May 18^th, 2023 from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm EST
   • May 19^th, 2023 from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm EST
   • May 20^th, 2023 from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm EST 

2. Implement EMDR with Cases
   All clinicians and supervisors will conduct EMDR with two or more child/adolescent clients at their agencies during the EMDR training phase. Maintaining at least two clients over the duration of the EMDR collaborative is the expectation. Therefore, as cases terminate or discontinue, assisting Clinicians and Supervisors in obtaining new EMDR cases is essential.

3. Participate in Consultation Calls
   Clinicians, Supervisors, and Senior Leaders participate in 100% (2 out of 2) consultation calls following Learning Session 1. Call dates and details to be determined.

4. Attend EMDR Learning Session 2
   Attendance at the full 3-day training required for all Clinicians and Supervisors. Senior Leaders are required to attend the morning of Day 1 (June 22). All sessions held in-person at All Star Children’s Foundation in Sarasota, FL
   • June 22^nd, 2023 from 8:30 am – 5:30pm EST
   • June 23^rd, 2023 from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm EST
   • June 24^th, 2023 from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm EST

5. Participate in Consultation Calls
   Clinicians, Supervisors, and Senior Leaders participate in 100% (3 out of 3) consultation calls following Learning Session 2. Call dates and details to be determined.

6. Submit Metrics
   All Clinicians and Clinical Supervisors will submit monthly metrics as requested by the ASCF Learning Collaborative faculty to ensure implementation fidelity.

Post-Training Phase:

1. Submit Post-Surveys
   All team members will complete the EMDR Post-Project Training Survey.

APPLICATION:

Please complete and submit the following information by Monday, March 20, 2023 by 11:59:00 EST  to be considered for participation in the 2023 EMDR Learning Collaborative. Once you have successfully completed the application, an email confirmation will be sent to the Senior Leader.

Acceptance emails will be sent to Senior Leaders on Friday, March 31, 2023. If you have any questions or need assistance completing the application, please contact Cindy Howard at ASCF via email: cindyh@allstarchildren.org or phone: (941) 259-3713.