On-Demand Video Training
EMDR with Military & Veteran Populations Course
Instant + Lifetime Access • Only $97
EMDR with Military & Veteran Populations — Course Description
Military populations carry some of the most complex and layered trauma burdens a clinician will encounter. Rates of PTSD, depression, suicidal ideation, and substance use remain alarmingly high among service members and veterans. Research consistently shows that EMDR therapy produces outcomes with this population that few other interventions can match. Studies show a 76% elimination of PTSD diagnosis in veterans treated with EMDR, a number that continues to grow. EMDR’s history is, in fact, inseparable from military work: the earliest systematic research on EMDR was conducted with Vietnam War veterans, and the military context remains one of the most evidence-supported applications of this therapy today.
Effective EMDR with military clients is not simply about applying a protocol. It requires an understanding of the culture — the values of unit cohesion, stoicism, mission-first orientation, and the unique relational dynamics that define the U.S. military identity. Ethical EMDR therapy relies on clinical competence when addressing presentations that are often layered, including combat-related PTSD, moral injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI), military sexual trauma (MST), survivor guilt, substance use, legal complexity, and significant family system impact. It’s crucial to know how to adapt EMDR’s eight phases to fit a population that may be skeptical of civilian clinicians, concerned about confidentiality, or legally unable to disclose what they are processing.
Video training taken from a previous live EMDR Basic Training conducted for military-focused clinicians, presented by Sadie Smith, LMFT. It provides a strong clinical and cultural foundation for integrating EMDR with military populations and their families. Clinicians across the full range of familiarity with military culture (from veterans themselves to those with no prior military context) will find practical, immediately applicable guidance for this work.
Overview
Learning Objectives
CE Information
Cancellation Policy
Overview
EMDR with Military & Veteran Populations Course Overview
This EMDR Specialty Mini Course is an online course for EMDR-trained clinicians who have completed an EMDR Basic Training and want to expand their skills in working with military and veteran populations.
The course equips clinicians with specialized knowledge for applying EMDR with military populations and their families, including key cultural considerations like unit cohesion, mission-first mentality, and the interplay of individualistic and collectivist values.
Participants learn to adapt the standard EMDR protocol to address clinical presentations common in military populations, including PTSD from combat exposure, traumatic brain injury (TBI), military sexual trauma (MST), moral injury, and substance use. The course addresses treatment delivery considerations, billing and insurance requirements specific to military healthcare systems, and emphasizes the importance of cultural competency while avoiding assumptions about clients who have served.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify key elements of military culture (including unit cohesion, mission-first values, and the confluence of individualistic and collectivist mindsets) and describe how these cultural factors impact EMDR treatment delivery and clinical presentations.
- Adapt the standard EMDR protocol for military-specific clinical presentations, including combat exposure, moral injury, military sexual trauma, and traumatic brain injury, while assessing client readiness and stability for trauma reprocessing.
- Implement specialized EMDR techniques for military populations, including blind to the therapist protocol, EMD (Eye Movement Desensitization) for targeting specific blocks or fears, and appropriate bilateral stimulation modifications for clients with TBI.
- Evaluate complex clinical presentations in military populations involving comorbid conditions (such as PTSD, substance use, suicidal ideation, and TBI) to determine appropriate treatment sequencing and stabilization strategies.
- Apply cultural competency principles when working with military service members and their families, including understanding military terminology, avoiding assumptions, recognizing military identity as a potential resource for healing, and navigating confidentiality concerns specific to military healthcare systems.
CE Information
CE Information
Course Title: EMDR with Military Populations
Presenter: Sadie Smith, LMFT
Format: On-Demand Video | Add-On Course
CE Hours: 1 Contact Hour
Approved for the following CE credit types:
- 1 CE credit approved for NBCC, APA, and ASWB — included in the cost of registration
Target Audience: Licensed mental health clinicians who have completed an EMDRIA-Approved EMDR Basic Training and are seeking to expand their competency in working with military populations and their families. Content is designed to be accessible across the full range of familiarity with military culture.
Instructional Level: Intermediate
Completion Requirements: Participants must watch the course video in full and complete the post-course assessment with a passing score to receive CE credit.
Disclosure: There are no conflicts of interest to report for this course. No commercial support was received for this program.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Policy
On-Demand Training — Non-Refundable
Because this is an on-demand course with immediate access to all content upon purchase, all sales are final. No refunds will be issued after purchase.
If you experience a technical issue accessing your course, please submit a support request and our team will work to resolve it promptly.
CE Certificate Policy: CE certificates are issued upon successful completion of the course video and post-course assessment. Certificates are available for download immediately upon passing. If you experience any issues accessing your certificate, please contact our support team.
Scaling Up LLC reserves the right to update course content as clinical research and professional standards evolve. Enrolled participants will have lifetime access to the most current version of this course.
Get Instant Access to the EMDR with Military & Veteran Populations Course
- 1 CE credit approved for NBCC, APA, and ASWB — included in the cost of registration.
- Video training clipped from a live EMDR basic training conducted through the Arizona Department of Veteran Services, presented by Sadie Smith, LMFT.
- Cultural and clinical foundations covering military culture, moral injury, TBI, MST, suicidal ideation, substance use, and family impact.
- Phase-by-phase EMDR adaptations including the blind-to-therapist technique, EMD vs. EMD-r vs. full EMDR, culturally adapted resource development, and moral injury targeting.
- Lifetime access — return to this course anytime as you build your practice with military and veteran clients.
Only $97 • Lifetime Access • Instant Download
Every EMDR therapist deserves EMDR resources that are as committed to their clients as they are. The EMDR with Military & Veteran Populations Course gives you the cultural foundation, the clinical adaptations, and the training to show up to every EMDR therapy session with military and veteran clients fully prepared.