Transcript
[INTRO]
Hi everyone, and welcome back to Scaling Up Your Impact, the podcast for trauma-informed therapists who want to grow their skills, serve more clients, and avoid burnout while doing it. I’m Kelly Smyth-Dent, and today we’re talking about a question I hear all the time:
“What if I take the EMDR Basic Training… and I don’t like EMDR therapy?”
It’s a real concern, especially if you’re investing time, money, and energy into something new. So in this episode, I’ll walk you through what you can expect from training, why that worry is more common than you might think, and how to make the most of your EMDR education—whether or not you end up using EMDR as your main therapy approach.
[Segment 1 – Why This Fear is Normal]
First, let’s normalize this fear. As therapists, we’re often juggling many modalities—CBT, somatic work, IFS, play therapy, DBT—you name it. When we sign up for a major training like EMDR, it can feel like we’re making a permanent professional identity shift.
The truth? You’re not committing to a lifelong marriage with EMDR just by taking the training. You’re committing to learning the approach so you can decide from a place of experience—rather than assumption—whether it’s right for you and your clients.
It’s also worth noting that some therapists are unsure at first simply because EMDR feels so different from talk therapy. It’s structured. It’s phase-oriented. It includes bilateral stimulation, which is new for many people. That initial discomfort doesn’t mean you’ll dislike it—it means you’re stretching into something new.
[Segment 2 – What You Actually Learn in EMDR Basic Training]
The EMDR Basic Training isn’t just a quick overview. In a high-quality program—like the ones we offer at Scaling Up—you get:
- 20 hours of didactic learning on the theory, research, and 8-phase protocol
- 20 hours of supervised practicum, where you practice both as a client and as a therapist
- 10 hours of group consultation, where you get feedback as you start using EMDR with your clients
This means you’ll get to experience EMDR from both sides of the chair. For many therapists, trying it as a client is a game-changer—it builds empathy, helps you trust the process, and often shifts skepticism into curiosity.
Even if you finish the training and decide EMDR isn’t your main tool, the skills you gain—like resourcing, trauma history-taking, and working with the nervous system—can enhance every other approach you use.
[Segment 3 – What If You Genuinely Don’t Like It?]
Let’s say you complete the training and decide EMDR just isn’t for you. That’s okay. You’ve still invested in your professional growth in ways that will serve you long-term.
Here’s why:
- You’ll have a deeper understanding of trauma processing, even if you use other methods.
- You can refer out with confidence—you’ll know exactly which clients might benefit from EMDR and be able to connect them with trusted colleagues.
- You’ll have a professional network of other EMDR-trained clinicians you met in training—those connections often lead to collaboration and referrals.
Plus, sometimes therapists change their minds. I’ve had trainees tell me things like:
“I wasn’t sure EMDR fit my style at first… but now that I’ve seen certain clients struggle with traditional talk therapy, I’ve gone back to EMDR and it’s been amazing.”
[Segment 4 – How to Maximize the Value of Your Training]
If you’re worried about not loving EMDR, here are a few tips to make sure your investment pays off:
- Be open-minded during practicum – Treat it like an experiment, not a performance test.
- Try it with different client populations – EMDR can look different with a highly resourced client versus someone in acute distress.
- Ask for support during consultation – Trainers and consultants can help you integrate EMDR to your style and caseload.
- Take notes on transferable skills – Even if you don’t use EMDR, the regulation tools, knowledge of the AIP-model, and case conceptualization skills will serve you well.
The goal is not to “become an EMDR therapist” overnight—it’s to leave training with more tools than you had before.
[Segment 5 – Final Thoughts & Encouragement]
So, what if you take EMDR Basic Training and don’t like it? You’ll still walk away with:
- New trauma-informed tools
- A stronger network of colleagues
- A richer understanding of how memory, the brain, and the body interact
And who knows—you may surprise yourself. Many therapists who start out skeptical end up falling in love with EMDR once they see the results in their clients.
If you’ve been on the fence, I’d encourage you to approach the training with curiosity. You don’t have to commit to using EMDR forever—but giving yourself the chance to fully experience it might just change the way you think about therapy.
[OUTRO]
If you’re ready to explore EMDR for yourself, check out our upcoming EMDR Basic Trainings at scalingupemdr.com. We offer payment plans, scholarships, and group discounts to make it as accessible as possible.
Thanks for listening, and remember—you don’t have to have it all figured out before you start. Sometimes, the best way to know if something is right for you is to try it.