What Is an EMDR Consultant?
- Dana Carretta-Stein
- Jun 8
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 10
What is an EMDR Consultant…and why it’s more than just “supervision”
If you’ve ever wondered what the heck an EMDR Consultant actually does (or why anyone would need one), you’re in the right place.
Whether you’re an EMDR-trained therapist, a client trying to understand all the letters behind your therapist’s name, or someone supporting a therapist behind the scenes, this post will break it down in real, relatable language.
The Short Answer
An EMDR Consultant is a highly trained EMDR therapist who mentors and guides other EMDR therapists in delivering EMDR therapy effectively, ethically, and confidently. They help newer therapists get certified and more experienced clinicians deepen their clinical skills.
The Longer (and More Helpful) Answer to "What does an EMDR Consultant do?"
To understand what makes an EMDR Consultant special, you first need to understand what EMDR Therapy is.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful, evidence-based trauma therapy that helps people process and heal from past experiences that are still affecting them today. It’s not just talk therapy—it uses bilateral stimulation (like eye movements, tapping, or sounds) to help the brain digest unresolved trauma and rewire old survival patterns.
But learning how to do EMDR Therapy well? That’s a whole other story.
Why EMDR Isn’t a “One-Size-Fits-All” Method
While the EMDR protocol has a clear structure, real-life clients don’t show up like case studies in a manual. They’re unique. They have layers. They dissociate. They get stuck. They have attachment wounds.
And therapists? They doubt themselves. A lot. (Trust me, I've been there!)
That’s where an EMDR Consultant comes in.
What an EMDR Consultant Actually
Does
Here’s a snapshot of what a legit EMDR Consultant (like me!) brings to the table:
1. Supports Therapists in Basic Training
I help therapists in EMDRIA-Approved Basic Training programs process what they’re learning, troubleshoot real-life sessions, and build confidence as they learn the 8 phases of EMDR therapy.
2. Guides Therapists to Certification
Therapists need 20 consultation hours to become EMDRIA-Certified. I’m one of the professionals authorized to provide these hours. I review their casework, help them deepen their skills, and make sure they’re doing EMDR safely and effectively.
3. Builds Clinical Confidence & Skill
Certification isn’t the end game. I offer advanced case consultation to help therapists tackle complex trauma, attachment wounds, dissociation, looping, and those “WTF just happened in session?” moments.
4. Provides Structure + Tools
Many therapists feel like they’re winging it. I create and sell EMDR tools like session planners, treatment templates, and progress journals to bring structure to chaos and help clinicians deliver consistent EMDR therapy that works.
5. Mentors EMDR Consultants-in-Training
Once a therapist is certified, they can become a Consultant-in-Training (CIT). Approved EMDR Consultants supervise CITs as they learn to provide consultation to other therapists. Basically they're the consultant’s consultant.
What Makes the EMDR Consultant Role So Specialized?
EMDR Consultants aren’t just experienced therapists. They have:
Extensive training in EMDR and trauma-informed care
Thousands of hours of real-world client experience using EMDR therapy
Advanced knowledge of nervous system science, attachment, and dissociation
The ability to teach, mentor, and troubleshoot—not just “supervise”
It’s a blend of deep clinical knowledge, the ability to teach with clarity, and strong leadership to guide other therapists forward.
What I Actually Do as an EMDR Consultant
I’m Dana Carretta-Stein, LMHC—EMDRIA-Approved Consultant, EMDR therapist, and the founder of The EMDR Coach.
And here’s what I offer that goes far beyond “just getting your hours.”
1. Help You Integrate EMDR Into Your Real-Life Practice
Basic Training is only the beginning. Consultation helps you take what you learned and actually apply it to the complex, beautiful, dysregulated humans who show up in your office.
I work with therapists post-EMDR Basic Training who are navigating:
How to actually start using EMDR with real clients
What to do when clients freeze, dissociate, or loop
Building session structure and confidence
Understanding attachment trauma, nervous system responses, and survival adaptations
Making EMDR your clinical foundation, not just a side technique
2. Support You on the Road to Certification (If That’s Your Goal)
Yes, I offer consultation hours toward EMDRIA Certification. But it’s not just about checking off a box. It’s about building the skills that let you deliver EMDR therapy with clarity, intention, and effectiveness.
You don’t just walk away with hours. You walk away with clinical confidence.
3. Bring You Real Business Strategy, Too
Here’s what sets me apart in my work as an EMDR Consultant.
When you book individual EMDR consultation with me, you’re not just getting my clinical brain. You’re also getting a business coach with years of experience building and running a thriving, private-pay group practice in New York.
I help EMDR therapists like you:
Streamline your therapy business systems
Get organized and reduce overwhelm
Attract your ideal clients (aka, people who want EMDR therapy and are willing to do the work)
Create content that builds authority and trust
Position yourself as a go-to therapist in your niche
Individual EMDR Consultation with me gives you high-level clinical and business strategy to help you grow an EMDR practice that reflects your values and makes an impact.
TL;DR: Why EMDR Consultants Matter
If you’re an EMDR therapist, having a consultant is not just about getting certified—it’s about staying sharp, preventing burnout, and doing good work with the clients who need it most.
If you’re a client of EMDR therapy, finding an EMDR therapist near you who actively engages in their own EMDR Consultation demonstrates that they're a true EMDR therapist committed to mastering their craft.
Want to Work With Me?
Whether you’re just getting started or want to take your clinical confidence to the next level, I’ve got you.
About the Author
Dana Carretta-Stein, LMHC, is an EMDRIA-Approved Consultant, EMDR therapist, and the founder of The EMDR Coach and Peaceful Living Mental Health Counseling. She helps real people (and real therapists) heal unresolved trauma with compassion, clarity, and no-BS tools that work.
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