Trauma & EMDR Learning Center

Expert resources from EMDRIA-approved trainers and consultants to help you understand trauma, healing, and evidence-based treatment.

Whether you're a clinician expanding your skills, a professional seeking to understand trauma better, or someone working on their own healing, these guides are here to help.

Understanding Trauma Changes Everything

Trauma is everywhere, and with everything going on in the world today, we cannot ignore its presence. No one is immune to the impact of trauma. Understanding what trauma is, how it affects the brain and body, and how it can be effectively treated is the first step toward healing.

These resources come out of the work we actually do. Decades of clinical experience, the current research, and years of training other clinicians across the country. They are the explanations we wish we'd had when we were first learning this work ourselves.

Explore Our Guides

In-depth resources written by licensed clinicians and EMDRIA-approved trainers

Therapy Guide

What is EMDR Therapy?

The complete guide to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Learn how EMDR works, the 8 phases of treatment, conditions it treats, and what to expect in sessions.

History & Development of EMDR
The 8 Phases Explained
EMDR vs. Talk Therapy
Research & Effectiveness

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Foundational Knowledge

Understanding Trauma

Learn what trauma really is, how it affects the brain and body, the different types of trauma, and why traditional talk therapy alone isn't enough to heal it.

Causes of Emotional Trauma
How Trauma Changes the Brain
Signs of Untreated Trauma
Polyvagal Theory & Nervous System

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Relationships & Development

Attachment Wounds

Explore how early relationships shape our attachment styles, the four attachment patterns, and how attachment wounds can be healed through therapy.

What is Attachment?
The Four Attachment Styles
Types of Attachment Wounds
Healing Attachment Injuries

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For Clinicians

Becoming an EMDR Therapist

A complete guide for clinicians interested in EMDR training. Learn about requirements, certification paths, what to look for in training programs, and how to build your skills.

Training Requirements
EMDRIA Certification Path
What Makes Great Training
Ongoing Consultation & Growth

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Why Talk Therapy Alone Isn't Enough for Trauma

We know trauma is stored in the limbic brain, so we need a method other than talk therapy to access the trauma. Trauma is also a body process, so it's critical to utilize a type of therapy that involves the body in processing the trauma.

— Rachel Harrison, LCPC, EMDRIA Approved Trainer and Consultant

Written by Experts Who Train Trauma Therapists

Every guide in our learning center is written by licensed clinicians who have spent years working directly with trauma survivors and training other therapists to do the same work.

Trauma Specialists Training Institute is an EMDRIA-approved training provider. Our team includes multiple EMDRIA-approved trainers and consultants who have collectively trained thousands of therapists across the country.

We're not just educators; we're practicing clinicians who continue to see clients, conduct research, and stay at the forefront of trauma treatment. That real-world experience shapes everything we teach.

Meet Our Team

Our Contributors

Rachel Harrison, LCPC

EMDRIA Approved Trainer & Consultant

Jamie Sedgwick, LCPC, NCC

EMDRIA Approved Trainer & Consultant

Sarah Martin, LCPC, NCC

EMDRIA Approved Consultant

Katie Honeywell, LPCMH, NCC

EMDRIA Approved Consultant

Ready to Learn EMDR?

If you're a clinician interested in adding EMDR to your practice, our EMDRIA-approved Basic Training will give you everything you need to start treating trauma effectively.

Explore EMDR Basic Training Contact Us