EMDRIA Awards

Nominations for the 2026 EMDRIA Awards are now open. 

Submit your nomination by April 20, 2026.

Award recipients will be notified on July 1, 2026, and recognized at the EMDRIA Conference in August.

The Board of Directors, through its Member Value & Engagement Committee, is pleased to offer the following awards. Details on each award, eligibility, timelines and how to submit a nomination, either for yourself or a colleague, are outlined below.

General Award Criteria

Awards are presented when they are truly earned—recognizing leadership, service, and contributions to EMDRIA™ that go above and beyond regular volunteer roles and responsibilities.

As a result, awards are not guaranteed every year. There may be multiple recipients in a single year, or gaps between cycles. Each award reflects meaningful contributions within a specific category over time.

  • Individuals may not receive the same award more than once.
  • Receiving an award as part of a group or committee does not prevent an individual from being recognized separately in the future (see * below for an exception).
  • Recipients of one award remain eligible for other awards in subsequent years.
  • Self-nominations are welcome.

To honor the spirit of appreciation and community recognition, EMDRIA™ asks that nominations arise organically and not through campaigning or solicitation.

Current EMDRIA™ staff and Board members are not eligible to receive awards.

*Above and beyond reflects voluntary or service-driven contributions that significantly exceed typical member involvement and demonstrate a clear, meaningful impact on EMDRIA™ or the broader EMDR field, rather than primarily advancing individual clinical business interests.

Advocacy Award
Ambassador Award
Social Media Influencer
Emerging Leaders Award

Award Recipients

2025

  • Ava Hart, LCSW, IMH-E / Emerging Leader Award
  • Danielle Brown, LCSW, BC-DMT / Emerging Leader Award
  • Dr. Tiff Lanza, LCWS, M.Ed., CST / Emerging Leader Award
  • Jackie Smith / Emerging Leader Award
  • Dr. Nouna Jalilzadeh, LMHC-D, LPC, NCC, PMH-C / Emerging Leader Award
  • Dr. Jose Carbajal / Ambassador Award
  • Ann Beckley-Forest, LCSW, RPT-S / Advocacy in EMDR Award
  • Lina Ibrahim / Advocacy in EMDR Award
  • Carly Costello, LISCW / Social Media Influencer Award
  • Dorinna Ruh / Social Media Influencer Award
  • Paula Merucci / Social Media Influencer Award

2024

  • Derek Farrell, Ph.D., MBE / Francine Shapiro Award
  • Jacqueline (Jackie) Flynn, Ed.S., LMHC-S, RPT-S / EMDR Advocacy Award
  • Rocio (Cio) Hernandez, Ph.D., LMFT, LPCC / EMDR Advocacy Award
  • Hope Payson, LCSW, LADC / Ambassador Award
  • Wendy Byrd, LPC-S, LMFT-S / Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA Award
  • David Archer, MSW, MFT / Emerging Leader Award
  • Rebecca Kase, LCSW / Emerging Leader Award
  • Rotem Brayer, LPC / Emerging Leader Award
  • Viviana Triana, LCSW-S / Emerging Leader Award

2023

  • Ana M. Gomez, LPC, Francine Shapiro Award
  • Diane DesPlantes, LCSW, EMDR Advocacy Award
  • Carol Miles, MSC, LCSW, Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA Award

2022

  • Deborah Korn, Psy.D., Francine Shapiro Award
  • Marshall Lyles, LPC-S, LMFT-S, RPT-S, EMDR Advocacy Award
  • Mark Nickerson, LICSW, Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA Award

2019

  • E.C. Hurley, Ph.D., Francine Shapiro Award
  • Gael Thompson, LPC, Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA Award
  • Jamie Marich, Ph.D., EMDR Advocacy Award

2018

  • Rick Levinson, LCSW, Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA Award
  • Salvatore “Sonny” Provetto, LICSW, EMDR Advocacy Award
  • European Depression EMDR Network (EDEN), Outstanding Research in EMDR Award

2017

  • Dee Blinka, MA, LCSW, BCD, Francine Shapiro Award
  • Kate Wheeler, Ph.D., APRN, FAAN, Outstanding Service & Contribution to EMDRIA Award
  • Elaine Wynne, MA, LP, EMDR Advocacy Award
  • Kriss Jarecki, LCSWR, Outstanding Regional Coordinator Award
  • Emre Konuk, MA, Outstanding Research in EMDR Award

2016

  • Jill Strunk, Ed.D., L.P., Outstanding Service & Contribution to EMDRIA Award
  • Jim Cole, Ed.D., Psych., EMDR Advocacy Award
  • Jennifer Jones, LPC, EMDR Advocacy Award
  • Karen Alter-Reid, Ph.D., Outstanding Regional Coordinator Award
  • Ignacio Jarero, Ph.D., Ed.D., MT, Outstanding Research in EMDR Award
  • Rolf Carriere, Special Recognition Award

2015

  • Deany Laliotis, LICSW, Francine Shapiro Award
  • Sharon Rollins, MS, LPC, NCC, Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA
  • Dee Blinka, MA, LCSW, BCD, EMDR Advocacy Award
  • Helen Harris, Ed.D., LCSW, EMDR Advocacy Award
  • Michael Hase, M.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • Arne Hofmann, M.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • Bessel van der Kolk, M.D., Special Recognition Award

2014

  • Robert Tinker, Ph.D., Francine Shapiro Award
  • Karen Alter-Reid, Ph.D., Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA
  • Judith Black, MA, M.Ed., EMDR Advocacy Award (NEW award in 2014)
  • Pennisue Hignell, Ph.D., Outstanding Regional Coordinator
  • Pim Cuijpers, Ph.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • Christopher William Lee, Ph.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR

2013

  • Andrew Leeds, Ph.D., Francine Shapiro Award
  • Linda Bowers, MA, LPC, Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA
  • Annie Monaco, LCSW-R, Outstanding Regional Coordinator
  • David P.G. van den Berg, MsC, Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • Mark van der Gaag, Ph.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR

2012

  • Robbie Dunton, MS, Francine Shapiro Award
  • Robbie Adler-Tapia, Ph.D., Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA
  • Celia Grand, LCSW, BCD, Outstanding Regional Coordinator
  • Carlijn de Roos, MA, Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • Gayla Turner, CAE, Special Recognition Award

2011

  • Irene Giessl, Ed.D., Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA
  • Ad de Jongh, Ph.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • Bob Gelbach, Ph.D., Special Recognition Award

2010

  • Mark Dworkin, LCSW, Francine Shapiro Award
  • Zona Scheiner, Ph.D., Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA
  • Regina Morrow, Ed.S., LMFT, LMHC, Outstanding Regional Coordinator
  • The Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University Netherlands. The core members of the research team are Marcel A. van den Hout, Ph.D., Iris M. Engelhard, Ph.D., and Hellen K. Hornsveld, Ph.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR

2009

  • Barbara Hensley, Ed.D., Francine Shapiro Award
  • Susan Curry, MS, MFT, Outstanding Regional Coordinator
  • Raymond Gunder, Ph.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • Glen Bonder, Ph.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • A plaque was presented to Dr. Francine Shapiro in recognition of the 20th Anniversary of EMDR

2008

  • Louise Maxfield, Ph.D., C.Psych., Francine Shapiro Award
  • Jim Gach, MSW, LCSW-C, Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA
  • Karen Forte, LCSW, DCSW, Outstanding Regional Coordinator
  • Martin Sack, Dr. Med., Outstanding Research in EMDR

2007

  • Rosalie Thomas, RN, Ph.D., Francine Shapiro Award
  • Gary Peterson, M.D., Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA
  • Jim Knipe, Ph.D., Outstanding Regional Coordinator
  • Bessel van der Kolk, M.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR

2006

  • Jennifer Lendl, Ph.D., Francine Shapiro Award
  • Jari Preston, M.Ed., Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA
  • Nancy Knudsen, LMFT & Shanti Shapiro, MSW, LICSW, Outstanding Regional Coordinators
  • Barbara Rothbaum, Ph.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • Rosalie Thomas, RN, Ph.D., Special Recognition Award

2005

  • Marilyn Luber, Ph.D., Francine Shapiro Award
  • Bennet Wolper, MSW, Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA
  • David Manfield, Ph.D., Outstanding Regional Coordinator
  • Tonya Edmond, Ph.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR

2004

  • Wendy Freitag, Ph.D., Francine Shapiro Award
  • Carol York, MSSW, LMSW-ACP, Lifetime Service Award
  • EMDRIA Standards & Training Committee, Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA
    • Jari Preston, M.Ed. - Chair
    • Robyn Butler-Hall, MS
    • Wendy Freitag, Ph.D.
    • Edwin Hallsten, Ph.D.
    • John Nash, Ph.D.
    • Gary Peterson, M.D.
    • Shanti Shapiro, MSW, LICSW
    • David Sherwood, Ph.D.
    • Bennet Wolper, MSW
  • Larry Nieters, Ph.D., Outstanding Regional Coordinator
  • Ricky Greenwald, Psy.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR

2003

  • Marilyn Luber, Ph.D., Outstanding Contribution & Service to EMDRIA
  • Philip Manfield, Ph.D., Outstanding Regional Coordinator
  • Therese McGoldrick, BA, Outstanding Research in EMDR

2002

  • Ronald Doctor, Ph.D., For Outstanding Service to EMDRIA
  • Steve Lazrove, M.D., For Outstanding Service to EMDRIA
  • David Wilson, Ph.D., For Outstanding Service to EMDRIA
  • Don Heggie, For Outstanding Service to EMDR
  • Maudie Ritchie, LCSWR, ACSW & Sandra Kaplan, LCSW, Outstanding Regional Coordinators
  • Irene Giessl, Ed.D. & Barbara Hensley, Ed.D., Outstanding Regional Coordinators
  • Virginia Sprang, Ph.D., LCSW, Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • EMDRIA Staff: In appreciation of your dedication and years of service to EMDRIA
    • Terri Curtis
    • Sheila Kulczyk
    • Sarah Tolino
    • Gayla Turner
    • Carol York

2001

  • Nancy Smyth, Ph.D., Outstanding Contribution and Service to EMDRIA
  • David Sherwood, Ph.D. & John Nash, Ph.D., Outstanding Regional Coordinators
  • Louise Maxfield, MA, CTS, Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • Roberta “Robbie” Dunton, MA, MS, Creative Innovation in the Development of EMDR
  • Jennifer Turner, In Appreciation of Dedication and Service

2000

  • Sandra Foster, Ph.D., Francine Shapiro Award for Outstanding Contribution and Service to EMDR
  • Curt Rouanzoin, Ph.D., Outstanding Contribution and Service to EMDRIA
  • Robert Tinker, Ph.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • Sandra Wilson, Ph.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • Lee Becker, Ph.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • Lucina Artigas, Creative Innovation in the Development of EMDR
  • David Hart, Ph.D., Outstanding Contribution and Service as Founding Chairman and President of EMDR Association Canada

1999

  • Ricky Greenwald, Psy.D., Outstanding Contribution and Service to EMDRIA and EMDR
  • Claude Chemtob, Ph.D., Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • Chris Lee, M.A., Outstanding Research in EMDR
  • Andrew Leeds, Ph.D., Creative Innovation in the Development of EMDR