Concurrent EMDR Therapy and Non-EMDR Psychotherapy: Clinical Considerations for Simultaneous Treatment 

Guest Blog Post by Dr. Samantha McBride, Psy.D.

A question that comes up regularly—from both clinicians and individuals seeking therapy—is whether it is appropriate to do EMDR therapy and non-EMDR therapy concurrently, with two different therapists. The short answer? Yes, it can be an incredibly beneficial treatment approach when done correctly. But like many aspects of therapy, it also depends – on the client and their goals, the therapists involved, and how thoughtfully the concurrent therapy is structured. 

Let’s walk through when concurrent EMDR and non-EMDR therapy can be beneficial, the ethical and clinical considerations involved, and practical steps for both clients and clinicians to navigate this approach successfully. For this article, we will define concurrent therapy as the use of EMDR therapy alongside another form of therapy (e.g., CBT, psychodynamic, supportive therapy), delivered by two separate therapists. 

When the question of concurrent therapy arises 

Concurrent therapy may be a consideration under several scenarios. Let’s look at a few common ones. One involves a client who is working on two distinct sets of goals or clinical concerns that are best suited for different therapeutic modalities. For example, a client may be engaged in exposure and response prevention (ERP) with a therapist to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and want EMDR therapy to process an unrelated or related past trauma. In another situation, a client might be working with a therapist who is focused on present-day concerns, only to uncover unprocessed traumas (or a new trauma occurs) that fall outside the scope of that provider’s expertise or training. Sometimes, although a client may benefit from short-term, targeted EMDR, they also have a strong, supportive relationship with their current therapist and want to preserve that relationship to continue other therapeutic work. In other cases, therapy may be addressing multiple competing goals, and by splitting the work between two clinicians, concurrent therapy can provide a clearer structure and maximize therapeutic progress.  

Ethical and clinical considerations in concurrent therapy

While there are always unique situations that lead to additional ethical and clinical considerations, the following can serve as a starting point for developing a concurrent therapy framework. For therapists reading this, referencing your profession’s ethics code can often provide additional guidance.   

Avoid duplication of services. Clinicians should take steps to ensure that they are not unintentionally working on the same clinical issue. The goals and clinical modalities of each therapy relationship should be distinct and well-defined to avoid confusion.  

Provide a clear delineation of roles and responsibilities. Identify which therapist is the primary provider and what that role entails. Proactively determine the therapeutic relationships and the role of EMDR therapy in the broader treatment plan. For instance:,  

  • Which provider will handle risk management, such as suicidal ideation and crisis calls outside of standard sessions?  
  • If EMDR therapy is being added to the treatment plan adjunctively, will the client return to solely working with their non-EMDR therapist when their EMDR therapy ends? 
  • Are the roles and responsibilities of each provider working well, or is a change needed? Continuous assessment and clarification of these roles is important.

Informed consent can help manage expectations. Provide both the client and other clinician detailed psychoeducation about what EMDR therapy will look like in sessions, particularly given that it is being utilized concurrently. Be explicit about the goals of EMDR therapy and how it fits into an overall treatment plan.  

  • Perhaps determine what will happen on days a client has an EMDR session but does not want to do EMDR therapy reprocessing. Can the session shift focus while still addressing EMDR goals, or does it need to be rescheduled?  

Coordination of care. Discuss the importance of ongoing coordination of care between the entire treatment team at the start of concurrent therapy. Obtain a signed release of information to communicate with other members of the treatment team. Verify that the non-EMDR clinician agrees with EMDR therapy and concurrent therapy for this client.  

  • Consider addressing additional factors such as how frequently the providers will be communicating and what happens if the release of information is revoked by the client. 

Concurrent therapy is not the right clinical fit for everyone. Therapists have different professional degrees, training, theoretical orientations, and ways of working that affect their comfort and interest in providing concurrent care. Providers tend to do their best work when they are operating within their own expertise and therapeutic style. Likewise, not all clients have clinical goals or a symptom presentation that can, or should, be divided into two separate treatment tracks. In these cases, it may be more appropriate for the client to work with a single therapist who can integrate multiple approaches or for each treatment approach to occur as a discrete episode of care in succession rather than concurrently.   

Steps EMDR therapists can follow when considering concurrent therapy for a client 

  1. Consider the overall course of treatment. Whether EMDR therapy is being added as the adjunctive therapeutic modality or a different form of psychotherapy is being added, it is important to consider the overall treatment plan before committing. Consider the client’s symptoms, treatment goals, and rationale for concurrent therapy. You might ask yourself: Do I think that concurrent therapy will support my client’s healing and growth more than one treatment modality can do on its own? Am I anticipating any potential complications because of adding in another treatment approach?
  2. Discuss client expectations and provide clear, specific informed consent. Explore how your client envisions concurrent therapy being implemented, address their expectations, concerns, and hopes. Clarify the therapeutic relationships, including the scope and role of EMDR therapy and what sessions will look like. Clients might appreciate knowing which therapist they should contact should a crisis occur and what they can expect during treatment. Talk about the importance of provider collaboration, how it contributes to effective care, and how coordination of care with the treatment team will occur.  
  3. Collaborate with the treatment team. Provided the client agrees and signs a release of information, verify that the current therapist is supportive of concurrent therapy. During the initial communication, it can be useful to ensure that each provider fully understands both treatment approaches and what goals or symptoms each therapist is responsible for addressing. Identifying the primary therapist and what happens when treatment concludes with one provider might also be important. Communicate about preferences for how often coordination of care occurs and through what Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant format. Communicate any requests you have about how concurrent therapy is implemented to the other therapist.  
  4. Periodically review the overall course of treatment and effectiveness. Occasionally, check in with the other provider and with the client—not necessarily at the same time—to evaluate how concurrent therapy is progressing. Review the treatment plan, progress towards goals, and whether any modifications need to be made to increase success.

Steps clients can follow when considering concurrent therapy for themselves 

  1. Identify what you want to address with EMDR therapy. Be specific. Which of your treatment goals do you think would be well addressed with EMDR therapy? How do you feel about working with two providers on two separate issues? Would it be challenging or helpful for you to have structure and boundaries in each therapeutic relationship?
  2. Talk to your current therapist about whether they believe adding EMDR therapy would help you meet your therapy goals and be clinically indicated. Explain what specifically you want to address with EMDR therapy and why you are interested in pursuing both therapies in tandem. If your therapist is unfamiliar with EMDR therapy, you can direct them to EMDRIA’s website for more information.
  3. Find an EMDR provider. If you don’t have a specific EMDR therapist in mind, your current therapist might have referrals for colleagues with whom they have an established professional relationship. That can be a good start. You can also find an EMDR therapist utilizing the EMDRIA Find an EMDR Therapist Directory. When you contact the EMDR therapist, clearly explain that you already have a therapist and what specific symptoms or concerns you are hoping to address with EMDR therapy. Mention that your current therapist is aware of this plan and that you intend to sign a release of information for the therapists to coordinate care.
  4. Set yourself and your treatment up for success upfront and maintain clarity throughout therapy. Once you have established therapy with both providers, keep your goals for each therapy session clear. Addressing the same topic or issue with two different providers can be confusing and counterproductive for all people involved, as the therapists are likely utilizing different theoretical orientations and approaches to guide treatment and interventions. If you are ever feeling unsure or think there is an overlap causing an issue, speak up and let your therapists know. 

While the above considerations can be used as a starting point to decide if, and how, concurrent therapy may be useful, please consider the unique situation in front of you and be mindful of additional factors that might be worth addressing. Although not for everyone, concurrent EMDR and non-EMDR therapy can be incredibly effective when planned intentionally and implemented ethically and collaboratively.  

 

Samantha McBride, Psy.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Senior Instructor at the Johnson Depression Center, part of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado’s School of Medicine. Dr. McBride is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist™, Approved Consultant™, and Trainer™. She works with youth and adults, often integrating animal-assisted therapy into her clinical practice.

 

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Additional Resources

If you are a therapist interested in the EMDR training:

If you are EMDR trained:

If you are an EMDRIA™ Member:

 

Date
July 18, 2025

Contributor(s)
Samantha McBride

Practice & Methods
Ethics, Integrative Therapies, Your EMDR Practice

Audience
EMDR Therapists

Language
English

Content Type
Blog/Blog Post

Access Type
Open Access

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