EMDRIA sent an email to its credential holders and membership about the published consultant standards document. The email included access to the consultant standards document, the key components summary pages, and information about the next steps.

EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Standards

Key Components

The published standards introduce four important updates that directly impact consultant expectations and processes. Below is a high-level summary of the key components:

1. Educational Programming: Structured training program with courses for current and aspiring consultants.
2. Evaluation Framework: Tools and resources to assess competence and adherence to the standards.
3. Supported Resources: Resources to promote the adoption and consistent application of these standards throughout the EMDRIA™ community. The creation of supported resources will be ongoing.
4. Updated Application Requirements: Revised procedures, forms, and recommendation criteria aligned with these standards.

Now What?

Here’s what to expect next:

1. Review the Standards: Please take time to carefully review the full document and begin assessing what these standards mean for your current role.
2. Informational Sessions: We will be hosting upcoming sessions to review the standards in detail, answer questions, and provide implementation guidance. Registration details will be shared soon.
3. CIT Declaration Form: The CIT declaration form will be opening soon. Additional instructions and timelines will be communicated separately.

EMDRIA sent the draft version of the consultant standards to the pilot reviewers where they are to review the document and provide feedback through the feedback survey. The pilot reviewers have until January 30, 2026 to submit any feedback regarding the standards document.

Please note that while the update consultant standards are being rolled out, the CIT Declaration Form will be frozen between January 1 – March 31, 2026. This means any current EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ who wants to start the process for applying for the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ credential, will need to wait until the CIT Declaration Form has opened back up. Any consultation of consultation hours completed prior to submitting the CIT Declaration Form will not count towards the consultation requirement.

For those of you who have already completed the CIT declaration form prior to January 1, 2026 and are a current CIT, you can continue to work on the requirements for the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ application. You can reach out to us via email if you need to confirm your CIT status.

EMDRIA sent out emails to all current consultants, consultants in training, and certified therapists to highlight the key points from the consultant standards that will affect everyone.

Current Consultants:

• You do not need to complete the initial consultant application again. Your current consultant credential remains valid.

• Renewal application updates are coming. We’ll share guidance on these changes before they take effect.

• Informational Sessions. We’ll be hosting sessions to help you understand the updated standards, your role in this process, and answer any questions you may have.

Current Consultants in Training:

• You can still submit your consultant application under the current standards. The existing requirements remain valid for those applying within their current five-year time frame.

• Applying under the new standards. If you choose to apply under the new standards, the updated requirements will apply to you. The new application will be available later in 2026, so you will need to wait until the new application process is available. No decision on your choice is needed at this time.

• Informational Sessions. We’ll be hosting sessions to help you understand the updated standards, your role in this process, and answer any questions you may have.

Current Certified Therapists:

• Important: Any certified therapist who successfully completes the CIT Declaration Form by December 31, 2025 (by 11:59pm CT), will be able to apply under the current standards.

• CIT Declaration Form: While we roll out the updated consultant standards, the CIT declaration form will be frozen between January 1 – March 31, 2026. We will reopen the CIT declaration form on April 1, 2026.

EMDRIA provided an update to the membership about the upcoming consultant standards and a timeline for 2026.

EMDRIA conducted virtual focus groups to hear directly from our consultants and CITs about updating the consultant standards. These sessions were based on the feedback collected through the survey distributed in April 2025. These insights were invaluable as EMDRIA continues working to strengthen our programs and community.

EMDRIA sent out a registration email for the upcoming virtual focus groups to consultants and consultants in training. These virtual focus groups are being held to elaborate on the responses received from the survey that went out in April regarding the consultant standards.

Each session is limited to 15 participants and will run for approximately 90 minutes. Please register for only one session and note that spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration link is in the email that went out. Please reach out to info@emdria.org if you need access to the registration page or have any questions.

EMDRIA sent out a second survey reminder email to consultants and consultants in training to share their experiences and perspectives about skills, knowledge, and expertise that are necessary for an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™. This survey will close on April 30, 2025. 

Please reach out to us at info@emdria.org if you need access to the survey or have any questions. 

EMDRIA sent out a survey reminder email to consultants and consultants in training to share their experiences and perspectives about skills, knowledge, and expertise that are necessary for an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™. This survey will close on April 30, 2025. 

Please reach out to us at info@emdria.org if you need access to the survey or have any questions. 

EMDRIA sent out a survey to consultants and consultants in training to share their experiences and perspectives about skills, knowledge, and expertise that are necessary for an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™. The feedback will help guide upcoming virtual focus groups and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of EMDR consultation practices. This survey will close on April 30, 2025.

Please reach out to us at info@emdria.org if you need access to the survey or have any questions.

Consultants and CITs received an email from EMDRIA, informing them of the updates to the consultant standards and what is happening next. 

It is essential to engage with each other and gather the collective wisdom from the consultant community. These insights from the following will inform the new standards, process, and expectations:   

1. Initial Survey – We will start by sending out a survey to gather information on the various types of consultation our EMDRIA Approved Consultants™ provide. We will send the survey out in early April. 
2. Virtual Focus Groups – Following the survey, we will host virtual focus groups. Responses collected from the survey will inform the topic of conversation for these groups. We will host the virtual focus groups in May.

Sarah Tolino, Director of Professional Standards at EMDRIA, ™ provided an overview of why the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Standards need to be updated and the process for these updates, including how the consultant community is key throughout this process.

Data Collection  

• Winter 2022 Consultation Survey to EMDRIA Approved Consultants™
• CIT listening Sessions 
• Track trends in the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Online Communities to identify issues or problems that we can help solve 

Consultant Day Events begin in 2022 

Revised Consultation Packet (2020) includes: 

• Initial definition of key terms/definitions 
• Steps for successful consultation relationship 
• Sample forms