Development of the Practitioner

Postgraduate training and consultation fill a vital role in providing knowledge and skills that are essential for conceptualizing and treating trauma and dissociation - both within the EMDR framework and more broadly. This chapter explores how practitioners, consultants, and trainers can identify and address areas of training and clinician formation that can pose obstacles to impactful treatment and influence professional burnout and longevity. Topics include common learning gaps especially relevant to practitioners who seek training in EMDR therapy, the stages of practitioner development, and how different types of consultation can meet the varying needs of the practitioner. Examples are discussed to empower practitioners, consultants, and trainers to bolster professional development and the specialized practice of EMDR therapy to treat complex trauma and dissociation.