Advanced EMDR Consultation: Beyond the Standard Protocol
For Experienced EMDR Clinicians Ready to Deepen Their Practice
If you've been using EMDR successfully with straightforward cases and are ready to expand your capabilities with more complex presentations, advanced EMDR consultation can help you develop mastery in sophisticated applications of EMDR.
Advanced consultation supports experienced clinicians in:
- Taking on more complicated cases with confidence
- Facilitating deeper, more comprehensive healing
- Working with Complex PTSD and developmental trauma
- Integrating EMDR with parts-based therapies
- Applying specialized protocols effectively
- Experiencing more fulfilling and creative clinical work
- Achieving better outcomes for clients with challenging presentations
Who Advanced Consultation Is For
Advanced EMDR consultation is designed for clinicians who:
- Have a solid foundation in the EMDR standard protocol
- Successfully work with straightforward single-incident trauma
- Want to expand capabilities with complex cases
- Are interested in integrating parts work with EMDR
- Seek to apply EMDR to a broader range of clinical issues
- Want to develop mastery beyond basic competency
- Are ready to take their EMDR work to the next level
You don't need to be certified to pursue advanced consultation — you just need genuine interest and a desire to grow.
Advanced Applications Covered in Consultation
Complex PTSD & Developmental Trauma
Working with Complex PTSD requires different strategies than single-incident trauma. In advanced consultation, we address:
Understanding Complexity
- Recognizing developmental trauma patterns
- Understanding how early trauma differs from adult-onset trauma
- Working with pervasive patterns vs. discrete events
Target Selection & Sequencing
- Identifying touchstone memories vs. feeder memories
- Determining target sequence for maximum effectiveness
- Knowing when to work chronologically vs. thematically
- Using the Floatback technique effectively to find core memories
Clinical Approaches
- Identifying "representative moments" — core developmental experiences where patterns originated
- Learning to work with Dual Awareness more skillfully
- Utilizing Resourcing creatively and effectively
- Developing visualization capacity: Helping clients strengthen their ability to harness mental imagery for target identification, resource development, and cognitive interweaves
- Working systematically through layered trauma
- Managing client and clinician expectations
- Pacing work appropriately for complex presentations
- Sorting out where to start and organizing the EMDR Treatment Plan
Working with Specific Challenges
- Addressing lack of adaptive material and perspective in processing
- Working with chronic shame and self-criticism
- Helping clients access emotions when they're shut down
- Working with parts that emerge during processing
- Addressing somatic symptoms tied to developmental trauma
Processing Strategies
- Knowing when to use standard protocol vs. modifications
- Bridging work between related targets
- Creating future templates for complex presentations
- Integration work after processing multiple targets
- Building narrative coherence across trauma history
Therapeutic Relationship
- Navigating attachment patterns in the therapeutic relationship
- Managing rupture and repair
- Using the relationship as a resource
- Recognizing when the relationship itself becomes the target
Case Management
- Tracking progress across multiple targets and sessions
- Knowing when processing is truly complete vs. just "good enough"
- Determining when to add new targets vs. continue with current ones
- Balancing stabilization and processing over time
Common Challenges
- Clients with extensive trauma histories where "everything connects to everything"
- Attachment wounds that show up in the therapeutic relationship
- Building sufficient stabilization before trauma processing
- Expanding the Window of Tolerance
- Working with shame, self-criticism, and limited adaptive perspective
Flash Technique Integration
For clinicians who have received the Flash Technique training, consultation supports effective integration:
Clinical Applications
- When to use Flash vs. standard EMDR
- Using Flash to reduce distress before processing
- Working with highly disturbing memories
- Preparing multiple traumatic memories efficiently
- Integrating Flash into comprehensive treatment plans
Troubleshooting
- What to do when Flash doesn't reduce distress as expected
- Transitioning from Flash to standard EMDR processing
- Using Flash with clients who have high avoidance
Learn more about the Flash Technique →
Fraser's Dissociative Table Technique for Enhanced EMDR Processing
Fraser's Dissociative Table Technique offers clinicians a powerful tool for getting to know parts of self that are connected to specific therapy issues. This structured intervention creates a metaphorical space where different aspects of the self can be visualized, accessed, and engaged in productive dialogue, helping both clinician and client understand the internal landscape related to presenting problems.
Clinical Applications
- Getting to know parts connected to specific symptoms, blocks, or treatment goals
- Understanding how different parts relate to the presenting problem
- Resolving internal conflicts that block processing
- Working with protective parts that resist targeting traumatic material
- Addressing ambivalence about change or healing
- Facilitating cooperation between younger and present-day parts
- Creating internal resources and support systems
- Enhancing ego state integration
Integration with EMDR
The Table Technique can be used during preparation (Phase 2) to build internal resources and cooperation, during desensitization (Phase 4) when parts conflicts emerge as blocks to processing, or as a standalone intervention for parts work. Many clinicians find it particularly useful when clients express internal contradictions like "Part of me wants to heal, but part of me doesn't feel safe."
Beyond complex trauma and dissociative presentations, this technique is applicable whenever clients experience:
- Internal ambivalence or conflicting motivations
- Self-criticism or harsh internal dialogue
- Resistance to processing specific targets
- Young parts or child states that need integration with adult functioning
Consultation helps you develop skill in introducing the Table Technique, facilitating effective internal dialogue, and weaving it seamlessly into your EMDR work across diverse clinical presentations.
Integrating Other Parts-Based Approaches with EMDR
Many complex trauma clients have protective parts that interfere with processing. Advanced consultation helps you skillfully integrate parts-based approaches with EMDR.
Parts-based approaches including Internal Family Systems (IFS), ego state therapy, and Fraser's Dissociative Table Technique integrate powerfully with EMDR:
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) — Working with parts, Self-energy, and unburdening
- Ego State Therapy — Recognizing and working with ego states in EMDR
- Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy (DNMS) — Providing corrective attachment experiences
- Gestalt approaches — Two-chair work and dialogue with parts
Key Skills
- Recognizing when protective parts are blocking processing
- Working with parts rather than trying to override them
- Helping parts understand that processing increases safety
- Integrating parts work seamlessly into the EMDR framework
- Using EMDR to help parts communicate and heal
Attachment Trauma & Relational Healing
Attachment wounds require different approaches than event-based trauma:
Understanding Attachment Trauma
- How attachment deficits differ from discrete trauma
- Identifying attachment patterns in case conceptualization
- Working with what didn't happen vs. what did happen
Clinical Approaches
- Imaginal Nurturing — Providing corrective attachment experiences
- Dyadic Resourcing — Building internal safety through attachment resources
- Working with attachment ruptures in therapy
- Helping clients develop secure internal working models
Integration Challenges
- Working with clients who have limited positive memories
- Addressing deep shame and unworthiness
- Building enough safety to begin processing
- Managing transference and countertransference
Working with Dissociation
Dissociation is one of the most challenging aspects of trauma work. Advanced consultation provides guidance on:
Screening & Recognition
- Understanding the dissociation spectrum
- Utilizing assessment tools (DES, DDIS, MID)
- Recognizing dissociation during processing
Clinical Skills
- Effective grounding interventions
- Utilizing Resources skillfully
- Keeping clients within their window of tolerance
- CIPOS (Constant Installation of Present Orientation and Safety) and BHS (Back of the Head Scale) for safely working with dissociative clients (Jim Knipe)
- When to slow down or use titrated approaches
- Building capacity for affect tolerance
- Knowing when EMDR is appropriate vs. contraindicated
Broadening Clinical Applications
EMDR can be applied far beyond PTSD. Advanced consultation explores:
Clinical Issues
- Depression rooted in trauma or attachment wounds
- Anxiety, panic, and phobias
- Working with anger in EMDR processing
- Grief and loss, including clearing obstacles that prevent clients from accessing and processing their grief
- Relationship patterns and conflicts
- Performance anxiety and blocks
- Chronic pain with psychological components
- Addictions and compulsive behaviors
Specialized Protocols
- Phobia Protocol
- Panic Protocol
- Recent Events Protocol
- Feeling State Addiction Protocol (FSAP)
- Chronic Pain Protocol
- DeTUR Protocol
- Early Trauma Protocol
- Performance Enhancement applications
When to Use Specialized Protocols
- Understanding the role of various protocols
- Knowing when to use specialized protocols vs. standard protocol
- Adapting protocols to fit your client's needs
- Combining protocols for complex presentations
My Advanced EMDR Training & Experience
Beyond EMDR Certification and Approved Consultant status, I have specialized training in approaches that complement advanced EMDR work:
- Ego State Therapy — Facilitating communication and integration of parts
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) — Parts-based trauma therapy
- Gestalt Two-Chair Work — Facilitating dialogue between conflicting parts or states
- Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy (DNMS) — Attachment-focused resourcing
- Imaginal Nurturing — Relational approach to attachment wounds
- Energy Psychology — Additional processing tools
- Brainspotting — Somatic approach to trauma processing
- Flash Technique — Minimally activating protocol for highly disturbing material, developed by Dr. Philip Manfield
- Fraser's Dissociative Table Technique — Structured approach for facilitating internal dialogue and getting to know parts connected to therapy issues
- Dyadic Resourcing — Attachment-based intervention for building internal safety and relational resources
Format Options for Advanced Consultation
Individual Consultation
Individual consultation offers the depth needed for advanced work:
- Focused exploration of complex cases
- Customized skill development
- Deep dive into theoretical understanding
- Privacy for discussing challenging material
Fee: $180 per 55-minute session
Learn more about Individual Consultation →
Group Consultation
Group consultation provides diverse perspectives:
- Learning from others working with complex cases
- Multiple approaches to similar challenges
- Collaborative problem-solving
- Cost-effective ongoing support
Fee: $55 per 55-minute session
Learn more about Group Consultation →
Many advanced clinicians use both — group for regular ongoing exposure to diverse cases, individual for deep work on your most complex cases.
"Because of Ross's guidance and encouragement, I left the training group not only feeling more competent, but truly inspired to continue pursuing additional EMDR training." — Elizabeth Siamas, LMFT
"Thank you again for your highly applicable, yet very cogent and depth oriented approach to supervising EMDR work. I have gained a great deal and will reach out in the future when I need guidance." — Noah Collins
"Ross's ability to seamlessly weave nuanced cultural considerations into the treatment of EMDR, while bringing the art and science of EMDR to life, is nothing short of a Master Class in the intervention of EMDR." — Sherri Kardell, LMFT
"His expertise, clarity, and highly effective approach make him an invaluable resource for any therapist seeking to deepen their EMDR practice." — Cherie Park
"Ross fully understood the challenging cases I presented in group & helped me process them in a way that made sense. Believe me - this was no easy task!" — J. Amber Steward-Davis, LMFT
Ready to Expand Your EMDR Practice?
Advanced EMDR consultation supports you in developing the skills and confidence to work with more complex presentations, integrate complementary approaches, and experience the deep satisfaction of facilitating profound healing.
Phone: (503) 887-3309
Email: Contact Form
Related Services
Contact Information
Phone: (503) 887-3309
Email: Contact form
Office Location: 1832 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232
Serving: Portland metro area, including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Tigard, West Linn, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Tualatin, Gresham, and Vancouver, WA.
Ross Cohen, MA, LPC, LLC
EMDR Certified Therapist | EMDR Approved Consultant | EMDR Training Facilitator
Virtual EMDR consultation via Zoom — serving clinicians worldwide.
In-person therapy and consultation sessions available at my NE Portland, Oregon office.
Telehealth available for clients throughout Oregon.
