In this powerful interview, Dr. Derek Farrell shares insights on EMDR’s evolution, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, and the future of training and credentialing. He challenges the field to move beyond insularity and advocates for global access, academic integration, and research expansion in trauma therapy.
By Jennifer Savage, LPC
This is an EXCELLENT interview with Derek Farrell that I encourage everyone in the #EMDR community to listen to… once again, Derek is a refreshing voice of leadership and candidness for me.
– Jamie Marich, Consultant, Author, Speaker, and Expressive Artist
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) has earned worldwide recognition, thanks to its efficacy in helping clients with traumatic life experiences.
Dr. Derek Farrell has played a pioneering role in our field since his own training with EMDR founder Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1990. His groundbreaking work and tireless advocacy have led the growth of EMDR.
Farrell shared his vision for a more open approach for the EMDR community in a recent conversation on our Notice That podcast.
Currently a Professor in Trauma Psychology and Veterans Affairs at Northumbria University and President of Trauma Aid Europe, Farrell is a leading voice on EMDR practice, training, and research. He is co-editor of the Oxford Handbook of EMDR and the Journal of EMDR Practice and Research and has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications.
In order to fill structural gaps in the field, Farrell stresses the need to evolve beyond an insulated franchise model and embrace an interdisciplinary approach. “EMDR is very, very good at talking to itself,” he says. “But it would be very useful to be more friendly with other organizations.”
How We Got Here: EMDR History
Farrell’s professional journey has given him a front-row seat to the evolution of EMDR. The insights he gleaned from Shapiro inspired him to introduce a training program in the UK in the early 1990s. He played a pivotal role in establishing EMDR credentialing in Europe and has developed capacity training in the Middle East and Far East.
Looking back, what surprised Farrell the most was the visceral nature of EMDR when compared with traditional cognitive therapies. He recalls early challenges in building consensus on how EMDR works and explaining the new approach to established psychiatrists.
EMDR Research: From Insular to Interdisciplinary
The future of EMDR requires stronger ties to universities, which are the home of mainstream psychological theory. Farrell calls for more robust literature to provide a solid base for the next generation of clinicians and trainers.
Moving Toward an Interdisciplinary Approach
The perception of EMDR as a “branded” therapy hinders the advancement of research and training. Farrell says the traditional franchise model limits opportunities to join the broader scientific conversation and reinforces a perception of an EMDR “echo chamber.”
He points to the International Society for Trauma Stress Studies (ISTSS) annual conference, which includes very few EMDR-focused papers. Because ISTSS is a leading player in formulating mental health policy, a strong presence is essential for moving the discipline forward.
In advocating more collaboration between EMDR and adjacent fields, Farrell praises researchers in the Netherlands for intensive studies combining EMDR and prolonged exposure. By partnering with the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) community, Dutch academics have established a synergy between different methods to uncover safer and more effective treatments.
Expansion of Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Research
Shapiro developed adaptive information processing (AIP) as the cornerstone of EMDR treatment. AIP focuses on how the brain processes and stores memories, including traumatic experiences. It represents a groundbreaking perspective for explaining people’s lived experiences and revolutionizes therapy by reframing how we look at mental health challenges. Farrell calls for more research to support and refine AIP, especially with respect to treating depression.
Need for More Randomized Controlled Trials
Farrell notes that there have been six to seven times more randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for CBT than for EMDR. He points to a lack of RCTs in the United States for EMDR in recent years. EMDR researchers must fill the gap in order to accelerate the refinement of AIP theory, promote more effective training and treatment and guide future health policy.
Promoting Awareness of EMDR Research
The Journal of EMDR Practice and Research features peer-reviewed studies that advance theory, training, and practice. Established in 2007 by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), it is now published by Science Partner Journals starting in January 2025.
In its first year of publication, the journal was only available to those already in the EMDR community. Farrell praises recent efforts by EMDRIA to publicize its research more widely and notes that published articles now have a public impact factor.
Training & Credentialing: Adapting for Diverse Learning Needs
Farrell points out that clients will seek out credentialed therapists over those who are non-credentialed. Professional training and certification protects patient safety and the professional reputation of EMDR.
Rigorous training grounded in sound science is essential for expanding the ranks of EMDR therapists. The credentialing process must be flexible enough to serve the full spectrum of learners, educators, and clients. Farrell recommends both academic and professional pathways for clinicians and graduate students to acquire the skills for providing EMDR therapy.
Global Perspectives
All too often, the credentialing pipeline presents a barrier to scaling up the mental health infrastructure for those with the most urgent needs. Farrell calls attention to countries like Iraq, which have a high prevalence of PTSD but very few clinical psychologists. He advocates for “low-intensity” training options to speed up credentialing so that EMDR clinicians can serve patients more quickly. Such programs can be modeled on existing “low-intensity” trainings already available in the CBT field.
Professional Training
Farrell distinguishes between standard EMDR courses designed for professionals and graduate-level academic programs. Traditional seven-day programs were created with busy mental health professionals in mind, with a primary focus on protocol as a technical component. For those who already have a masters degree and clinical experience, this type of professional training makes sense.
Academic Training
Graduate students who want a career as a psychotherapist need a more in-depth experience that goes beyond the standard professional program. As Farrell points out, a typical masters degree requires three to four years of intensive study of therapeutic methods. Students participate in hands-on work along with a wider assimilation of knowledge. Existing masters programs can serve as a template for developing EMDR training for a university setting.
Credentialing Professors to Teach EMDR
Incorporating EMDR into graduate-level programs requires more professors with the credentials to teach it. Farrell argues that “it’s crazy” to require the same process for professors as a graduate student or clinician in the field. In order to include EMDR in the curriculum, a process tailored for professors is needed.
EMDR Protocol: Matching Training with Client Needs
EMDR works best when clinicians adapt the eight-phase protocol to the needs of individual clients. While most clients present with multi-incident trauma, training programs often focus on single-incident scenarios.
Educational programs must equip clinicians with the flexibility to break out of the standard protocol when necessary. This requires a deeper understanding of the neuroscience of memory consolidation, fundamental concepts of somatic work, and information processing. Farrell calls for teaching the neurobiological aspects of prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy, and similar concepts.
Finally, he suggests expanding training in AIP-informed interventions to include such fields as paramedics and law enforcement.
Register for EMDR Basic Training
During his appearance on Notice That, Dr. Farrell discussed critical issues that many in the EMDR community are hesitant to bring up. Expanding our field compels us to step out of the insulated bubble that has characterized much of our history.
Beyond Healing Institute has recently launched EMDR Basic Training that builds foundational skills for integrating AIP theory with the EMDR eight-phase protocol. Designed for clinicians, our program is grounded in neuroscience and evidence-based methodologies in order to:
- Sharpen skills for assessing, conceptualizing, and addressing trauma-related symptoms.
- Provide a structured framework for targeting past memories, present triggers, and future challenges.
- Promote safe and transformative patient outcomes.
We are an NBCC ACEP provider and EMDRIA-approved training center. To join our EMDR Basic Training, visit www.connectbeyondhealing.com to register. If you have questions, please contact us at therapy@connectbeyondhealing.com or 417-942-7384.