Renew Wellness and EMDRIA's Philosophy of Consultation
With the advent of Certification in EMDR and Approved Consultants in EMDR, EMDRIA has addressed many questions about the consultation process. EMDRIA has always sought to maintain the highest level of standards and training in EMDR. In keeping with this mission statement, EMDRIA endorses the following philosophy about consultation.
Consultation is a collaborative relationship between two mental health professionals. The consultant values the integrity and independence of the individual who is consulting with them. It is the applicant’s client, and the applicant maintains primary responsibility for the decisions involving treatment. Therefore, the consultant only advises regarding the utilization of EMDR and never makes demands of the applicant beyond his/her (the consultant’s) domain.
Consultation is not supervision. Supervision implies that the “supervisor” has primary responsibility for the client’s outcome in treatment. In many states, the supervisee can only practice under the license of the “supervisor”. The supervisor carries a legal, ethical, and clinical responsibility/liability for the supervisee.
Approved Consultants in EMDR provide up-to-date and relevant information regarding the utilization of EMDR for various client populations. The Approved Consultant recognizes his/her limits of competency and, when appropriate, will refer the applicant to another Approved Consultant who is more familiar with the client population for which the applicant is providing services. If the Approved Consultant has concerns about the applicant’s readiness for Certification and/or Approved Consultant status, s/he has the responsibility to communicate such concerns early in the consultation process so appropriate corrective measures can be taken by the applicant (e.g., referral to another Approved Consultant in EMDR, remedial education, etc.).