Level 1 (Core)
Child & Adolescent EMDR Training

Presented by Susan Darker-Smith
EMDR Europe Accredited Child & Adolescent Trainer

This training aims to help EMDR therapists who work with children and adolescents between the ages of 2-18, provide effective EMDR for this population. It’s the first step in becoming an EMDR Europe Accredited Child & Adolescent Practitioner. This training covers the following protocol modifications for children:

  • How to obtain a history without causing unnecessary distress.
  • How to formulate from a Systemic Standpoint (as children are part of a system)
  • How to establish an Inner Safe Place.
  • How to select the most Appropriate Target and/or Protocol for individual needs.
  • How to use the Constant Installation of Present Orientation and Safety (CIPOS) when a target memory is outside their window of tolerance.
  • How to modify the standard protocol to meet developmental needs.
  • How to create and use Trauma Narratives that support trauma recovery.
  • How to work with family members in a group setting, using the IGTP Protocol.
May 13-14, 2024 (FULL)Monday/TuesdayVia Zoom9:00 – 4:00 (FULL)
June 24-25, 2024Monday/TuesdayVia Zoom9:00 – 4:00
July, 29-30, 2024Monday/TuesdayVia Zoom9:00 – 4:00
September 16-17, 2024Monday/TuesdayVia Zoom9:00 – 4:00
October 14-15, 2024Monday/TuesdayVia Zoom9:00 – 4:00
December 9-10, 2024Monday/TuesdayVia Zoom9:00 – 4:00


All trainings are taught in 14 hours over 2 days, with a 15-minute morning break,
a half-hour lunch break, and a 15-minute afternoon break.

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  • Completion of a Europe-Accredited Generic EMDR Training – Part 1/Level 1. (Proof of completion is required.) If you have completed an EMDR training with a non-EMDR Europe-Accredited Generic Training, please email us with your training details before you book this training.
  • Currently working with children/adolescents or under the age of 18 and/or adults who are developmentally young, with any therapeutic modality.
  • At least 1 year of experience (or part-time equivalent) treating children/adolescents.
  • Provided EMDR treatment to a minimum of 2 clients (of any age) to at least Phase 4 (desensitisation).

The cost for the 2-day training is £330. An additional £66 for VAT will be charged to those living in the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland). If you live outside the UK, you will not be charged VAT.

If you’ve taken this Level 1 training in the past (with Susan Darker-Smith or another EMDR Europe accredited trainer) you may retake this training for half price. Click here to request a coupon code.

How is this being paid?

Please log in before booking this training

Start Booking Process Now
  • Please attach the Purchase Order to an email with your name, address, and phone number. Send it to info@childtraumatherapycentre.com
  • Before completing this transaction, you’ll complete the eligibility form and select a training date. The date must be at least 6 weeks away.
  • We will put your selected date ON HOLD for you until the payment has arrived. The HOLD will expire 2 weeks before the training starts.
  • When the payment arrives, we will email you a booking confirmation. If the training is full when the HOLD expires, we will invite you to select an alternative training date.
  • Log in now, then return to this page.
  • Our checkout form allows you to generate an invoice that will go directly to procurement’s email address.
  • Click here to submit the eligibility form, select a training date, and check out.
  • Without a Purchase Order, your employer’s procurement department will need to place the training order with us.
  • Once they’ve placed an order, we’ll send them an invoice. It might take them a few weeks to pay it.
  • Once the invoice is paid, we’ll send you a prepaid Coupon Code you can use to book any upcoming training. 
  • PLEASE NOTE: We cannot hold any training dates for you prior to booking.
  • Give procurement a link to this page for options on how to order your training.

How is this being paid?

  • This option is for booking one therapist on a training. (Repeat this for each therapist you want to book.)
  • Before checking out, you’ll need to select the therapist’s desired training date.
  • After payment is received, we’ll email the therapist a booking confirmation.
  • Log in now, then return to this page.
  • Click here to select a training date and check out.
  • If you have a Purchase Order, please email it now, to info@childtraumatherapycentre.com
  • We will put the specified training date ON HOLD for your therapist until we receive your payment.
  • The HOLD will expire 2 weeks before the training start date. When the payment is received, we will email the therapist a booking confirmation. If the training is full when the HOLD expires, we will invite the therapist to select an alternative training date.
  • Our checkout form allows you to generate an invoice that will come directly to your email address.
  • Log in now, then return to this page.
  • Complete our order form. Once we receive it, we’ll email you an invoice.
  • Once your payment has arrived, we’ll email you prepaid Coupon Codes to give your therapists. They can use these codes to book this training. Please note, Coupon Codes expire one year after issue date.
  • Click here to access the order form

Attendance Policy

  • To receive an EMDR Europe Accredited Child & Adolescent Training Certificate of Completion, 100% attendance is required. Please let us know if full attendance is not possible.
  • Participants must be visible, on-camera, throughout the training.
  • Participants may not record any part of the training without permission. Failure to comply will result in removal from the training, without a refund.
  • Participants are expected to be respectful and compassionate to create a positive and considerate learning environment.
  • Participants who need an accommodation for any physical, learning, or emotional challenges, should email us in advance of the training.
  • We reserve the right to remove participants who disrupt the collegiality or safety of the training with inappropriate behavior.

Cancellation Policy

  • Cancellations made 6 weeks or more prior to a training will be fully refunded.
  • Cancellations made 3-6 weeks prior to a training will be 75% refunded.
  • Cancellations made 3 weeks or less prior to a training will not be refunded.
  • When cancellations are due to an unexpected personal or family crisis, we will make a every effort to move participants to another training.
  • If we need to cancel a training for any reason, participants will be given the option of a full refund or a transfer to a future training.
  • We reserve the right to remove from the training, any participant who does not meet the eligibility criteria or who has not paid for the training. Wherever possible, we’ll work to help them meet criteria or arrange payment.

Susan is fairy dust. She is so creative and refreshing who just oozes passion and expertise with regard to engaging children and young people. She was what made the course excellent of which I thoroughly enjoyed. —Jane Gray

Susan was an amazing trainer, so knowledgeable with a wealth of experience and a way of explaining things in such a helpful way to ensure that we could all get the best from the training. I’m excited about making these adaptations and implementing these into my EMDR practice with younger children. Really looking forward to completing the next part of the training! —Leanne Quirke

This training was really great. Susan has a way of presenting that’s accessible and easy to understand. I can generalise a lot of what I have learned to many aspects of my work. —Dr Tanya McDonnaugh

Susan was great. She made the training interactive and kept me focused – something that I find hard especially with online learning. —Susana Perrin

Susan was brilliant and so knowledgeable. The training flowed so well and well structured. I now feel able to implement EMDR techniques when working children. Highly recommend this training to anyone. —Ciara McNeill

It was an invigorating 2 days. Susan’s teaching style really helped me consolidate the adaptations. I will definitely be booking Level 2. —Claire Buckley

Susan has a lovely presentation style. I felt so energised and inspired. I used a number of interventions from this training with success in the following days! —Georgina Hughes

I really enjoyed the presenter’s style. She was an excellent and experienced teacher. I particularly enjoyed that she allowed us to see her ‘learning points’ when things didn’t go as well as anticipated. An excellent training session. —Dr Simeon Hanson

For EMDR to be effective with children and teens, age-appropriate protocol modifications are necessary. This training will teach you those modifications, and help you practice them. The EMDR Association UK Good Practice Guidelines advise EMDR therapists  to complete this training before treating children and adolescents with EMDR. If you also wish to become an EMDR Europe Accredited Child & Adolescent Practitioner or consultant, this Level 1 training is the first step in that journey. 

Yes, provided you’ve completed a Level 1 standard EMDR training accredited by your national EMDR association, and you have prior experience working with children or adolescents under 18, or adults who are developmentally young. 

No. Both the EMDR Association UK and EMDR Europe Association require therapists to take the generic EMDR training first, or alongside this training.

Yes, because treating teens with EMDR require age-appropriate protocol modifications. The EMDR Association UK Good Practice Guidelines advise therapists to complete this training before treating adolescents with EMDR.

No. EMDR-accredited trainings do not receive CPD points.

No. We email attendees a PDF of the handout a few days before the training. If you want a hard copy, you’re welcome to print it out. If you do not have a print, email us . If requested, we can mail you a hard copy for a charge.

Immediately after you complete the Level 1 training, we’ll email a link to an online form with a few posttest questions and a few evaluation questions. When you submit the completed form you’ll be able to immediately download your certificate.

You must get at least 60% of the posttest questions right. If your test score is lower, retake the test.

We email the Zoom link and handout about 5 days prior to the training. If you have not received this email within 5 days of the training, check your spam folder. If it’s not there, email us .

Look for in-person trainings to be scheduled in 2024.

Both formats cover the same content. For the online training, practicums take place in virtual break-out rooms. A facilitator will periodically check in. During in-person training practicums, everyone is in the same room.

Online trainings do not require expensive travel. It’s easier to manage a work-life balance and childcare responsibilities. Attendees with special dietary, medical, or disability needs have more flexibility. Those with noise sensitivities may find online trainings easier to tolerate. In-person trainings offer the benefit of networking and being able to physically move around during the lecture and videos.

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