Hey there,

Imagine this scenario:

You're in session with a client who's stuck. They can't access the target memory clearly, as everything feels vague and distant.

You've already performed five rounds of bilateral stimulation, nothing is happening, they're getting frustrated, and you're mentally cycling through every EMDR technique you know.

And now you're stuck.

So after the session, you post in a Facebook group, "Client stuck after multiple attempts at BLS and no movement. Any suggestions?" 23 other therapists leave a reply.

Half say "try cognitive interweave," another quarter suggest switching to a different target… three others recommend their favorite course. Two argue with each other about whether you should have used a different protocol entirely.

But even after reading through all 23 responses (and even though you appreciate the effort people put into answering), you still close your laptop feeling exactly as stuck as before you posted.

I know online forums can be convenient, and sometimes you can get a helpful suggestion that points you in the right direction.

But here's what they can't do:

They can't see you work, they don't know your clinical patterns, and they can't ask you the questions that reveal what's happening in the room beyond technique selection.

That's why I'm a big proponent of EMDR therapist consultations, which help you develop a multitude of skills, but more importantly: clinical judgment. It helps you develop as an EMDR clinician, rather than just accumulate more techniques to try when you're stuck.

If you've never joined a consultation group or worked with a consultant before, let me give you a brief overview so you know what to expect.

Typically, you're placed in a virtual meeting room with a handful of other EMDR therapists, and one experienced consultant who's in the group with you for a set number of months. Or, you may be set up with the consultant for one-on-one meetings. You start presenting the same stuck case from the previous scenario, and unlike a forum where you get 23 different suggestions from 23 different people, the consultant is familiar with you:

"Wait, back up. What happened in your body when the client said nothing new was coming up the fifth time?"

You pause.

You hadn't noticed.

"I think... I got anxious. Like I was doing something wrong."

"Okay. And when you're anxious, what do you typically do as a clinician?"

You might reply:

"I speed up. I try more techniques."

"Right. So your client is stuck, you're anxious, and you're accelerating. What do you think your client is picking up on?"

Suddenly you see it.

Rather than being stuck because you "needed a better technique," you see the case from an entirely different (and more accurate) perspective. Your client actually wasn't blocked by the protocol. They were responding to your nervous system, as in, when you got anxious and started pushing, their system shut down more (yes, this can actually happen).

That's 90 seconds of consultation, and it changes everything about how you'll approach that client in your next session.

That's an EMDR consultation in a nutshell.

Unlike collecting more techniques or memorizing more protocols, consultation allows you the chance to develop the ability to see what's happening in the therapeutic relationship that might be affecting the processing (and learning to track your own nervous system responses alongside your client's).

It’s hard to get this kind of learning from a forum or recorded course, no matter how good the instructor is or how engaged the Facebook group members are. Mass distribution works well for teaching protocols and exposing you to new approaches, but it can't give you personalized feedback on your clinical patterns or help you notice what you're doing when clients get stuck.

That requires 1:1 or small groups where there's enough time for a consultant to interrupt you mid-case presentation and ask what was happening in your body, or what you noticed about your pacing, or why you chose to intervene at that particular moment rather than waiting.

There are plenty of EMDR consultants and consultation groups out there. But whichever you choose, here's what worthwhile consultation looks like:

• Small groups (3-4 max) with consistent membership over time
• 1:1 opportunities for an even deeper discussion
• Consultants who know your cases and can track your growth
• Space for live case consultation where you can be interrupted
• Feedback on your clinical process (not just your technique selection)

Of course, this doesn't mean courses or forums no longer have value.

In fact, they can absolutely be great for learning new protocols or getting exposure to specialized topics.

But they're not where clinical judgment develops best.

Clinical judgment develops in small groups with skilled mentors who know your work well enough to notice when you're speeding up because you're anxious, or when your clinical decision-making shifts based on what's happening in your nervous system.

And that's exactly what Helicon is building for.

We’re building digital tools to help you find consultants based on your needs (or consultees based on your specialization), connect with each other, and keep track of progress. Transparency, accountability, and a commitment to professional growth and development are key ingredients and we’re excited to be testing the platform now with a few volunteers. More to come later on that front.

I hope this has helped you think about your own progression as a clinician and how to approach the role of consultation in your EMDR practice!

Until next time,
Chris

Thanks for reading Helicon's EMDR Therapist Weekly, where we aim to provide a weekly dose of insights, tools, and opportunities for EMDR therapists; designed to support your growth, sharpen your practice, and connect you with what's next.

​​If you're not already subscribed, subscribe here. You can also click here to learn about what Helicon is building, or apply to join our pilot if you're an EMDR provider and want to connect with others on the same path.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only. This is not legal or clinical advice and we make no guarantees about the outcomes or results from information shared in this document. Proceed at your own risk and discretion.