What I Believe Good EMDR Consultation Should Feel Like
EMDR consultation serves many purposes. It's where we strengthen our understanding of the model, think through challenging cases, build confidence with new skills, and continue growing long after basic training ends.
But I also think consultation serves another important purpose.
It should be a place where therapists feel safe enough to not know.
EMDR is a beautifully complex model. Even experienced therapists encounter moments where they wonder whether they're missing something, feel uncertain about how to move forward, or question whether they're using the model "correctly." Those moments aren't signs that you're a poor therapist, they're simply part of learning.
Unfortunately, when consultation doesn't feel emotionally safe, it's easy to hold those questions back.
That's one of the reasons my consultation style is rooted in relationship first.
Just as we ask our clients to bring vulnerability into the therapy room, I believe consultation should offer therapists the same opportunity. I want consultees to feel comfortable talking about the sessions that felt messy, the clients who seem stuck, and the moments when they simply aren't sure what to do next.
I also bring a strong person of the therapist lens into consultation.
EMDR asks us to stay deeply present with trauma. Naturally, our own nervous systems, attachment histories, and protective parts become part of that process. Rather than seeing those moments as distractions, I see them as valuable information that can help us understand both ourselves and our clients more deeply.
Clinically, my work is grounded in trauma, attachment, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and family systems. I enjoy helping therapists integrate these perspectives into EMDR while remaining flexible and responsive to the individual sitting in front of them.
To me, consultation isn't simply about becoming more technically proficient in EMDR. It's about becoming a more thoughtful, grounded, and intentional trauma therapist.
When therapists feel supported enough to ask questions, reflect honestly, and remain curious, that's where the deepest learning happens. Want to learn more about EMDR Consultation? Connect with me today.
Blog post by Megan Matusky, LCSW, EMDR Consultant-In-Training, IFS Level 1 Certified
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Calm Mind Therapy is a boutique mental health practice located in Ardmore, PA, specializing in the care of children, adolescents, and adults. Our mission is to provide the Main Line with high-quality mental health services for all ages. Our goal is to help our clients achieve emotional well-being and build a life worth living. Serving clients in Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, Wynnewood, Narberth, Radnor, Lower Merion, Haverford, Havertown, Villanova, Swarthmore, Devon, Berwyn, Malvern, Bala Cynwyd, and more.
