Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is recommended by the World Health Organisation for the treatment of trauma related problems such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Its discovery in 1989 by Dr Francine Shapiro transformed the treatment landscape for these types of problems. Due to wide clinical uptake and a growing evidence base, EMDR therapy is now being used for many mental health conditions and there is evidence that it has utility as a transdiagnostic modality. Where memories have been stored with residual cognitive, emotional and somatic disturbance, EMDR Therapy can effectively facilitate an innate reprocessing of these memory fragments into an integrated memory that no longer causes psychopathological problems. EMDR Therapy is one of the most complex psychotherapies and a high level of experience in conceptualisation, therapeutic process skills and academic rigour is required before being eligible to undertake the training.

In 2026, MaryAnn Stevens, Erica Chadwick and Anna Clarkson (All highly experienced Clinical Psychologists and EMDR Practitioners) will again be teaching both year one and two of Post Graduate Certificate in EMDR Therapy. This is taught online in addition to Block Courses at the University of Otago Department of Psychological Medicine, Wellington Campus. This comprehensive training has been designed to meet the needs of New Zealand’s mental health practitioners. It is aligned with the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tailored to New Zealand’s unique culture and environment.

Training:  

• EMDR Training  2026
• Training Dates and Venues for 2026 .