EMDR Basic Training through Otago University
Eligibility to Attend EMDR Therapy Training through Otago University.
EMDR Therapy as taught through Otago University is designed for licensed mental health practitioners who treat adults and children in a clinical setting. EMDR is a complex therapy requiring academic training to Postgraduate diploma level in relevant mental health fields and supervised experience in psychological therapies. To check whether you meet eligibility criteria, click here.
EMDR Therapy Basic Training: PSME 455. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing
PSME455 is a 30-point paper studied part-time over one year. It covers the internationally recognised EMDR Therapy Basic Training curriculum (Parts 1 & 2), with some expansion of the topics and with increased contact time for the lectures and practicums. Taught through flexible distance learning, the recorded live interactive lectures can be watched repeatedly as and when suits you. The PSME455 course will include online lectures plus two block courses of 2 and a half days each, held in Wellington. It will use a cyclical teaching approach with theory informing practice and practice informing theory.
Special Topic 1 is accredited by the EMDR Association of New Zealand as meeting the standard of EMDR Basic training.
PSME455 paper information page
Advanced EMDR Therapy: PSME 456. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing
PSME 456 is is a 30-point paper studied part-time over one year. It builds on the EMDR Therapy Basic Training to ensure mental health practitioners are upskilled in EMDR Therapy for an array of complex problems and to work towards Accredited Practitioner status in EMDR Therapy. It covers Advanced EMDR Therapy conceptualisation and Therapy skills. It equips clinicians in using EMDR effectively with specific populations and/ or more complex or chronic presentations. If trainees also receive additional individual supervision whilst in the course they are also likely to be ready to apply for Accreditation with EMDRNZ by the end of the 2 year EMDR programme at Otago University.
ELIGIBILITY for PSME456. PSME455 or completion of an EMDR Therapy Basic Training accredited by EMDRNZ are pre-requisites.
Basic Training Overview

The substantially updated textbook by Francine Shapiro, PhD, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols and Procedures. Guildford Press, NY, 3rd Edition, 2018 is an excellent resource.
EMDR is a comprehensive psychotherapy that accelerates the treatment of a wide range of pathologies and self-esteem issues related to disturbing events and present life conditions. The interactional, standardized approach has been empirically tested in over 44 randomized controlled studies with trauma patients, and hundreds of published case reports evaluating a considerable range of presenting complaints, including depression, anxiety, phobias, excessive grief, somatic conditions and addictions. EMDR therapy is guided by the Adaptive Information Processing model which addresses the unprocessed memories that appear to set the basis for a wide range of dysfunctions. A number of neurophysiological studies have documented the rapid post treatment EMDR effects.
Integrating EMDR with Other Approaches
As an integrative psychotherapy approach, EMDR is compatible with all contemporary paradigms including, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, experiential and systemic therapeutic modalities.
Supervision (sometimes called Case Consultation)
- 10 hours of supervision are required to complete Special Topic 1. The supervision is built into the course. 5 hours of group supervision is provided after each block course.
- Training fees include all supervision
- Group supervision training dates are organised during the course.