EMDR for Kids 101: An Introductory Workshop for Providers

Many youth in care carry trauma, anxiety, and big emotions that can show up as shutdown, outbursts, or difficulty trusting adults. This workshop introduces the core ideas behind Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in a way that feels practical, accessible, and immediately useful. You’ll learn how EMDR is thoughtfully adapted for children and walk away with simple, EMDR-informed tools you can begin using right awaywhile staying within your professional scope.

Through interactive discussion, real-life examples, and playful, child-friendly interventions, you’ll gain a clear understanding of EMDR’s 8-phase model, the purpose of bilateral stimulation, and how to strengthen regulation and coping skills before ever touching trauma processing. The focus is on helping children feel safe in their bodies, steady in their emotions, and more confident in navigating their world.

For youth in care, this matters deeply. When therapists are equipped with brain-based, trauma-informed strategies, children are more likely to feel understood instead of judged. They build stronger emotional regulation skills, experience fewer crisis moments, and develop a greater sense of control over their thoughts and feelings. Over time, this can support improved placement stability, healthier relationships, and stronger engagement in school and services.

Whether your foundation is play therapy, CBT, or another approach, this workshop will help you weave trauma-informed EMDR principles into your existing work in ways that promote safety, connection, and lasting positive outcomes.

This workshop is not a substitute for full EMDR training. It offers ethical, developmentally appropriate resourcing and preparation strategies that can be safely integrated into child therapy.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Lincoln