How Did I Get Here?: My Journey with EMDR Therapy

by Lito Libres

August 16, 2024

The COVID19 Pandemic was a turning point for me. By then, I had eight years of clinical experience and quite extensive knowledge about working with complex trauma. The working environment in a small clinic setting in a remote community where I lived was conducive for both clinical practice and self-study.

I was at a crossroad, figuring out what I needed to do. The pandemic provided an opportunity for me to step back, so I pursued my lifelong curiosity to experience a contemplative monastic life in the US and in Greece. I also visited some of the oldest monasteries in Palestine, Jericho, and Mount Sinai. What I missed most during those times was my intrinsic nature to serve others. I missed what I used to do.

In October of 2022, I returned to Canada. Two days after, I called the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Development with Nunatsiavut (meaning Our Beautiful Land) government, and asked if I could return to work in one of the Inuit communities in Labrador. I was grateful to be offered the same job as a mental health and addictions counsellor. But deep down, I struggled to reconcile how I could bring back my passion and enthusiasm. I knew I had the knowledge and the skills but I did not have the form of therapy that would bring all my skills together as one unified and integrated treatment model.

While waiting for my flight at the airport, a sudden thought came to mind about the Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment approach that I had heard about from various experts in the field of complex trauma. I called the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Development with the Nunatsiavut Government again to ask if I could train in EMDR. She replied succinctly, which even now is still clear in my memory, "I trust your work." I know she said more than that, but this statement stays with me.

I knew I needed to get my training at The EMDR Institute founded by Dr. Francine Shapiro, who developed EMDR. The earliest 3-day weekend EMDR basic online training was set to begin on January 6, 2023. I began using the technique that day. From then onwards, using EMDR showed immediate positive results. That was promising, as I had never seen something so effective in my more than ten years of using talk therapy. The results I was seeing motivated me to attend more training and conferences, as well as network with experts in the field.

I studied their work. digging up articles and buying books on EMDR, but I was very selective during this time. I mostly read articles and books on EMDR by authors who have greatly influenced and contributed to this field. I only realized that my graduate school training from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (now known as Sofia University) in Palo Alto, California had already prepared me for this holistic and integrated form of psychotherapy. I felt at home with EMDR right away. I was excited, and at the same time eager to learn more, and as fast as I could to bring healing to Inuit communities. Here is an account of how the rest of how my trainings unfolded:

  • My first EMDR conference was in April 2023, with the EMDR International Association’s Virtual Summit. It was my first time being exposed to different experts and gave me insights about who to follow.

  • In May of 2023, I did the 2nd part of the weekend EMDR Basic Training, this time with an emphasis on caring for children and adolescents using EMDR techniques.

  • In June of 2023, I attended the in-person EMDR Europe Conference in Bologna, Italy. At the conference, I met Dr. Andrew Leeds, who is one of the leading experts in the field. I approached him and asked if he would be my consultant. He agreed, and I was thrilled. I enjoyed being back in Italy, as I have attended conferences on Complex Trauma and Psychotherapy in Italy from 2015 to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • In August of 2023, I attended the in-person EMDR International Association conference in Arlington, Virginia. I learned even more protocols and tools to use in my work.

  • In September in 2023, I attended a live virtual training on the Immediate Stabilization Procedure developed by Gary Quinn, MD. I first met with Dr. Quinn in Bologna and then became acquainted with him.

  • In October 2023, I attended a 3-day virtual training on Recent-Traumatic Episode Protocol (R-TEP) and Group-Traumatic Episode Protocol (G-TEP): Offering Relief and Stability When Recent Trauma Hits by Elan Shapiro, PhD, and Maria Masciandaro, PsyD. I have used this protocol a few times in group settings.

  • In November of 2023 in Austin, Texas, I attended an in-person 2-day training titled EMDR Therapy Protocols for Early Intervention & Ongoing Traumatic Stress by Dr. Ignacio Jarero. This was the first time I encountered the work of Dr. Jarero and built a relationship with him.

  • Also in November of 2023, in Toronto, Ontario, I participated in a 2-day in- person training titled Conceptualization and Treatment of Dissociation with Dolores Mosquera and Natalie Seijo. I have known Dolores Mosquera through my connection with Kathy Steele, and I have followed Kathy Steele’s work on complex trauma and dissociation since I met her at the conference in Italy in 2015. Kathy Steele generously offered to give me a package of her training manuals which I studied and have shared with others. I attended Kathy Steele and Dolores Mosquera’s Global Online Consultation on Complex Trauma and Dissociation program for two years.

  • In January of 2024, I attended a live virtual session called Challenges in Assessing Trauma-Related Dissociation with the Trauma and Dissociation Symptoms delivered by Suzette Boon, PhD and sponsored by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation.

  • In February of 2024, I went to a 6-day live virtual training titled EMDR Parent, Child & Attachment Specialist Intensive Program by Ana Gomez.

  • In March of 2024, I participated in a 3-day online event titled Culturally Based Trauma and Adversity: A group EMDR Experiential/ Workshop, which was facilitated by Mark Nickerson and Regina Morrow-Robinson.

  • In March of 2024, I attended in a live virtual training called EMDR Treatment of Simple, Complex, and Dissociative Panic by Dr. Andrew Leeds.

  • In June 2024, I went to a 3-day in-person EMDR Europe Conference 2024 in Dublin, Ireland. This time, I met with Dr. Michael Hase and asked him if I could consult cases with him, and he agreed.

  • In July of 2024, I went to a 2-day live virtual seminar called Standards of Care and Ethical Challenges for Using EMDR Therapy in the Treatment of Complex Trauma and Dissociation by Jennifer Madere and Michael Coy. I also attended the Strategic Developmental Model for EMDR seminar by Marilyn Korzekwa, MD.

  • I bought the webinars EMDR and Grief by Roger Solomon, PhD; Complex Trauma and Dissociation by Jim Knipe, PhD; and Attachment and EMDR by Laurel Parnell, PhD.

It has been a year and eight months of full immersion into EMDR training, attending conferences, learning online, reading books and articles, and most importantly attending individual and group consultations, and putting it all into practice.

When I look back at 2022, when I spent ten months in monasteries, I realize that I needed that to step back from my work. Now, I feel a renewed sense of purpose and meaning that is rewarding both me and my clients. Since I have been trained in EMDR therapy, I have become a travelling mental health counsellor that carries an EMDR therapy toolbox with me as I move between five remote Inuit communities in Labrador.

EMDR has continued to amaze me with its effectiveness and efficiency in treating complex trauma/PSTD, acute and prolonged grief disorder, anxiety and panic attack disorder, and community crisis-related situations. I am grateful for the guidance I have received from Dr. Andrew Leeds. His keen and sharp skills and knowledge have helped me to be more confident in administering EMDR Therapy to clients. I will continue to seek his expertise.

I owe all of this to my employer, who continued to support me, and also to the Inuit who are brave to embrace a therapy that they had never heard of before. I hope one day, I will not be the only EMDR therapist in Labrador. I would like to see counsellors and social workers in Labrador oriented towards EMDR Therapy in their work. I have been promoting EMDR to the mental health organizations and professionals I interact with in Labrador and beyond.

I believe that we have now the tools and therapies needed to alleviate the suffering of so many people. EMDR Therapy can bring relief from long standing suffering. I would suggest to my colleagues to get training in EMDR and seek good consultations, and continue to learn and grow. The purpose of this memoir is nothing more than to share and ignite curiosity as we work together to bring healing to our clients, one person at a time, one family at a time, one community at a time, and maybe to humanity as a whole.

On August 15, 2024, I was granted a certification by the EMDR International Association as an EMDR Certified Therapist. I am so humbled and grateful at the same time. I am looking forward to continue serving the Inuit communities in Labrador.