What Stops Clinicians from Using EMDR Therapy? Common Blocks and How to Move Through Them

By Jenn Bovee, LCSW, CRADC, CCTP II, CCHt
EMDRIA Certified Therapist & EMDRIA Approved Consultant

Many clinicians feel excited after completing EMDR basic training, yet find themselves hesitating when it comes time to use it with clients. If you're a therapist trained in EMDR but not consistently using it in your clinical work, you're not alone. Understanding the internal and external blocks that prevent clinicians from engaging in EMDR therapy can be the first step toward growing confidence and clinical effectiveness.

Clinicians often invest considerable time, energy, and money into EMDR basic training. Yet, many therapists report feeling stuck afterward. Despite their initial enthusiasm, they might find themselves avoiding EMDR altogether or only using it sporadically. These blocks are not a sign of incompetence. In fact, they are quite common and easy to understand.

Many therapists worry they might "get it wrong" and cause distress or dysregulation in their clients. EMDR is a powerful modality, and that power can feel intimidating. The thought of bringing up trauma can evoke fears of retraumatization or destabilization.

Structured consultation and support normalize these fears. When therapists have a safe place to review cases and ask questions, they build trust in the EMDR process and in themselves.

Because EMDR follows an eight-phase protocol, therapists can become overly focused on doing it "by the book." This can lead to paralysis in the moment, where a clinician avoids starting EMDR out of fear that they won’t execute it perfectly.

Confidence comes from practice and support. Recognizing that EMDR is a flexible model, and not a rigid script, permits clinicians to work with it in a way that aligns with their style and client needs.

Even with training, some clinicians feel like they aren’t “real EMDR therapists” unless they’ve done dozens of reprocessing sessions. This can cause them to delay using EMDR until they feel “expert enough.”

Community and consultation reinforce that you don’t need to be perfect, you just need to be present and supported as you build your skills.

Some therapists believe their clients aren’t appropriate for EMDR, either because they aren't trauma-identified or because of current life instability.

EMDR can be used with a wide variety of clients and presenting concerns, not just big-T trauma. Through consultation, clinicians often discover new ways to adapt EMDR tools for a broader range of cases.

Busy practices, tight schedules, and full caseloads can make it feel like there’s no time to slow down for EMDR preparation phases.

EMDR doesn't have to replace your current style of therapy. It can be integrated gradually. Even dedicating 10–15 minutes of a session to resource development can be a powerful beginning.

If your colleagues aren’t EMDR-trained or your supervisor doesn’t understand the model, it’s easy to feel isolated. Without a shared language or support system, it can be hard to take the risk of doing something different.

Regular consultation with other EMDR-trained therapists reduces isolation and fosters a sense of shared learning.

Clinicians sometimes expect that EMDR should feel natural right away. But like any modality, it takes time to develop confidence. It’s completely normal for EMDR to feel awkward or uncertain in the beginning. That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means you’re learning.

Consultation isn’t just about meeting certification requirements. It’s a space where therapists can:

• Explore cases where they feel stuck

• Ask protocol questions without judgment

• Watch others model EMDR interventions

• Grow through shared experience and clinical feedback

The most effective EMDR therapists are not the ones who know every answer. They are the ones who stay connected to learning communities that support their growth.

If you're feeling hesitant, isolated, or unsure about how to bring EMDR more fully into your work, you're not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. My EMDR Consultation Cohort is designed specifically for therapists like you.

In this supportive group, you'll:

• Increase your confidence in using EMDR with real clients

• Normalize the learning curve and move through doubt

• Feel supported by a group of thoughtful, trauma-informed clinicians

Whether you're newly trained or returning to EMDR after a break, this cohort is a place to reconnect with your skills and feel grounded in your clinical voice.

Join the EMDR Consultation Cohort to Increase Your  Confidence:

Learn more and reserve your spot here.