EMDR for Kids and Teens Course Review

I was truly impressed by the depth, clarity, and clinical sophistication of Carolyn’s course on EMDR with children and adolescents. The structure of the modules—with their clear instructional content, live demonstrations, expert clinical insights, and thoughtfully organized handouts—makes this an invaluable resource for any practitioner working with young clients. Carolyn's presence throughout the course is both grounding and inspiring. Her ability to convey complex concepts with calm confidence, compassion, and clinical precision is a model for others in our field. The inclusion of historical footage and reflections featuring Francine Shapiro added a deeply meaningful dimension; hearing her in this context revealed a warmth and vision I hadn’t experienced before. I found myself wishing I had had the opportunity to meet her in person. This course is not only informative—it is transformative. Carolyn brings a spirit of encouragement and playfulness that reminds us all of the joy and meaning embedded in this work. It’s a masterclass in developmentally sensitive EMDR therapy for kids, teens and their parents. The multiple demonstrations with real people. One of the most powerful segments was the case of Zaya, a 15-year-old client who initially presented with panic attacks after breaking up with her boyfriend. As therapy continued Zaya was able to report about discovering her father’s suicide when she was 12 years old. The way Carolyn guided Zaya through her healing process, and through adolescent relational issues, was remarkable. Her clinical neutrality, holding space for profound suffering without overt emotional reaction, demonstrated true therapeutic containment. Her compassion was evident, even in the moments when she maintained a steady therapeutic posture. Carolyn's mapping techniques for working with kids and teens stood out as both developmentally attuned and clinically strategic. I found her consistent use of future templates, not just after a target was complete, to be a game-changer in terms of fostering resilience and forward momentum. The Band-Aid technique for identifying and externalizing “owies on the inside” was truly innovative and offered a powerful metaphor for younger clients to engage with their internal pain. Perhaps most importantly, her flexible application of the 8-phase EMDR model to meet the unique needs of children was both respectful of the model and deeply attuned to the realities of child therapy. Taking this training is one every therapist who is working with kids, teens and their parents should take. This training will help them be a better therapist.