Training in EMDR therapy.
Built on a lineage.
Practiced at the highest level.

We offer a full continuum of EMDRIA-approved trainings, from Basic through Master-level certification in Relational EMDR Therapy®.
Led by faculty who are trained and mentored directly by Deany Laliotis, LICSW.
Write your awesome label here.

Training in EMDR therapy.
Built on a lineage.
Practiced at the highest level.

We offer a full continuum of EMDRIA-approved trainings, from Basic through Master-level certification in Relational EMDR Therapy®.
Led by faculty who are trained and mentored directly by Deany Laliotis, LICSW.

Decades of Study at the Source

For more than 30 years, Deany Laliotis, LICSW has dedicated her practice to understanding what it truly means to apply EMDR therapy, not as a technique, but as a comprehensive psychotherapy capable of transforming how clients understand themselves and heal.

From 1993 until her passing in 2019, Deany worked alongside Dr. Francine Shapiro, the originator of EMDR, serving as Director of Training for EMDR Institute Inc. — the program through which thousands of clinicians worldwide learned EMDR directly from its source. That proximity wasn't incidental. It shaped how Deany teaches, what she believes EMDR therapy can do, and the standard she holds for every training she and her faculty deliver.

The Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy was founded in 2020 with a single purpose: to make that high standard of training available to clinicians at every stage of their EMDR journey.

Personally Mentored Faculty
Every trainer and facilitator is trained and overseen directly by Deany. There are no outside contractors placed into cohorts. The standard is consistent because the relationship is direct.

Ongoing Consultation Culture
Our faculty participates in active case consultation groups as a condition of their role — not as a one-time requirement. They are still learning. They bring that into the room with them.

A Full Continuum in One Place
From your first EMDR training through Master-level Relational EMDR Therapy® certification, your entire professional development journey can live here — with the same faculty, the same clinical lens, and the same commitment to depth.

Decades of Study at the Source

For more than thirty years, Deany Laliotis, LICSW has dedicated her practice to understanding what it truly means to apply EMDR therapy, not as a technique, but as a comprehensive psychotherapy capable of transforming how clients understand themselves and heal.

From 1993 until her passing in 2019, Deany worked alongside Dr. Francine Shapiro, the originator of EMDR, serving as Director of Training for EMDR Institute Inc. — the program through which thousands of clinicians worldwide learned EMDR directly from its source. That proximity wasn't incidental. It shaped how Deany teaches, what she believes EMDR therapy can do, and the standard she holds for every training she and her faculty deliver.

The Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy was founded in 2020 with a single purpose: to make that high standard of training available to clinicians at every stage of their EMDR journey.

Personally Mentored Faculty

Every trainer and facilitator is trained and overseen directly by Deany. There are no outside contractors placed into cohorts. The standard is consistent because the relationship is direct.

Ongoing Consultation Culture

Our faculty participates in active case consultation groups as a condition of their role — not as a one-time requirement. They are still learning. They bring that into the room with them.

A Full Continuum in One Place

From your first EMDR training through Master-level Relational EMDR Therapy® certification, your entire professional development journey can live here — with the same faculty, the same clinical lens, and the same commitment to depth.

What is EMDR Therapy?

Write your awesome label here.
EMDR therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy that addresses the root causes of a client's difficulties, not just the presenting symptoms. Grounded in the Adaptive Information Processing model, it works with how traumatic and painful memories are stored and why they continue to shape a client's experience, relationships, and sense of self.
At The Center, EMDR therapy is never taught as a protocol to be applied. It is taught as a psychotherapy to be practiced, with depth, clinical judgment, and the full weight of the therapeutic relationship behind it.

Learn more about EMDR therapy and how it can transform your clinical practice.

Write your awesome label here.

Your Path with the Center

There is no single right way to train with us.
Some clinicians come for the Basic Training and stay for a career.
Others arrive having trained elsewhere and find what they were looking for in our Advanced and Master-level work.

However you arrive, there is a place for you here.

Basic Training

Basic Training is where your EMDR practice begins. 
What distinguishes The Center's Basic Training is what happens around the instruction: Built-in case consultation at no additional cost, practice in small cohorts guided by experienced faculty, and access to Deany's monthly Q&A throughout your enrollment 


Advanced Training

Once you have worked with EMDR in your practice, you will know what you do not yet know. The Center's Advanced trainings are designed for therapists who are eager to expand their skills and deepen their understanding when working with your clients. 

The Craft of EMDR 

The Craft Training is a deep immersion for clinicians ready to move from applying EMDR therapy to mastering it. Across two multi-day sessions with guided practice throughout. Includes the one-day Refresher course included at no additional cost.

Master Training

Master-level work at The Center is where clinical skill meets the deepest exploration of the therapeutic relationship and of yourself as a clinician.
These trainings are designed for experienced EMDR therapists ready to go further than technique and protocol into the relational heart of the work. 

What Your Colleagues Say
About Our Trainings

This EMDRIA-approved Basic Training with Deany Laliotis has made me a better therapist! Even though we were online, I really felt like we all took the journey together! I have more confidence as I continue to develop my work with clients who have complex trauma. EMDR helps better integrate the connection between the body and the mind beyond standard talk therapy. It's integrative and transformative for us as therapists as well as for our clients!
Hannalee Billings, LMSW
"As an EMDR therapist, I was finding myself getting stuck with more difficult cases and found myself seeking trainings around anything related to attachment and deciphering what other modalities I would need. It was overwhelming. Deany's 'Dance of Attachment' training was exactly what I was looking for and needed. Her approach has such a humanistic feel, a strong mind-body approach, while also simplifying how to conceptualize and approach cases. I highly recommend this training for anyone who is looking to advance their EMDR skills."
Diana Trevino, LMFT
"Deany's Basic Training opened my eyes. It was truly excellent. It not only showed me how to practice EMDR but also to understand my clients’ struggles in a different way, more holistically. It was surprising to see my clients literally transform in ways that I could have not imagined before and with only a few EMDR processing sessions! I learned EMDR with Deany, and I am here to stay with The Center to be able to use this method to heal others. It was not only effective for my clients but powerful for my own healing. If you want your clients to take big steps forward, this training is a must!"
Karin Tovar, LPC
"Deany is the truth! She radiates the room with passion, patience, and support provided to aspiring EMDR therapists. From lecture to video and discussion, she gives insight into her clinical techniques and decision making. Furthermore, I appreciate the authenticity about the experience we all share as therapists during sessions. Deany's insight and the information shared is invaluable."
Morgan R. Graves , MA, LCMHCA NCC
Licensed Professional Counselor
"As an EMDRIA Consultant, I so appreciate how Deany's trainings are both grounded in the fidelity of the AIP model and the EMDR method. She supports a holistic approach to psychotherapy. The attachment lens integrates into the EMDR framework seamlessly. And what a gift that Deany offers a case consultation with the training to help us integrate the material, making it more tangible and accessible. I feel rejuvenated and inspired as a clinician and a consultant after this experience! Thank you!"
Kelly Wedell , EdS, LCMHCS

Read more testimonials  

Upcoming Events

Free Webinar

Find Out More About The Center

September 23, 2026 | 12:00 PM ET
Do you ever find yourself wondering whether EMDR therapy is the right fit for your practice, and whether now is the right time?
Write your awesome label here.
Free Webinar

Relational EMDR Therapy®

September 23, 2026 1:00 PM ET
Curious About Relational EMDR Therapy®?
Join us for a free one-hour session on R-EMDR as an approach that positions the therapeutic relationship, and the Self of the therapist, as active ingredients in healing, not just the delivery of a protocol.
Write your awesome label here.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy?

The Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy is an EMDRIA-Approved training organization founded in 2020 by Deany Laliotis, LICSW.
The Center offers a full continuum of EMDR therapy training for licensed mental health clinicians — from EMDRIA-Approved Basic Training through the Master Certificate in Relational EMDR Therapy®.
The Center is based online and serves clinicians across the United States and internationally.

Who is Deany Laliotis?

Deany Laliotis, LICSW is the Founder and CEO of The Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy and one of the most experienced EMDR trainers in the field.
From 1993 until 2019, she worked directly alongside Dr. Francine Shapiro, the originator of EMDR therapy, serving as Senior Trainer and Director of Training for EMDR Institute Inc. — the program Dr. Shapiro founded to train clinicians worldwide. Deany is an EMDRIA-Approved Trainer and Consultant, the developer of Relational EMDR Therapy®, and a recurring contributor to the Let's Talk EMDR podcast produced by EMDRIA.

Is The Center's EMDR training EMDRIA-approved?

Yes. The Center's Basic Training is EMDRIA-Approved, which is the gold standard for EMDR training recognized by the EMDR International Association. Most Advanced and Master-level trainings also carry EMDRIA CE credits. R-TEP and G-TEP carry EMDRIA and NBCC credits only — general CE credits do not apply to those courses. Specific credit hours and accreditation details are listed on each individual training page.

What EMDR training programs does The Center offer?

The Center offers a complete continuum of EMDR training across five levels. Explorer is a self-paced on-demand introduction for clinicians new to EMDR. Basic Training is the EMDRIA-Approved foundational course covering all eight phases of EMDR therapy across two parts. Advanced Training covers specialized clinical topics including attachment-focused work, AIP case conceptualization, and early intervention protocols R-TEP and G-TEP. The Craft of EMDR Therapy is an intensive multi-day immersion that deepens clinical skill and serves as a gateway to Master-level work. Master Training explores Relational EMDR Therapy® and the self of the therapist, with both courses contributing toward the Master Certificate in Relational EMDR Therapy®.

Who is eligible to train at The Center?

All trainings at The Center are designed for licensed mental health clinicians, including LPCs, LCSWs, LICSWs, LMHCs, and psychologists. Clinicians who are not yet licensed but are on a licensing track under the supervision of a licensed professional are also eligible for Basic Training. Graduate students who have completed their core coursework and are working in a clinical setting may also apply. All participants in Basic Training should have an active caseload so they can apply what they are learning with real clients throughout the training.

What makes The Center different from other EMDR training programs?

The Center is a boutique, faculty-driven training organization rather than a broad credentialing network. Every trainer and facilitator has been personally trained, mentored, and evaluated by Deany Laliotis — there are no outside contractors placed into cohorts. The Center's training philosophy treats EMDR as a comprehensive psychotherapy rather than a protocol, with built-in case consultation included at every level at no additional cost. The Center also offers one of the few Master Certificate programs in Relational EMDR Therapy® available anywhere, providing a complete professional development pathway from first training through advanced certification.

What is Relational EMDR Therapy®?

Relational EMDR Therapy® is a framework developed by Deany Laliotis, LICSW that positions the therapeutic relationship as a central, strategic component of EMDR treatment — particularly when working with clients who have experienced complex developmental trauma and attachment injuries. It expands standard EMDR therapy to incorporate the relational dynamics between therapist and client as both a source of clinical information and a vehicle for healing. The Master Certificate in Relational EMDR Therapy® is awarded to clinicians who complete both Master-level courses at The Center along with additional requirements.

How are The Center's trainings delivered?

All trainings at The Center are delivered live online via Zoom. Occasional in-person trainings and events are offered outside the regular schedule — follow us on Instagram or join our newsletter to be notified when they become available. Basic Training and most Advanced and Master-level courses are conducted in small cohort groups, which allows for supervised practice, ongoing faculty feedback, and a shared learning experience among peers. Explorer is the only on-demand, self-paced offering. The Center currently offers in-person trainings.

How do CE credits work for EMDR training?

Continuing Education credits for EMDR training are issued through AMEDCO, The Center's accredited CE provider. CE credit hours vary by training — Basic Training carries 46 CE credits in total (18.5 for Part I and 27.5 for Part II), while Advanced and Master courses range from 6 to 32 CE credits depending on the program. EMDRIA CE credits are separate from general CE credits and are required for EMDRIA certification and consultation hours. R-TEP and G-TEP carry EMDRIA and NBCC credits only. Always verify CE acceptance with your licensing board before registering.

Does The Center offer discounts or reduced tuition?

Yes. The Center offers a special tuition rate for BIPOC clinicians who are actively working to improve access to psychotherapy services in underserved communities. Agency and nonprofit discount codes are also available for group registrations from organizations with a full caseload. Faculty members of The Center are eligible to attend all trainings at 50% of the standard registration rate. Contact admin@emdrtherapy.com for information on any of these options before registering.

Stay connected with The Center 
Subscribe to our Newsletter

Thank you!