Relational EMDR Therapy®

Building the Bridge from Treatment to Transformation

The Center’s Exclusive Approach to EMDR Mastery

Relational EMDR Therapy® considers the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client a central component of treatment, particularly for clients who struggle with low self-esteem, relational difficulties, and challenges with emotional regulation.

By actively accompanying clients on their healing journey, R-EMDR becomes a shared experience that reaches beyond the resolution of traumatic memories, promoting developmental growth and lasting change.

In more traditional EMDR therapy, the primary objective is symptom relief. For many clients, however, more is needed.

That is where Relational EMDR Therapy® comes in.

As R-EMDR therapists, we focus on helping our clients grow and change into the person they can become in their lives today, supporting them to thrive, not just survive.

In Relational EMDR Therapy®, the Self of the therapist plays an integral role in the client's healing journey. The therapist is an active ingredient in co-creating the conditions that make it possible for our clients to "go there." As R-EMDR therapists, the question we pose isn't "is the client ready," but, "are we ready to embark on this journey together?"

Relational EMDR Therapy® was pioneered by our founder, Deany Laliotis, LICSW, through decades of clinical practice, consultation, and teaching.

Over time, she refined a relationally grounded approach to EMDR that integrates theory, the Self of the therapist, and deep relational attunement.

Her work has shaped how R-EMDR is practiced and taught today, positioning it not simply as a technique, but as a psychotherapy that centers healing in relationship, supports developmental growth, and fosters lasting change beyond symptom relief.

Through The Center's Master-level trainings, Deany's approach has been shared with more than one thousand clinicians worldwide.
In the end, our work is about being brave enough to shepherd our clients through the darkness of their pain while holding up a beacon of light.
— Deany Laliotis

Our Approach to EMDR Mastery

Relational EMDR Therapy® became The Center's exclusive approach to EMDR mastery because we understand healing as something that happens in relationship.

The therapist-client relationship is not simply a vehicle for delivering protocols.
It is a central force in the work itself.
The journey begins with Basic Training, where clinicians develop a strong foundation in EMDR therapy.
After gaining real-world experience, clinicians deepen their work in The Craft of EMDR Therapy, the gateway into the R-EMDR track. The Craft provides the foundation for working with complex trauma, developing flexibility, relational attunement, and clinical judgment when addressing developmental and relational wounds.

It is in the Master-level trainings and Retreats that Relational EMDR Therapy® fully comes to life.
For clinicians ready to commit to the full path, the R-EMDR Master Certification offers an intensive, multi-year program that integrates advanced coursework, three years of small-group case consultation with Master Consultants, and a sustained focus on how we show up relationally with our most challenging clients.

Together, these elements foster the depth, readiness, and integrity that define Relational EMDR Therapy® at its highest level.

For more information about Relational EMDR Therapy® or our Master Certification, visit our [Master Certification page] or email Jennifer Fights at jennifer@emdrtherapy.com.

Hear Deany on what Relational EMDR Therapy® asks of the clinician who practices it.

Write your awesome label here.

The Self of the Therapist Is Integral to the Client's Journey

Relational EMDR Therapy® isn't just about knowing what to do. We have to know how to be.

Present, not just as an observer, but as a witness. Not just as support, but as co-regulator of the client's experience as they move through the most difficult territory of their lives to get to the other side.

It's about being exquisitely attuned to our client's experience, moment to moment, so they have the experience of being with a kind, empathic Other. Being in it with them.Reflecting our experience of being with them.

Relational EMDR Therapy® asks that we bring a mindful presence as well as the courage we ask of our clients as they approach this uncharted territory with us.

This ongoing work is an invitation to bring our highest Self to what matters most. It is a journey of personal growth that makes it possible for us to "go there" too.For more information about Relational EMDR Therapy® and our Master Trainings, email us at info@emdrtherapy.com.

Upcoming Relational EMDR Trainings

Testimonials

Relational EMDR Therapy®: The Dance of Attachment took all of us to a higher level regardless of where we were in our work when we started. I am always inspired to learn more with Deany which is not easy for someone like me who is also an instructor and who’s been in the field for over 40 years. R-EMDR assigns a greater respect for the therapeutic relationship and raises the bar for us as therapists to bring our best selves to this work. I love Deany Laliotis, I love Relational EMDR. Relational EMDR Therapy® is the future!
Tom Murphy, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, College of Saint Rose
Albany, NY
I attended this training in person as a Master Retreat and it was a professional game changer for me. The opportunity to grow, both in my clinical skills as well as garnering a deeper understanding of myself as a therapist, was priceless.
The emotional and psychic space to be in my own struggle and to appreciate that I was not alone in it was truly transformative. I really learned that healing the healer is a requirement if we are going to be present to our clients' suffering in the way that's needed. The "icing on the cake" were the personal and professional connections I made during this time with other like minded clinicians, some of whom I am still connected with today!
This is an investment in yourself and your career that is 100% worth it.
Jennifer Fights, MA, NCC, LCMHC
Trainee & Faculty
Charlotte, NC

Frequently asked questions

What is Relational EMDR Therapy®?

Relational EMDR Therapy® is an approach to EMDR psychotherapy developed by Deany Laliotis, LICSW, that positions the therapeutic relationship as a central component of treatment, not simply a vehicle for delivering protocols. It is grounded in AIP theory, attachment theory, and the active use of the Self of the therapist to co-create the conditions for lasting change. R-EMDR moves treatment beyond symptom relief toward developmental growth and deeper healing, particularly for clients with complex and relational trauma.

How is Relational EMDR Therapy® different from standard EMDR therapy?

In standard EMDR therapy, the primary goal is symptom relief through memory reprocessing. Relational EMDR Therapy® builds on that foundation by centering the therapeutic relationship as an active ingredient in healing. The therapist plays a more engaged, attuned role, using their own felt sense experience to better understand and reflect the client's lived experience. This approach is particularly suited to clients with complex developmental trauma, attachment injuries, and pervasive difficulties with self-esteem and relationships.

Who developed Relational EMDR Therapy®?

Relational EMDR Therapy® was pioneered by Deany Laliotis, LICSW, through decades of clinical practice, teaching, and consultation. Deany worked closely with Dr. Francine Shapiro, the originator of EMDR, from 1993 until Dr. Shapiro's passing in 2019, and served as Director of Training for EMDR Institute Inc. She founded The Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy in 2020 and has shared her Relational EMDR approach with more than one thousand clinicians worldwide through The Center's Master-level trainings.

What does "Self of the therapist" mean in Relational EMDR Therapy®?

The Self of the therapist refers to who the therapist is as a person, not only as a clinician, and how that presence shapes the therapeutic process. In R-EMDR, the therapist's attunement, relational presence, and capacity to "go there" with the client are understood as active ingredients in treatment. Therapists in R-EMDR training are invited to engage in their own ongoing self-reflection and personal growth as part of developing their clinical capacity.

What trainings do I need to begin learning Relational EMDR Therapy®?

The entry point into the R-EMDR track is The Craft of EMDR Therapy: Taking it to the Next Level, The Center's intermediate training offered twice a year. From there, clinicians may continue into Advanced and Master-level courses and, for those ready to commit to the full path, the R-EMDR Master Certification program. Basic Training in EMDR is a prerequisite for all R-EMDR coursework.

Is Relational EMDR Therapy® a separate certification from EMDRIA certification?

Yes. The Master Certificate in Relational EMDR Therapy® is a credential offered by The Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy and is distinct from EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ or EMDRIA Certified Consultant credentials. All Center coursework is EMDRIA-approved, and CE hours earned through The Center can be applied toward EMDRIA certification and recertification. See our Master Certification page for full requirements.

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