Discovery:

3.0 CE course

Certificates are emailed immediately upon completion of course evaluation.

Prerequisite: Must complete IFS-Informed EMDR before enrolling in this course.

Save $$, and double your access time - Purchase a course bundle. See below!

Discovery: An EMDR process that uses IFS & Coherence Therapy to bridge from the Preparation Phase to the Assessment & Desensitization phases.

This 3 hour course dives deeper in exploring the Discovery process outlined in IFS-Informed EMDR. It contains a narrated powerpoint presentation followed by three annotated session videos,video recordings from individual & group consultations explaining & summarizing the process, and a bonus video discussing a flow chart developed by a group member.

Course Description

Discovery is a term taken from Coherence Therapy (Unlocking the Emotional Brain [2012], Ecker, et als). It means uncovering the emotional truth behind a symptom derived from implicit memory. It will make sense given the original context. Implicit memories are unconscious and reflexive, and they are at the heart of most of the symptomatic behavior and reactions we see in our clinical practices.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy guides us to understand that in healing work, we are almost certainly going to encounter protectors. These parts are responsible for what might otherwise be seen as resistance, acting out, etc., but they always have underlying positive intentions. They are embedded within an entire protective system of parts.

When we select a trauma target in EMDR, we necessarily activate this protective system, which can very often be complex and vigorous. Often, pushing forward with processing our selected target makes things worse. But backing up and doing intensive resourcing delays productive processing, sometimes indefinitely. This is the dilemma EMDR therapists routinely face.

These ideas from Coherence Therapy and IFS intersect at one point in the EMDR process, on the verge of the Assessment Phase. It is here that we can utilize sets of alternating bilateral stimulation in a new way to process protectors. A way that is in-between resource installation and desensitization, and has advantages of both.

The Discovery process is a bridge from the Preparation Phase of EMDR to the Assessment Phase and beyond. It will clarify the protector's positive intention, uncover the original problems the symptom is designed to solve, and stimulate emerging Self-Presence. All this clears the way for a conventional Assessment Phase and Desensitization with functional dual attention.

Course Objectives

After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the difference between the conventional EMDR Assessment Phase target elements and the Discovery target elements
2. Identify at least one beneficial by-product of the Discovery process.
3. Describe two primary tasks of the therapist during Discovery.
4. Describe the effect of processing protectors (defenses) on the level of emotional intensity of underlying trauma material.
5. Explain what is meant by "flipping the protector."
6. Explain the difference between Discovery and Desensitization.

Continuing Education Information

• Approved for 3.0 CE distance education through EMDRIA (EC provider #17025), and 3.0 CE for IFS recertification (submit CE-Classes certificate with IFS recertification application).
• NY SW Board: emdrifs.com LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0740.
  
• NY MFT Board: emdrifs.com LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0116.
  
• NY MHC Board: emdrifs.com LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0278.
  
• NY PSY Board: emdrifs.com LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0230. Approved for 3.0 Psychology CE Contact Hours.
• NBCC: emdrifs.com, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7432. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. emdrifs.com, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 
• ASWB ACE: emdrifs.com, LLC, #249 is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 10/6/2026 -10/6/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 3.0 clinical continuing education credits.
  

A labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness. It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. It represents a journey to our very center and back out into the world. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation and prayer tools.

Labyrinths derived their name from Greek mythology, where the Minotaur, a legendary half-man, half-bull monster whose survival depended upon sacrifices, was defeated by the hero Theseus. Theseus, scheduled to be sacrificed, entered the unsolvable labyrinth with a sword and ball of thread, slayed the monster and used the thread to retrace his steps back out of the abysmal labyrinth.

Deadalus, the skilled architect, craftsman, and artist hired by King Minos to design & build the Labyrinth, was immediately imprisoned & exiled by Minos in order to maintain secrecy of its existence. The myth contains the elements of a secret, well-crafted, and puzzling design whose architect is exiled - much like the stories that unfold in the labyrinths which our clients' inner protectors construct.

This illustration is the Native American Hopi symbol Man in the Maze design, which symbolizesexperiences and choices we make in our journey through life. The Discovery process parallels this inner journey to the core of one's suffering, followed by a transformation, before returning to the outer world and renewed life. 

Taxes may be automatically applied during checkout:

European Union Value Added Tax: (VAT) is charged on purchases made by consumers in the EU. VAT applies to any merchant selling a product or service (including digital products like an online course) to a consumer based in Europe. In general, the location of the merchant doesn't matter—it is the location of the consumer that determines whether or not VAT should be applied.

U.S. State Sales Tax: Teachable will automatically calculate, collect and remit U.S. (state) sales tax on the sales of emdrifs.com courses to the relevant state authorities, where applicable. This includes New Jersey, where emdrifs.com is based.

Target Audience

This course was created on 5/4/2020 for mental health professionals who are trained in EMDR and interested in learning IFS as a way to deliver EMDR to their clients more safely and effectively.

Completion Requirements

Attendees must complete the entire course, post test and evaluation to receive credit.

A score of 75% or better is required to pass and gain access to your completion certificate. You may retake the test once, after which you must contact the administrator for further guidance.

Accommodations for the Differently Abled

This workshop is held in a facility and/or delivered in a manner that is in compliance with the Americans Disabilities Act. Please contact emdrifs.com@gmail.com if special accommodation is required.

Cancellation Policy

Once you have registered and paid for this course you have six months to complete it. After six months, a monthly extension subscription may be purchased. Cancellations or extensions may be requested if there are extenuating circumstances disabling the student from taking the course for the entire six months. Requests may be initiated by emailing emdrifs.com@gmail.com or calling 814-944-3852.

Grievance Policy

All grievances must be in writing to emdrifs.com@gmail.com, and will be replied to within 5 - 10 business days.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have access to the course?

You have access to this course for six months, even after you complete the course. After six months, you can purchase a monthly extension subscription for $15 per month by emailing emdrifs.com@gmail.com.

Are there any prerequisites for this course?

Yes, The basis of this course is covered in two previous courses; IFS for EMDR Therapists (If you have little or no IFS background), and IFS-Informed EMDR (which integrates these two models based on prior knowledge of both). Please do not enroll in this course without completing the latter, as it relies on information you will have learned there.

How do I contact the school owner?

The owner/operator of emdrifs.com can be reached by email at emdrifs.com@gmail.com or 1-814-944-3852.

Can I get IFS recertification CE's for this course?

Yes, when you apply for IFS recertification, send your CE certificate with your application to the IFS Institute.

Bibliography (References):

Ally, D., Tobiasz-Veltz, L., Tu, K., Comeau, A., Bumpus, C., Blot, T., Rice, F. K., Orr, B., Soumerai Rea, H., Sweezy, M., & Schuman-Olivier, Z. (2025). A pilot study of an online group-based Internal Family Systems intervention for comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use. Frontiers in Psychiatry, Volume 16-2025. 

Anderson, F.G. (2021). Transcending trauma: Healing Complex PTSD With Internal Family Systems. Claire, WI: PESI Publishing.

Comeau, A., Smith, L. J., Smith, L., Soumerai Rea, H., Ward, M. C., Creedon, T. B., Sweezy, M., Rosenberg, L. G., & Schuman-Olivier, Z. (2024). Online group-based internal family systems treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: Feasibility and acceptability of the program for alleviating and resolving trauma and stress. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 16(Suppl 3), S636–S640. 

Ecker, B. (2024). A proposal for the unification of psychotherapeutic action understood as memory modification processes. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 34(3), 291–314.

Ecker, B., Ticic, R., & Hulley, L. (2024). Unlocking the Emotional Brain: Memory Reconsolidation and the Psychotherapy of Transformational Change (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Ecker, B., Bridges, S.K. (2020) How the Science of Memory Reconsolidation Advances the Effectiveness and Unification of Psychotherapy. Clin Soc Work J 48, 287–300. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-020-00754-z

Every-Palmer, S., et al. (2024). EMDR vs. usual treatment for PTSD in adults with psychosis: A randomized controlled trial. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 16(Suppl 3), S555–S560. 

Fatter, D. (2026). Integrating internal family systems (IFS) into EMDR therapy: The step-by-step guide to complex trauma recovery. PESI Publishing, Inc. 

Gomez, A. M. & Krause, P. K. (2013). EMDR Therapy and the Use of Internal Family Systems Strategies With Children, In A. M. Gomez, (Ed.), EMDR Therapy and Adjunct Approaches with Children (pp. 299–345). New York, NY: Springer publishing.

Hafkemeijer, L., Hofman, S., de Jongh, A., de Roos, D., van Velzen, M., Starrenburg, A., & Slotema, K. (2025). The effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy on post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and diagnostic status in patients with a personality disorder: A randomized controlled trial. *Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 94*(6), 453–??. 

Hart, K. (2025). Treating trauma with EMDR and IFS: A clinician's guide to integrating eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy with internal family systems. New Harbinger Publications.

Hersey, B. (2025) Syzygy: Alignment of IFS, EMDR and Memory Reconsolidation. In Polidi, D. (Ed.), IFS-Informed EMDR: Creative and Collaborative Approaches (1st ed.), (pp.. 63-77). Routledge. 

Hodgdon, H. B.; Anderson, F. G.; Southwell, E.; Hrubec, W.; Schwartz, R. C. (2022) Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among Survivors of Multiple Childhood Trauma: A Pilot Effectiveness Study. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma. Jan2022, Vol. 31 Issue 1, p22-43. 22p. 1 Diagram, 1 Chart, 1 Graph. DOI: 10.1080/10926771.2021.2013375.

Knipe, J. (2019). EMDR Toolbox, Second Edition: Theory and Treatment of Complex PTSD and Dissociation. Springer Publishing Company. 

Kredler, V. (2023) How does Internal Family Systems therapy lead to transformational change through memory reconsolidation? Counselling Australia, Autumn Volume 24 (2) (26-36).

Lawrence, M. (1998) EMDR as a special form of ego state psychotherapy: Part 1. EMDRIA Newsletter, 3:4. 

Lawrence, M. (1999) EMDR as a special form of ego state psychotherapy: Part 2. EMDRIA Newsletter, 4:1. 

Neff, K. D. (2003). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2(3), 223–250. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309027

O’Shea Brown, G. (2021) Internal Family Systems Informed Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: An Integrative Technique for Treatment of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorders. International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis. Volume 19, Number 2, Fall/Winter 2020/2021, pp. 112-122

Poli, A., Gemignani, A., & Miccoli, M. (2022). Randomized Trial on the Effects of a Group EMDR Intervention on Narrative Complexity and Specificity of Autobiographical Memories: A Path Analytic and Supervised Machine-Learning Study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(13), 7684. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137684

Richardson, M. (2025) Phase 2.5 Discovery: Working with Blended Protectors. In Polidi, D. (Ed.), IFS-Informed EMDR: Creative and Collaborative Approaches (1st ed.), (pp.. 78-92). Routledge.

Schwartz, R. C. (2021). No bad parts: Healing trauma and restoring wholeness with the Internal Family Systems model.Sounds True.

Schwartz, R.C. & Sweezy, M. (2021). Internal Family Systems Therapy (2nd ed.). New York NY: Guilford Press.

Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Basic principles, protocols and procedures (3rd ed.) New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Tsai, C. S., & Chang, H. J. (2024). EMDR efficacy for depression: A meta-analysis and meta-regression. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(18), 5633.

Twombly, J. H., & Schwartz, R. C. (2008). The integration of internal family systems model and EMDR. In C. Forgash & M. Copeley (Eds.), Healing the heart of trauma and dissociation with EMDR and ego state therapy (pp. 295–311). New York, NY: Springer publishing.