EMDR Asia was informally established in 2008, having its first conference in 2010 in Bali leading to the formation of EMDR Asia, EMDR therapy training began soon after its presence in the USA and Europe in the 1990s. Prior to the establishment of EMDR Asia, there has been a gradual progress of EMDR therapy in several Asian countries organically as well as by design. We, in Asia, become one of the beneficiaries. Although initially the natural disaster brought EMDR assistance from the USA and Europe to some parts of Asia, which subsequently generated interest among mental health professionals. Training, supervision, follow ups and interventions continued.

Enormous EMDR work during the natural disasters in Asia brought everyone together. Although EMDR has been associated with specific natural disasters in Asia, it is now becoming popular among mental health professionals for a variety of clients. Psychotherapists have imbibed EMDR as a method within their existing practices.

Since the official formation of EMDR Asia in 2010, the National EMDR Associations started interacting periodically and providing EMDR Therapy basic/standard training across Asia. The biggest challenge was lack of uniformity in the training curriculum, methodology and training contents. To overcome this challenge, training standards of the ‘EMDR Global Alliance’ were accepted by EMDR Asia board in 2014.

Due to lack of uniformity in educational standards in Asia, different levels of participants’ selection criteria were applied, therefore EMDR training too have had differential approaches. University departments, NGOs, Psychological Associations came together to organize EMDR therapy training and later to form EMDR Associations across Asia.

EMDR Asia has formed a Training, Standards & Accreditation (TSA) Committee from 2017 to initiate a think tank for developing a possible roadmap ahead for bringing uniformity in EMDR Therapy Basic/Standard training. Now EMDR Asia has the guidelines for Trainers, facilitators and Consultants training which are similar to those of EMDR Institute and HAP, barring some adaptations to cultural requirements. The training guidelines have been carefully drafted following EMDR Europe, EMDR Institute and Trauma Recovery/HAP procedures. Currently all EMDR Asia Trainings are using EMDR Institute’s most updated manual and teaching aids. TSA members are in constant touch with EMDR Institute and Trauma Recovery/HAP for the updates. EMDR Asia’s process for Accreditation is roughly equivalent to the standards meeting most International Certification practices.

Every training covers the information covered in the third edition of the Basic Principles, Protocols and Procedure of Dr. Francine Shapiro and the additional information and reference material recommended in the Appendices of the Manual.

National boundaries of selecting the participants for the training are followed by the training organizers. Trainers and Facilitators/ Consultants from the other National Organizations are invited for sharing and cross learning.

The Basic/Standard trainings in Asia are provided by the EMDR Associations, by the trainers accredited/certified by EMDR Asia. Private trainings by individual trainers as commercial trainings are not recognized and certified by National Associations and EMDR Asia so that we can maintain the quality and standards set up by EMDR Asia. There are mixed experiences of private trainers providing the training by non-certified trainers from outside Asia, some maintaining high standards and others of substandard qualities. Every Asian country does not have its own EMDR trainers and trainers from other Asian Countries are frequently invited to conduct the local trainings and also to handhold for preparing new consultants and trainers.

During the lockdown and COVID restrictions several online Trainings have been organized and have witnessed the enriching experience of cross learning by participating in the trainings conducted by the National Organizations. Some trainings have had Trainers and Consultants doing their portions and part fulfillment of Trainers and Consultants training, including Supervision of Supervision during these online trainings.

Currently there are 19-member countries/ Special Administrative Regions in EMDR Asia (Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, (Mainland), Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, S. Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. Some countries don’t have the Associations, but in the process and may join as members soon (Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal), however, participants often join the training organized by any of the Asian countries.