Overview

The EMDR Special Interest Group of the APS is proud to be hosting the internationally reknown trainer, Mr Thomas Zimmerman. Thomas will be coming to Australia to present this event LIVE and IN PERSON at Tweed Head (NSW). This is an exciting opportunity to spend time with Mr Zimmerman and network with colleagues in a beautiful coastal location.

This 2 day training is a hybrid event, with online or in person attendance available.

The conference will be held over 2 days, from 9am to 5pm daily.

 

Day 1: 27th March 2026- EMDR with Complex Trauma

Thomas will explore ways to work more effectively with complex trauma using EMDR therapy with a particular emphasis on challenges and difficulties encountered in Phases Two and Four of EMDR therapy. This training reviews the core procedural processes of EMDR and reviews the Adaptive Information Processing model to explain why some clients with complex trauma may lack much of the needed adaptive information and why they struggle to tolerably activate, slow down, be present, and notice. Helpful modifications to standard resources, attachment resources, and accommodations to facilitate more tolerable activation are explored. Trainees will learn concrete strategies to work with severely complex clients who may have struggled in EMDR therapy when using more standard approaches. The goal of this training is to allow clients with severe trauma to resource well enough to eventually engage in unrestricted processing in EMDR therapy.

 

Day 2: 28th March 2026 - Four Blinks Version of Flash Training

On the second day, Thomas Zimmerman will teach the Four Blinks Version of Flash, which was developed to help clients with extreme trauma gain additional stability needed to engage in deeper forms of trauma work, including EMDR. This training introduces ways to use this version of Flash in individual session, group, crisis interventions, and as a self-administered practice. This approach assists EMDR therapists by allowing them to work more safely with memories sooner, develop needed adaptive information necessary for EMDR processing, and to help support current stability.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this event, participants should be able to:

• Describe the challenges and clinical considerations involved in using EMDR therapy with clients who have complex trauma presentations.
• Explain how the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model accounts for difficulties in activation, regulation, and adaptive learning in complex trauma.
• Identify common difficulties that arise in Phases Two (Preparation) and Four (Desensitization) of EMDR therapy when working with complex trauma clients.
• Apply modifications to standard EMDR resources and attachment-based resourcing strategies to enhance client stability and tolerance of affect.
• Implement practical strategies to support clients who have previously struggled with standard EMDR approaches.
• Develop individualised treatment plans that allow clients with severe trauma to resource effectively and move toward unrestricted processing within EMDR therapy.

Presenter(s)

Mr. Thomas Zimmerman

About the presenter(s)

Thomas Zimmerman, Ms.Ed., LPCC, is a mental health therapist who practices in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. He is an EMDR therapist, consultant, and trainer who helps other therapists work more effectively with complex trauma. He writes, podcasts, trains, and provides consultation to other therapists globally on how to use the approaches described in this book with clients with severe trauma. His book, EMDR with Complex Trauma, helps new EMDR clinicians work more effectively with clients with severe trauma. He has trained tens of thousands of therapists globally in trauma-focused interventions.

Notes

In person registration includes: all lunch, morning and afternoon tea. All registrations (online or in person) includes access to the recording for 90 days after the live event.

Target Audience

This event is aimed at EMDR-trained and non-EMDR trained therapists, trauma specialists, and mental health professionals seeking advanced, practical tools for working with complex trauma.

Duration of Access

This event will be recorded. The recording will be emailed to all registered within 2 weeks post event and available for viewing up to 90 days.

CPD

It is up to attendees to assess and determine how learning from this event aligns with the requirements of their learning plan. The providers accordingly do not make any representation that the event counts towards attendees’ CPD learning requirements. If an attendee determines themselves that the learning they complete aligns to their learning plan, then they can decide to count those hours towards their CPD requirements for the registration cycle.

The information in this presentation has been prepared in good faith and for educational purposes only. Therefore, the information is general in nature and should not be relied upon in the treatment of any condition and you should seek your own independent professional and/or legal advice concerning any specific issue. The APS accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or decisions relating to the information. The content should not be reproduced without permission or unless permitted by law.

If you are experiencing registration difficulties please contact APS Events Support.