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In this episode: Jen asks the question therapists are thinking but not saying out loud — are certifications in our field kind of like an MLM? She digs into the research, shares her own EMDR certification journey (including the $6,000 price tag), and gives you a real framework for knowing when a certification makes sense — and when burnout is the actual problem you're trying to solve.

What you'll hear:

  • Why Jen started her private practice — a new baby, heart surgery, postpartum anxiety, and no real options
  • The training gap from grad school — lots of CBT, almost no trauma treatment, and EMDR had a "voodoo" reputation
  • Her EMDR journey from PESI training to full EMDRIA certification — and where she actually started to feel competent
  • The "MLM ladder" in therapy training: training → advanced training → consultation hours → certification → consultant → trainer — and who's making money at each rung
  • The proliferation of low-barrier certifications and what it means when the fine print says "certification does not imply endorsement of clinical competency"
  • A side-by-side of a low-barrier DBT credential vs. the DBT-Linehan Board Certification (endorsed by Marsha Linehan herself)
  • What the 2025 Dodo Bird meta-analysis tells us about therapy modality and outcomes
  • Why burnout makes training feel like the answer — and why it usually isn't
  • A practical guide: when to get certified, when it's the wrong move, how to evaluate if a cert is legit, and how to know if burnout is your real issue
  • Research mentioned:
    • Boxell et al. (2025) — Dodo Bird meta-analysis, Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy. 90 trials, 2014–2024, n=9,637. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-025-09712-7
    • Simpson et al. (2025) — EMDR clinical and cost-effectiveness review, British Journal of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.70005
    • Wampold's contextual model — therapeutic alliance, empathy, positive regard, and therapist responsiveness drive outcomes more than modality
    • U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs — trauma prevalence statistics

    Links:

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