Cara Wilkerson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, Florida, and Texas with over 18 years of experience providing therapy. She graduated Suma Cum Laude, from California State University San Marcos, with a Bachelor degree in Psychology and a minor in Criminology. She completed her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from California Baptist University, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy. She specializes in treating complex PTSD, trauma, dissociation, and anxiety.
Cara is a trauma expert, a Consultant for both Brainspotting and EMDRIA, an EMDRIA specialty trainer, as well as certified in Brainspotting, EMDR, and the Eagala model of equine-assisted psychotherapy. She developed EquiAttune which integrates the Neuroexperiential Model of Brainspotting and the Dual Attunement Frame into equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning sessions.
Cara has owned and run her own private practice for the last 10 years, and has previous experience working in group practice settings, school settings, non-profits, and working with the drug court of San Bernardino. In addition, Cara is a Clinical Supervisor to associates working toward their licensure.
EMDR Phase I: Clinical Assessment and Treatment Planning Through an AIP Lens
This 6.5-hour continuing education training expands participants’ understanding and application of EMDR Therapy Phase I: History Taking and Treatment Planning through the lens of the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. Participants will explore how developmental experiences, attachment patterns, trauma history, nervous system regulation, dissociation, strengths and resources, and current life circumstances inform EMDR case conceptualization and individualized treatment planning.
Through didactic instruction, group discussion, experiential exercises, and dyadic practicum, participants...Read more will examine multiple approaches to gathering a comprehensive psychosocial history and developing an AIP-informed understanding of the client’s presenting concerns. Creative assessment strategies—including timelines, life maps, eco-maps, parts and system mapping, and exploration of a “day in the life”—will be introduced as tools for identifying patterns, resources, relevant experiences, and potentially maladaptively stored memories that may inform treatment planning.
Participants will learn to clarify treatment goals and use methods such as the affect bridge/Floatback Technique, trauma timelines, and identification of touchstone memories to develop potential target lists. Special attention will be given to clinical factors that influence target selection, prioritization, and sequencing, including attachment history, developmental trauma, current stability, window of tolerance, complex PTSD, dissociation, parts, and considerations for specialty populations.
Throughout the training, emphasis will be placed on clinical judgment, flexibility, curiosity, client readiness, and ongoing assessment when developing an individualized EMDR treatment plan. Participants will leave with practical strategies for integrating comprehensive history taking, AIP-informed case conceptualization, treatment goal development, target identification, and sequencing into their clinical practice.
Slide deck, assessment tools, and bonus resources are included.
Recording: This class will be recorded and made available within 2 hours after the live lecture. Recordings are available for 90 days after the class.
Course prerequisites:
Proof of completion of the EMDR Basic Training
Please note: EMDRIA credits are only available to mental health professionals who have already completed an EMDRIA-approved EMDR basic training. This training does not certify the professionals as an EMDR provider. This class has been approved for 6.5 EMDRIA credits #24033-08 Less...
Learning Objectives
- Describe and review the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model and its relevance to EMDR Therapy case conceptualization and treatment planning.
- Describe and explore the three-pronged approach to EMDR Therapy and its application to past experiences, present triggers, and future challenges.
- Identify components of a comprehensive psychosocial and developmental history that may inform EMDR case conceptualization.
- Assess developmental experiences, attachment patterns, trauma exposure, nervous system regulation, and window of tolerance when conceptualizing a client’s presenting concerns.
- Identify client strengths, resiliencies, supportive relationships, and other resources that may support EMDR treatment planning.
- Apply at least two creative methods of history taking, such as timelines, life maps, parts mapping, or exploration of a typical day.
- Develop an AIP-informed case conceptualization that incorporates developmental history, attachment experiences, maladaptive themes, current symptoms, and patterns of nervous system activation.
- Utilize an affect bridge/floatback or similar history-taking strategy to identify potential memories and experiences for EMDR targeting.
- Differentiate clinical considerations for target selection and sequencing when working with single-incident trauma, periods of instability, and more complex trauma presentations.
Target Audience
All mental health professionals welcome.
Learning Levels
- Beginner and Intermediate, all levels welcome
Friday, March 19, 2027
Live Interactive Webinar
11:00 AM EDT - 06:30 PM EDT
$165.00
- $210.00
EARN 6.5 CE Credit Hours
Click Here to Register
Click Here to Register
About the speaker
Cara Wilkerson, MS, LMFT
Brainspotting Consultant, EMDRIA Consultant, and Advanced Dual Certified in the Eagala Model
Agenda
No CEs awarded for breaks or lunch.
8:00–8:15 AM PT / 11:00–11:15 AM ET — Introductions
Welcome, introductions, and overview of the training and learning objectives.
8:15–9:30 AM PT / 11:15 AM–12:30 PM ET — AIP Model, Psychosocial History & Case Conceptualization
PowerPoint presentation and discussion reviewing the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Model, components of a psychosocial history, and case conceptualization through the AIP lens.
9:30–9:40 AM PT / 12:30–12:40 PM ET — Break
9:40–10:25 AM PT / 12:40–1:25 PM ET — Methods of History Taking
Review of clinical methods and creative approaches to obtaining a comprehensive history.
10:25–11:25 AM PT / 1:25–2:25 PM ET — Dyad Practicum: History Taking
Practice a creative method of history taking; 30 minutes per participant.
11:25–11:35 AM PT / 2:25–2:35 PM ET — Practicum Debrief
11:35 AM–12:20 PM PT / 2:35–3:20 PM ET — Lunch
12:20–1:10 PM PT / 3:20–4:10 PM ET — Treatment Planning & Identifying Targets
Using assessment and AIP case conceptualization to develop treatment goals and identify potential targets.
1:10–1:50 PM PT / 4:10–4:50 PM ET — Dyad Practicum: Floatback & Target Identification
Identify a treatment goal and practice the Floatback Technique to identify a target; 20 minutes per participant.
1:50–2:00 PM PT / 4:50–5:00 PM ET — Practicum Debrief
2:00–2:10 PM PT / 5:00–5:10 PM ET — Break
2:10–3:10 PM PT / 5:10–6:10 PM ET — Target Sequencing
PowerPoint presentation and discussion addressing target sequencing and treatment-planning considerations through the AIP lens.
3:10–3:30 PM PT / 6:10–6:30 PM ET — Integration, Q&A & Closure
CE Information - Earn 6.5 CE Credit Hours including
6.5 Clinical Hour
CE Approvals
EMDRIA
EMDRIA: Cara Wilkerson, MS is an EC Provider # 24033 and this program #24033-08 is approved for 6.5 EMDRIA Credits. Eligibility for EMDRIA Credits is restricted to those who have completed an EMDRIA-Approved Basic EMDR Training.
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
EngagedMinds Continuing Education is hereby recognized as a CAMFT-approved Continuing Education Provider. Provider number: 1032895
New York State Education Department's State Board for SW
EngagedMinds Continuing Education 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-0676.
Association of Social Work Boards
EngagedMinds Continuing Education, #1858, formerly Erena DiGonis, LCSW, PLLC, 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: 8/25/2024-8/25/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 6.5 continuing education credits.
National Board for Certified Counselors
EngagedMinds Continuing Education has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7455. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. EngagedMinds Continuing Education is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
New York State Education Department's State Board for LMHC
EngagedMinds Continuing Education 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-0284.
Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an
approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health
counselors. #MHC-0284.
New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners
EngagedMinds Continuing Education 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-0117.
New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology
Erena DiGonis, LCSW, PLLC 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-0270.
CE Process Info
Each professional is responsible for the individual requirements as stipulated by his/her licensing agency. Please contact your individual licensing board/regulatory agency to review continuing education requirements for licensure renewal. Please note: You must attend "live" (in real-time) to earn CE credits.
Before the event, you will receive an email from CE-Go with access to the virtual event. After the event, you will receive access to your evaluation and continuing education certificate via a personalized "attendee dashboard" link, hosted on the CE-Go website. This link and access to the virtual event will be sent to the email account you used to register for the event.
Upon accessing the CE-Go "attendee dashboard", you will be able to:
- Complete evaluation forms for the event
- Download your continuing education certificate in a PDF format
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CE-Go platform, please contact CE-Go at 888-498-5578 or by email at support@ce-go.com Please Note: Emails for this event will come from "support@ce-go.com".
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