🌟 EMDR Basic Training Intensive Retreat
Hosted by EMDR Toronto | Learn EMDR. Experience EMDR. Become confident practicing EMDR.
2026 Trainings: June 4th- 9th, 2026 AND September 10th-15th, 2026
2027 Trainings: June 3rd- 8th, 2027 AND September 9th- 14th, 2027
Transform Your Practice. Rejuvenate Your Spirit. Learn in Nature.
We’re thrilled to invite you to a truly life-changing experience — the 6-day EMDRIA-APROVED EMDR Basic Training Intensive Retreat in the serene natural setting of Lac-des-Plages, Quebec, just 30 minutes from Mont Tremblant.
Led by Sophia Barna, M.Ed., M.S.W., R.S.W. / EMDRIA-Approved Trainer and founder of EMDR Toronto, this retreat is your opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of EMDR therapy while stepping away from everyday distractions.
EARLY BIRD OFFER — before February 1st, 2026
Register here: https://emdrtoronto.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/EMDR-Basic-Training.-REGISTRATION-FORM.-June-2026.docx
📅 Training Dates:
June 4th- 9th, 2026 OR September 10th-15th, 2026
📍 Serenity Retreat Centre – Lac-des-Plages, Quebec – HYBRID FORMAT (in person and live streaming)
🌲 Intimate group (10 participants max) for personalized attention
🧠 What Is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is one of the most effective, research-supported therapies for trauma and emotional distress. It helps people heal from disturbing life experiences quickly, safely, and thoroughly—often where other therapies have stalled.
Whether you’re working with PTSD, anxiety, grief, or developmental trauma, EMDR therapy empowers you to help clients heal at the root.
📘 About the EMDR Basic Training Program
This training meets all EMDRIA standards and provides over 50 hours of comprehensive training:
- ✅ 20 Hours of Instructional Teaching
(18 hours instructor-led + 2 hours self-study) - ✅ 20 Hours of Live Practicum
Skill-building through peer practice and supervision - ✅ Bonus: 10 Hours of Group Consultation
In-depth clinical application with real-time expert feedback
You’ll receive live lectures, video case studies, real-world demos, and hands-on practice—everything you need to confidently integrate EMDR into your clinical practice.
Eligibility
This training is open to:
- Licensed mental health professionals with a Master’s degree or higher
- Graduate students (on a licensing track) currently in practicum or internship, working under supervision
For full eligibility criteria, visit the EMDRIA Training FAQs
🎓 What You’ll Gain
- Master EMDR’s 8-phase treatment model and protocols
- Learn trauma-informed case conceptualization and treatment planning
- Explore adaptations for diverse client needs
- Understand the research and neuroscience behind EMDR
- Practice in a safe, supportive environment
- Connect deeply with like-hearted peers
🧘♀️ Why a Retreat Format?
🌸 Step out of daily life and immerse yourself in focused learning
🌳 Recharge in nature at a peaceful lakeside retreat center
💬 Form lasting bonds with fellow clinicians
🔥 Reignite your passion for healing and transformation
“This is not just a training—it’s a soulful, nourishing experience that will elevate your professional path and personal growth.”
💲 Program Investment
- Early Bird: $2,500 + HST (Register by February 1st, 2026 )
- Regular Rate: $2,750 + HST
- Deposit required of $500 to reserve a spot if course fees are not being paid in full during registration.
- Bonus: Includes the required 10 hours of consultation
Accommodations
Regular accommodation rates:
- $40+tx/ night (shared; 3-4 persons/ room)
- $ 60+tx/ night (shared; 2 persons/ room)
- $120+tx/night (single room)
These lodging rates do not include the meals.
Meals options:
1. Potluck communal meal sharing- participants bring their own food, based on their dietary preferences.
2. Purchased meals- homemade 3-meals on-site food, for $60+tx/ day.
Cancellation
Cancellations made more than 45 days before the training start will incur a $500 cancellation fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made within 45 days of the training. Trainees who interrupt their training due to circumstances beyond their control must complete the training within a 1-year frame.
Only 10 spots available — secure your place today!
🔗 REGISTER NOW: https://emdrtoronto.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/EMDR-Basic-Training.-REGISTRATION-FORM.-June-2026.docx
📧 sophia.barna@emdrtoronto.org / sophia.barna@crossingyourbridges.ca
📱 WhatsApp: +1-647-608-6615
🌐 EMDR Toronto Website
📚 Required Reading Before and During Training
- Francine Shapiro’s EMDR Therapy (3rd Edition)
(Please read Chapters 1–8 before Part 1 of training) - Go With That Magazine – Fall 2020, Volume 25, Issue 3
- Guidelines for Virtual EMDR Therapy
Course fees include: The EMDRIA approved Basic Training program, a comprehensive electronic training manual and additional resources, access to instructional videos for duration of program and 10 hours of post-training mandatory group consultation.
Completion Requirements:
In order to receive a certificate of completion in Basic EMDR Therapy registrants must provide evidence they have completed the full-required plus 10 hours of consultation. EMDRIA requires trainees to complete the program within 12 months.
ABOUT THE TRAINER:
Sophia Barna, M.Ed., M.S.W., R.S.W.
Sophia Barna is a Registered Social Worker and Mental Health Therapist with over
30 years of experience in psychotherapy. As a Certified EMDR Therapist, Consultant, and Trainer accredited by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), Sophia is the Founder of EMDR Toronto (www.emdrtoronto.org). Her practice focuses on providing EMDR therapy, supervision, consultation, and both Basic and Advanced EMDR trainings, bridging the realms of trauma healing, peak performance, and spiritual transformation.
An accomplished author, Sophia has written “Flying Home: Soul Stories for the Little One Within“ and “The SIMPLE Way: A Graceful Path to Success.”
As an international speaker and sought-after trainer, Sophia is recognized for her pioneering contributions to EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), especially in performance enhancement and consciousness research. Her signature programs, including “EMDR for Optimal Performance,” “Cura Te Ipsum: Healer, Heal Yourself,” and “Transcending the Levels of Consciousness with EMDR,“ have been presented worldwide, including in Ecuador, Israel, Turkey, Romania, Japan, the United States, and Canada.
Recently, she was a featured speaker at the EMDR Canada Conference in
Vancouver, where she presented “Transcending the Levels of Consciousness with EMDR.” Sophia is also slated to speak at the upcoming “Consciousness Unveiled” Conference in Padova, Italy, in November 2025.
To learn more about Sophia’s work, visit:
www.emdrtoronto.org www.crossingyourbridges.ca
WhatsApp: +1-647-608-6615
YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/oWUK8NwAI–M?si=7uJCtIMhT–KKVmwt
🌟 Ready to Elevate Your Practice?
Join us for a one-of-a-kind EMDR training retreat that blends clinical excellence with mind-body-soul renewal. Transform your practice and your life—one eye movement at a time.
Only 10 spots available. Claim yours now!
🔗 REGISTER HERE: https://emdrtoronto.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/EMDR-Basic-Training.-REGISTRATION-FORM.-June-2026.docx
FEEDBACK & TESTIMONIALS from OTHER PARTICIPANTS
“I’ve just completed an intensive 6-day EMDR training with Sophia, and I couldn’t be more grateful. She is an incredible trainer: deeply knowledgeable, highly professional, and profoundly passionate about her work. Her belief in the power of EMDR is inspiring, and she brings such a grounded, intuitive presence to the training space.“
“Sophia is not only a fountain of clinical wisdom, but also beautifully attuned to her students. I feel truly honored to have learned from her. Through her guidance, I’ve gained a solid foundation in EMDR and trust in my ability to continue developing and mastering this powerful psychotherapeutic approach.“
” What sets Sophia apart is the unique flow and depth she brings to EMDR. She made me fall in love with this modality. I’m now genuinely looking forward to the next steps: consultation, advanced modules, and integrating this work even more fully into my clinical practice.“
“There was a natural ease to the training that allowed any questions or insecurities I might have had to completely dissolve. I felt fully focused and engaged throughout, deeply present with everything Sophia was presenting and sharing with me and my colleagues. Her personal and warm touch to the entire training was truly inspiring.“
“I had a wonderful experience, one that felt like so much more than just a learning process. I genuinely feel that I received far more than I expected. This wasn’t only a training, it was a remarkable and enriching experience that I can now carry with me, integrate deeply, and offer to those who may benefit from EMDR in their own healing journeys. I would not change anything about how the training was presented – Haola- All is Well! With honour and gratitude”
” Taking this EMDR course was a truly transformative experience for me. From start to finish, I felt supported, challenged, and most of all inspired. I came in hoping to deepen my understanding of EMDR, and I left with not only a wealth of practical tools and techniques, but also a profound sense of clarity and confidence in applying them.“
“ I appreciated the intensive, retreat format for EMDR learning, and feel that I gained more from this format than I would have from weekends spread out. This intensive allowed us to professionally collaborate and embody the vulnerability, openness, and presence that was invited by Sophia at every moment. Resonant for me, also, was the enlivening of the EMDR scientific content with the heart and soul of the approach, the AIP system, and the underlying philosophy. Sophia was clear on the EMDR standard protocol, though brought this to life with a comforting, spiritual or interconnective perspective and presence. This allowed me to attune to my own sense of trust, and brought the content into view with a deeper understanding or knowing. I feel hopeful and grounded, while also thrilled to be able to facilitate client’s own intrinsic healing through this modality. Someone mentioned at one point during the retreat, that EMDR feels like a homecoming. I thought, yes, that is it. And I know I wouldn’t have gotten that in the same way without Sophia being her brilliant, compassionate, intelligent self. I’m deeply grateful for the experience, feel inspired and even renewed professionally.”
“Sophia, I would like to thank you for the warmth, care, and energy you brought to the training experience. Your kindness, attunement, and welcoming presence created a supportive learning environment. I particularly appreciated the grounding exercises, movement, and collective dancing that were incorporated throughout the intensive. These moments helped regulate energy, build connection within the group, and embodied many of the principles we were learning. I also appreciated your ability to present complex material in a way that felt approachable and easier to digest. Your clinical experience and passion for EMDR were evident throughout the training, and it was clear how much you genuinely cared about the participants and their experience. Thank you, thank you thank you from the bottom, top, and middle of my heart!”
“What stood out most to me was how the course balanced theory, practice, and personal growth. There were plenty of opportunities to engage actively with the material, ask questions, and reflect on how EMDR can be integrated into our own therapeutic style. I left every day feeling more grounded and more connected to why I do this work. For me, this wasn’t just a training, it was a life-changing experience. I feel more prepared, more present, and more aligned with my purpose as a clinician. I can’t recommend this course highly enough to anyone who’s ready to deepen their skills and grow both professionally and personally.”
“Sophia, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the energy, warmth, and presence you brought to this course. Your passion for this work is contagious, and your ability to hold space so authentically was a gift in itself. You’ve not only helped me grow as a clinician, but also as a human being. I’m deeply grateful for everything you shared and for the way you lead—with heart, integrity, and so much grace. To cross paths with someone like you in my lifetime is such a blessing. Thank you”
“The quality of this EMDR basic training exceeded my expectations. Sophia did an excellent job equipping participants with the tools and knowledge necessary to feel confident and competent in implementing EMDR in clinical practice. One of the greatest strengths of the training was how she infused her personal style and energy into the delivery of complex material, making it more engaging and accessible.“
“The EMDR basic training with Sophia was an enriching and immersive experience. I did not only learn the basic EMDR protocol by heart, but I also learned to be more of the human that I am. And the more I connected to my essence through experiencing EMDR myself for the first time in my life, the more I could embody it in practicum and in my life, starting to integrate it in my work as a therapist and future EMDR therapist. I liked Sophia’s focus on the therapist’s attitude and state of mind and connection to the client, because in working in trauma, being a stable container is one of the most important things, especially in EMDR. The curriculum was rich, and Sophia did a good job at adapting to our needs and requests in presenting the material and organising the training schedule. She took time to answer my questions and I was able to gain clarity on the aspects I needed to. “
“I am walking out of this intensive training retreat filled with new purpose and knowledge about EMDR. I feel excited for the opportunity to bring this new method of treatment to my clients, especially after witnessing and experiencing for myself the incredible effects. Learning to access the AIP and our system’s natural ability to heal has been extremely helpful and inspiring. I am amazed by the way bilateral stimulation allows access to parts of the brain, body, and soul otherwise undiscovered. I am also leaving with a greater sense of trust in myself and my ability to do the work, even when different or challenging.” J.F.
“I’ve never met a human being like Sophia. It’s difficult to describe her in words, but I’ll try: She is a stream of shining light who simply radiates joy, pureness, love, and positivity. It’s perfectly clear how passionate she is about not only EMDR itself, but the actual training itself. I truly felt love radiating from Sophia. To summarize my EMDR training: impactful, informative, thorough, and life changing.”
“Coming into this training, I expected to learn EMDR, but I am leaving with so much more than clinical knowledge. Your wisdom, authenticity, kindness, and passion have made a lasting impact on me. Sophia, your energy, humour, and genuine love for this work made every day engaging and inspiring. I will always remember these six days with gratitude. Because of your teaching, I leave feeling more confident in my abilities and excited for the therapist I am becoming. You have reminded me that healing happens through presence, patience, and human connection, and those lessons will stay with me throughout my career. Thank you for changing my life in ways you may never fully realize.”
“ I am walking out of this intensive training retreat filled with new purpose and knowledge about EMDR. I feel excited for the opportunity to bring this new method of treatment to my clients, especially after witnessing and experiencing for myself the incredible effects. Learning to access the AIP and our system’s natural ability to heal has been extremely helpful and inspiring. I am amazed by the way bilateral stimulation allows access to parts of the brain, body, and soul otherwise undiscovered.“
“Sophia, your soft and kind demeanor created such a safe space for learning. Coming into this retreat, my knowledge of EMDR was limited, but witnessing the process and stepping into the role of the client myself has been transformative. When you spoke about the importance of ‘being free,‘ it deeply resonated with me. Thank you for your patience and for the gentle way you guide others. Your expertise is evident, but it is your warmth and your ability to empower your students to let go and trust yourself, that I find truly inspiring. I am leaving this experience not just with better skills, but with a clearer sense of the kind of presence I want to bring to my own work as a future psychotherapist and for my personal growth.”
“Sophia does an excellent job holding space for her trainees and her continual calm compassion allowed me to expand even more than usual. I felt supported to make mistakes, to trust the process, and to roll with the punches. It was also such a perfect setting in nature to help us unwind and reset when needed. I would 100% recommend this training to other professionals, with the caveat that you must be willing to do a lot of work and growth yourself in the process. One should not attend expecting to stay neutral and unaffected, especially when participating in practicum and experiencing EMDR themselves.”
“This EMDR training retreat has been a one-of-a-kind experience that I’ll never forget. It’s been healing for me personally and literally life-changing to have had the opportunity to reprocess and desensitize negative and harmful beliefs I’ve had about myself. It’s freeing. I cannot wait to work with others on their trauma. Being able to sit with a human / client while they experience a whirlwind of processing and desensitization; and come to an ultimate understanding of their Truths. I feel this sense of humility, humbleness, and honor to be able to be a sort of “conduit” for others healing in real-time.”
“Sophia, Thank you so much for the experience. I will be forever thankful to you and your attitude. I can’t say enough about how much I appreciate your energy and I am almost speechless. This training surpassed my expectations and I will never forget it! Please continue to be exactly who you are; the world needs it now more than ever!“
“Sophia, I cannot thank you enough for your presence, joy, and visceral unconditional regard in this training. Not only did you enliven the material, but you brought healing and freedom to me, especially through connection with Source, and the reminders that Truth never lies and always feels free. As I already shared, I have *never* really danced in my life, and you created the space where that was possible. I feel completely aligned with how you’ve taught us EMDR; it is exactly who I am as a therapist and being. On a soul level, this was transformative to me, and I will take: “I am finding my voice, I am aligning, I am in birth, I am in life, I am in death, and My heart is a threshold” with me through the rest of my life.“
“Sophia, You offered so much – of yourself, of your experiences, of your culinary talents, of your heart – vulnerably, openly, compassionately, spiritually, and with such resonant, resonant love. I am so deeply honoured and appreciative of this time to stand in the waters of a knowing river, all together, rain on our faces, love in our hearts, and divine presence flowing through and around us. You made this happen for us and I am eternally grateful that you did. It has been a re-awakening, and one my soul knew I needed, but that I wasn’t fully expecting here. It is difficult to feel safe and to trust, and you created a community, a microcosm of safety and love that allowed the unfolding to happen. Truly. Completely. Thank you. Thank you for reinforcing the learning again and again inviting us to return to source knowing. Thank you for the joy and playfulness. Thank you for the invitation to surrender. With palms at heart centre, may all blessings return to you. So may it be.”