EMDR Therapy for Neurodivergent Minds: A Focus on OCD and Autism – InPerson
March 6-7, 2026
InPerson location: Olivette, Missouri
Two types of neurodiversity will be investigated in this two day training. Part I will focus on OCD. Clinicians will learn about how OCD develops, how to combine EMDR and, when needed, ego state maneuvers with Exposure and Response Prevention.
Part II will focus on supporting those on the autism spectrum, especially level 1, with EMDR and other strategies. Participants will learn about autism beyond the DSM-V to include how autism is experienced by autistics. The workshop will also review changes needed in each EMDR phase for safe and effective processing.
Presenter Bio:
Sandra Paulsen, Ph.D. 2025
Sandra Paulsen, Ph.D., is an international instructor, author and illustrator on using EMDR with complex trauma including structural and somatic dissociation and trauma held in implicit memory.
Her books include the coedited Neurobiology and Treatment of Traumatic Dissociation: Toward an Embodied Self with Ulrich Lanius and Frank Corrigan, The Beauty and Burden of Autism: An Illustrated Guide and Workbook, Looking Through the Eyes of Trauma: An Illustrated Guide for EMDR Therapists and Clients, When There Are No Words: EMDR for Very Early Trauma in Implicit Memory, Indigenous Trauma and Dissociation: Healers, Psychotherapies and the Drum, with Shelley Spear Chief, We’re Listening Body: Integrating EMDR, Somatic and Ego State Therapies with Derrick Doige, and All the Colors of Me: My First Book on Dissociation with Ana Gomez.
Sandra is a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation.
She developed the first protocol for the use of EMDR with highly dissociative individuals, publishing cautions about EMDR with dissociation, and for first urging the screening of every client for dissociation before administering EMDR. She has trained thousands of mental health professionals in these special procedures since 1993. Sandra has numerous online workshops available through the Steve Frankel Group at sfrankelgroup.com. For additional information see Sandra’s vitae at paulsenpsychology.com. She lives in a log house in the forest on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Washington, USA where she does intensive treatment in the three-day format.
Timeline:
Day 1
8am-8:30am Registration
8:30am to 10am: Topic: OCD Cycle
10am-10:15am break
10:15am to 11:45am: Topic: Types of OCD and Assessing OCD Phase 1
11:45am to 1pm Lunch
1pm to 3:15pm Topic: Exposure and Response Prevention
3:15pm to 3:30pm Break
3:30pm to 5pm Topic: EMDR, ERP and Ego States
Day 2
8:30am to 10am Topic: Neurodiverse and Beautiful, the brain
10am to 10:15am break
10:15am to 12pm Topic: Through the eyes of Autism and Trauma Types
12pm to 1pm lunch
1pm to 3:30pm Topic: EMDR Phases 1-8
Learning Objectives:
- Define DSM-III criteria for autism
- Define autism as it is experienced phenomenologically by autistic individuals
- Discuss four features of autistic nervous systems
- List four common types of trauma experienced by autistic individuals
- Define eight common terms associated with autism such as monotropism, alexithymia, demand avoidance, and more
- Define modifications often needed for each EMDR Phase with autistic individuals
- Describe six types of OCD variants
- Describe the cycle of anxiety increase through obsessional thinking and decrease through compulsive responses
- Identify an assessment process for obsessions and compulsions
- Design an intervention of exposure to obsessional thoughts and response prevention for compulsive behaviors
- Describe how to integrate exposure and ritual prevention within the eight phases of EMDR
- Identify traumatized ego states as the locus of obsessions and compulsions
This course content is based on a publication that has been peer-reviewed, the scientific standard for evaluating academic work. All studies and scientifically derived evidence have limitations that should be considered. If you have any questions about the accuracy or limitations of the content, please contact us at
support@ce-classes.com and we will get back to you.
This Ce-Classes.com course is approved for CE credit by:
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- California Board of Behavioral Sciences. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences, BBS, recognizes relevant course work/training that has been approved by nationally recognized certifying bodies, such as APA, to satisfy renewal requirements.
- California Board of Registered Nursing. CEP 15647 Expires 11/30/2026.
- California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP) Provider Number 231
- California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) Provider Number OS-12-174-0627 Expires 6-2027
- Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling Provider #852 BAP-Expires 3/31/2027
- Florida Board of Nursing (CE Provider #: 50-4896) Expires 10/31/2028 Do not send certificates to the Florida Board of Nursing. You must keep this certificate for 4 years.
- Illinois – CE-Classes.com is a registered social work CE sponsor by the State of Illinois. License 159.001607 Expires 11/30/2027
- Massachusetts Authorization Number: 3501%2Femdr-therapy-for-neurodivergent-minds-a-focus-on-ocd-and-autism-inperson
- New York Mental Health Practitioners Board CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Departments State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0260.
- New York Psychology Board CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Departments State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0211
- New York Social Work Board – Ce-Classes.com 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-0120.
- Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board – Approval from a state licensing board for counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists is accepted by the OH CSWMFTB.
- Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (LPCs, LMFTs and LBCs)
- South Carolina – CE-Classes.com is approved by the S.C. Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapist, Addiction Counselors, and Psycho-Educational Specialists (#4696).
- Texas Board of Marriage & Family Therapists CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
- Texas Board of Professional Counselors – CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
- Texas Board of Social Work Examiners – CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
- This course does not offer ASWB ACE credit to social workers. However our state board approvals may be accepted for license renewal. Check with your state board.
- This course is NOT available for NBCC credit.
