EMDR STEPPING STONES: Training

“EMDR is only as effective as the hand delivering it” - Dr Francine Shapiro

EMDR Masterclass: Strategies to increase stabilisation for complex clients

Presented by Naomi Iliffe and Fiona Mawson - EMDRAA & EMDRIA Accredited Consultants
Join Naomi and Fiona over three days of focussed learning and practice to safely and supportively assist complex and dissociative clients in reprocessing memories. Deepen your knowledge and skills to support complex and dissociative clients with a focus on 'parts work' and polyvagal interventions, so that you can interweave these Phase 2 strategies into Phases 4-7.

Thursday June 4th 2026 to Saturday June 6th 2026 Location: Wonderkind & Co., 245 Parkinson St., Newtown (Geelong)
For any further Information contact fiona@emdrconsulting.com.au or Register Here

Event Details

  • In the first day and a half, you will learn how to:
  • • Review the definition of dissociation and treatment implications
  • • Conceptualise parts of self and how to introduce parts language to clients
  • • Describe and apply the Theory of Structural Dissociation
  • o ANP, EP, action systems (approach/avoid), action tendencies (fight/flight, freeze, submit, attach), realisation & synthesis
  • • Use six strategies to work directly with phobias and parts of the self for trauma work
  • • Use Fraser’s Dissociative Table and how it is useful for working with a client’s parts of self
  • • Find solutions that arise from barriers and avoidance when working with parts of the self
  • • Observe through video how phobias and parts of self can be respected and resolved in trauma work

  • You will learn how to work with emotional parts to ensure they are oriented to time, safe, and able to work collaboratively to begin memory reprocessing.

  • In the following day and a half, we will teach you the fundamentals of Polyvagal Theory and specific Polyvagal strategies to help your complex clients. This part of the training will draw on the work of Stephen Porges, Deb Dana and Peter Levine. You will learn:
  • • The foundations of Polyvagal Theory (Ventral Vagal State, Sympathetic State, Dorsal Vagal State) • The role of Neuroception (safety cues, threat cues)
  • • Practical application including exercises to teach clients self-regulation and to understand their autonomic state

  • Walk away with a structured workbook to support your clients so that you will be able to guide them through strategies for distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and safety in expressing/experiencing emotions. You will walk away with increased skills to interweave phase 2 stabilisation and resourcing strategies into the standard protocol to help your complex and dissociative clients stay present, regulated, safe, and within their Window of Tolerance, so they can maintain dual attention to reprocess trauma content successfully.

  • This work draws on some of the work of Joany Spierings, Carol Forgash, Phil Manfield, Jim Knipe, Onno Van der Hart, Janine Fisher, Ellert Nijenhuis, Kathy Steele, Suzette Goon, Robin Shapiro, Roger Solomon and of course, Francine Shapiro, coupled with over thirty years of combined experience that Naomi and Fiona bring to their training.

  • Please note that you will need to have completed your EMDR Basic Training to attend this Masterclass. You will also be working in pairs to practice Fraser's Table. In registering for this training, you also agree to seek your own therapeutic support if the 'parts work' of this training opens up specific areas or issues for you.
Please Note: A minimum number of participants is required for the training to proceed. If you have registered for training, please do not make any travel arrangements or bookings until you receive final confirmation from EMDR Stepping Stones that the training will proceed. If you choose to make any travel or accommodation arrangements, and the training does not proceed, EMDR Stepping Stones is not liable for any losses you may have incurred. To see further information on our Cancellation Policy go HERE
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About Fiona

Fiona Mawson is an EMDRAA accredited Consultant. She is a trainee-trainer and completed her EMDR basic training in 2015 progressing to advanced training with Dr. Roger Solomon in 2015. Fiona has developed an EMDR focused practice in Healesville and Chelsea Heights, Victoria. Fiona has developed skills integrating EMDR with ego state therapy to work with complex clients such as returned veterans, clients with dissociative disorders and clients with complex childhood trauma.

About Naomi

Naomi ILIFFE is an EMDRAA accredited Consultant and member of the EMDRAA Standards and Assessment Committee. Naomi is also a faculty member and training Facilitator with Shapiro’s EMDR Institute. Completing her EMDR training in 2015, Naomi has progressed to advanced training with Dr Roger Solomon, participating in 4 Masterclass and 2 Intensive trainings, developing advanced EMDR Therapy skills in working with a range of presenting issues and complex dissociative disorders. Naomi has established her own psychology practice in Hornsby, NSW and utilises EMDR Therapy in her work with Children, Adolescents and Adults. Naomi has had extensive experience working in the Non-Government sector in trauma, child development, early childhood, child protection, and out of home care, as clinician, manager and the provision of training and consultation.

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Clinic Hours
Face to Face or Virtual appointmentsMonday 9-5Tuesday 9-5Wednesday 9-5
Clinic Location
Benchmark Corporate Centre35, 93 Wells RoadChelsea Heights, VIC 3196
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