APD offering specialty counselor trainings to aid trauma victims

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department is looking for nonprofit and private sector mental health counselors to assist in counseling services for trauma victims, the department said in a release Monday.

APD has $50,000 dedicated to the project. It calls for trainings with selected counselors in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, per the release. Selected counselors can undergo the trainings in exchange for "50 pro bono counseling sessions for survivors of trauma as referred by APD," the release added. Those sessions must be completed within the next three years.

Once a counselor completes the required training, APD's Victim Services staff will refer their clients to that select group of counselors. The EMDR therapy centers on possible "disturbing emotions and symptoms" that can extend from traumatic experiences, and is designed to help promote natural healing processes.

Outside of this program, fees for EMDR therapy training can range between $2,000 and $4,000, the release said. Participants in the program will be required to purchase their own training textbooks, with all other costs covered.

The EDMR trainings cover two weekends' worth of work and several consultation sessions following both training weekends. Participation in all included trainings is required. Chosen counselors will also have lifelong access to EMDR trainers and consultation staff for future services.

The deadline to apply for the program is May 3 at 5 p.m. Additional details, including applicant requirements, are available online.