The EMDR Practitioner special reports: Report from the Crete Retreat
By our special correspondent: Frances Yoeli

Finally, I am able to sit down and tell you a bit about the wonderful learning experience at the Crete seminar.

I will not go into details of the lessons as you all will have the opportunity to attend similar seminars - of course, not in such a beautiful location as Crete.

The seminar had 25 eager students from several different countries - US, Israel, Holland, Germany, Switzerland and Italy - hopefully I didn't forget anyone else. In fact I am still working on sorting papers out; a wonderful group of highly enthusiastic and devoted professionals.

Each day for 3 hours we were inspired - first, by an update, and description of new happenings, how EMDR is functioning and developing and how each and every one of us can contribute to making EMDR better and better..... so much enthusiasm, balanced with calm and composure, empathy and compassion and modesty. 'Marvelous' is the only word I can come up with, (other than: inspiring, encouraging and delightful)..... Thankyou, Francine.

We then divided up into three separate groups - one on eating disorders with Carol York - presented with such depth and clarity, caring and love..... thankyou Carol for your enthusiasm and direction. We were an intimate group of people working towards the fine tuned use of EMDR with eating disordered individuals.

Debbie Korn presented on sexual abuse and neglect, and "Sam" foster on performance anxiety. I could not be in three places at one time - and the enthusiasm of the participants was such that that's what should have been.....ubiquity! Someday perhaps we will all know to be in three places at once and still absorb and integrate all the information...dissociation is the thing! Actually I don't mean to be flippant. I am speaking from that spot in my heart that is bubbling with enthusiasm - reconsidering the errors with clients of years gone back as a result of lack of "just that perfect" theoretical base of understanding.....I could go on raving...and probably ranting too - but time for me to simply say - thankyou all. We have a wonderful method, a wonderful group of professionals - all of us.. devoted to healing and caring.

Fran from Israel