EMDR Therapist (EYE-D Trial)

University Of Bristol; West of England; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Part time

Job summary

The University of Bristol invites an experienced EMDR therapist to join the EYE-D trial as a DeprEnd protocol practitioner. The role is 0.5FTE with training and supervision provided, and work will take place across GP surgeries and NHS sites within Bristol and surrounding regions.

Responsibilities include delivering EMDR for depression, following the DeprEnd protocol, and participating in trial procedures under expert supervision. Initial training occurs in the first two months.

Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience of delivering EMDR (including complex presentations).
• Accredited as EMDR Practitioner with EMDR Europe.
• Further postgraduate qualifications or training in relevant areas (clinical psychology, mental health practice or research design/analysis).

Responsibilities

• The post holders will work within a large multi-centre randomized trial funded by NIHR EME.
• Initial training will be provided during the first two months, including two training cases and trial protocols.
• Each patient will be offered a course of 12-18 sessions; sessions occur in GP surgeries, NHS premises or at the University.

Skills

EMDR training

EMDR experience

Caseload management

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

IT literacy

Flexibility

Travel to Bristol region

Education

Postgraduate psychology qualification

EMDR Accredited

Postgraduate training in relevant areas

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity for an experiencedEMDR therapist to join the research team working on a large multi-centrerandomised controlled trial (RCT) led from the University of Bristol. It isfunded by the NIHR Efficacy and Mechanisms Evaluation (EME) scheme.

The EYE-D trial aims to establish the efficacy of EMDR (inaddition to usual GP care) compared with usual care for patients withdepression in primary care. An embedded mechanistic study will aim to determinewhether reductions in depression are mediated by key memory-processingmechanisms and if working memory capacity is associated with treatmentresponse. A nested qualitative study will examinethe acceptability of EMDR fordepression, further explore mechanisms, and identify possible causes of differingresponses. We will also estimate the cost of delivering EMDR in the NHS.

The EMDRpractitioner will work using the EMDR for depression (DeprEnd) protocol.Training in this protocol and regular expert supervision will beprovided.

The EMDRpractitioner will be an EMDR-Europe accredited practitioner with coreprofessional training in a psychological therapy.

One part-time (0.5FTE) postis available, start date as soon as possible to 30 April 2028. Interviews are expected totake place in mid October 2026.

Main duties of the job

Thepost holders will primarily work within the contextof a large multi-centre randomised controlled trial (RCT), which is funded bythe NIHR Efficacy and Mechanisms Evaluation (EME) scheme. The EYE-D trial (EMDRfor depression) is led from the University of Bristol and is being run incollaboration with the University of Exeter and University College London.

The EMDR practitioners will work using the EMDR for depression(DeprEnd) protocol. Training in this protocol and regular expert supervisionwill be provided. Initial training will be provided during the first two monthsof employment, including two training cases, together with training in trialprotocols and procedures.

Each patient will be offered a course of 12-18 sessions. Allsessions will take place in-person at the patients GP surgery, other local NHSpremises or the University depending on room availability. Therapists will bereimbursed for expenses incurred in travelling to deliver therapy in line withUniversity policies.

About us

Bristol Medical School is the largest and one of the most diverse Schools in the University of Bristol,with approximately 1,100 members of staff, 1,350 undergraduate, 350 postgraduate taught and 300postgraduate doctoral research students. The Head of School is Professor Chrissie Thirlwell. TheSchool has two departments: Population Health Sciences and Translational Health Sciences. TheSchool is a leading centre for research and teaching across these areas. Research in the School iscollaborative and multi-disciplinary, with staff coming from a wide range of academic disciplines andclinical specialties.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description for a detailedbreakdown of the role, such as main job purpose, standard responsibilities, pre-employmentchecks, and person specification.

Person Specification

Other skills

• Ability to manage a caseload, keep records methodically and to negotiate with each client the appropriate length of therapy (with input from supervisor)
• An understanding of clinical governance and evidence based practices
• Evidence of sustained continuing professional development and practice in EMDR
• Highly developed interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to communicate sensitive information in highly emotional circumstances to patients, carers and colleagues.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• IT literate and proficient
• Ability and willingness to work flexibly according to the requirements of the role
• Able to travel independently of the public transport system around Bristol and nearby regions (including Somerset, BANES and Gloucestershire) as required for successful delivery of the trial.
• Ability and willingness to offer therapy outside standard office hours (e.g. early evening 5-8pm)

Experience

• Knowledge and experience of delivering EMDR (including complex presentations)
• Full range of skills and competences as laid out in the competence framework for EMDR (Roth, Pilling & Dudley, 2020)
• Highly specialized clinical skills in the assessment and treatment of people with trauma-related presentations
• Substantial experience of working with people with mental health problems, particularly mood and/or anxiety/stress-related disorders
• Experience of working in primary care
• Experience of working in a research setting
• Experience of delivering EMDR for mood disorders

Qualifications

• Core professional training in a psychological therapy e.g. a postgraduate degree/clinical qualification e.g. DClinPsych or equivalent or alternative professional qualification in CBT or other NHS compliant psychological therapy (interpersonal therapy (IPT); dynamic interpersonal therapy (DIT) or counselling) and experience of delivering therapy
• Accredited as EMDR Practitioner with EMDR Europe
• Further postgraduate qualifications (e.g. clinically relevant PhD) or training in relevant areas e.g. professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design/analysis)