Becoming an AEDP® Certified Therapist

Part lI. Guidelines for Selection of Clinical Video Recordings

Submitting two examples of clinical work from two different patients demonstrating the integration of AEDP theory with your clinical practice is a pivotal requirement in the AEDP certification process. For therapists who operate in agency settings or other environments where video recording is prohibited, please reach out to Carolyn at carolyn.f@aedpinstitute.org for further guidance.

Two Clinical Video Recordings from two different clients -Each submission should:

1. Showcase your proficiency in applying clinical skills using AEDP interventions. These should be your best videos!
2. Range from 25 to 40 minutes in length with no more than 2 edits.
3. Illustrate the therapist guiding the client through all four states of the AEDP transformational process.
   
   • The first clinical sample should depict work with a new patient and should be drawn from an early session (sessions 1 to 4) and there should be movement from state 1 to state 2
   • The second clinical sample should demonstrate work from either the middle or concluding phase of an AEDP treatment with a different patient and show movement from state 3 to state 4.

When clinical session videos are conducted in a language other than English, ensure that subtitles and transcripts are provided in English. Timestamps must be included on the transcripts and align exactly with video content. This facilitates reviewers in following the transcript while watching the tapes.

Please remember: To safeguard yourself and your clients, be sure that you have written consent for sharing all videos with supervisors.

Part III. Guidelines and Format for Microanalysis

As part of your AEDP Certification, you will include microanalyses of the two clinical session video recordings you submit. The purpose of microanalysis is twofold: to give reviewers a clear understanding of the theoretical basis for your intervention strategies and to provide you with a valuable learning experience that enhances your self-reflection and clinical insight. This process is designed to enhance both your clinical practice and your understanding of AEDP theory.

Your Microanalysis should include:

1. Case Introduction: Start each case with a brief overview (one to two paragraphs) outlining the client’s psychosocial history, along with relevant early clinical observations and assessments. This introduction will help orient reviewers to the client and the treatment progress made thus far. Be as detailed as possible.
2. Microanalysis Annotations: Along with your video recordings, provide annotations explaining how you apply AEDP theory to your interventions. You may include a narrative that describes your thought process as you integrate theory with practice during the session.
3. Self-Supervision: Your annotations should demonstrate self-supervision skills, including self-awareness, self-regulation, and reflections on any interventions you wish you had made or adjusted in hindsight. For example, mention any interventions you now believe might have been more effective or a better path to follow.

Format of the microanalysis can be done in one of two ways:

Format 1): Therapist and patient verbal communications are in regular print. Non-verbal communication/body language is in italics and in parenthesis. Therapist comments on the process, the theory, the interventions are [in bold in brackets.] Below is an example:

04:10 Th: If instead of doing the “so what” with a joke, or “that’s life,” [urging patient to relinquish defense]

Pt: Uh huh

04:21 Th: If you let yourself stay with this feeling (slowing down, sobering ), the sense of emptiness, this inner sense of (deep sigh, grave tone of voice )… having to work so hard to keep something away. [affective resonance]

Pt: Yeah… (also slowing down and sobering ) it’s tiring. [deepening experience]

04:33 Th: It’s very exhausting (amplified exhausted intonation )… Mmmmmm…. [amplifying affective experience] I mean right now it seems to me like we’re sort of approaching this from the outside because it’s a scary place to be [empathic identification of fear].

Pt: Yeah, it is…mmm… I don’t know… Sometimes I wonder, is this it? Is this what life is about? It feels empty… (pained tone ) [deepening of despair]

Or…….

See example below (you may want to look at the transcripts in the AEDP 2.0examples):
Format 2): Use a grid in which you put the content on the left side and the commentary about the interventions, theory and process on the right side.

Part IV. Review Process

The review process begins once your Certification Supervisor sends their letter of recommendation to Carolyn Fitzgerald at Carolyn.f@aedpinstitute.org. This letter should include:

• Verification from your Certification Supervisor that they believe your certification package is complete, adheres to the guidelines, and that you are ready for submission and deserving of certification based on the materials provided.
• Information about your clinical journey and the developmental progress of both you and your clients, including observations such as how a client demonstrated significant emotional growth even without overt emotional expressions.

Upon receiving the recommendation letter, Carolyn will provide you with a link to a HIPAA-compliant AEDP Dropbox folder for uploading all materials in your certification package. Two reviewers will be assigned, typically consisting of one faculty member and one certified supervisor. The review process will then begin, with an expected duration of up to 10 weeks.

Please note that there is a $300 certification fee, and an invoice will be sent once your reviewers are confirmed. For questions regarding scholarship availability, please contact Carolyn.