🌟 Therapist Certification Pathway
Certification is best understood as a developmental process, not a single evaluation point.
1. Learning the Model
Through core courses (Immersion, Essential Skills, Advanced Skills, Supervision, and others), therapists build a strong foundation in:
- AEDP theory
- Clinical maps
- Core interventions
2. Practicing with Support
Ongoing supervision is essential and is s where the model comes alive. This is where clinicians: This is where clinicians:
- Translate theory into practice
- Develop moment-to-moment clinical tracking and responsiveness
- Deepen attunement — to the client, and to themselves as a therapeutic
instrument - Receive the same quality of presence and co-regulation they are learning to offer
their own clients
3. Demonstrating Competence
Certification involves demonstrating—through recorded sessions and written work—the ability to:
- Remain emotionally present and regulated
- Facilitate core affect and transformational shifts
- Apply interventions with flexibility and attunement
- Repair ruptures and deepen the therapeutic process
At its core, certification is not about completing requirements.
It is about demonstrating integration, presence, and the capacity to foster meaningful transformation in clinical work.
✅ Certification-Ready (After Level 3)
Once you have reached Level 3, you are considered certification-ready. Click here to verify your AEDP level
🔹 Next Step: Choose a Certification Supervisor
You must complete:
- At least 10 additional hours of individual supervision with a certification supervisor to prepare your certification package
The 10-hour minimum is a floor, not a finish line. Your certification supervisor will help you determine when you are genuinely ready — and readiness is about integration and presence, not hours logged.
🔹 Two Supervisor Requirement
You must have worked with 2 different supervisors. This reflects AEDP’s relational values — your development is enriched by more than one professional perspective, and your certification package should reflect that breadth of supervisory experience
- If you have only worked with one supervisor to achieve level 3, your certification supervisor must be someone new.
📝 Certification Application
- Complete the application with your certification supervisor
- Your supervisor must verify and sign the application
Eligible Certification Supervisors: Faculty Members and Certified Supervisors.
Note: Supervisors in Training are not eligible for this role.
📤 Submitting Your Certification Package
Once your materials are ready:
- Your certification supervisor submits a letter of recommendation to Carolyn, the
certification coordinator - Carolyn will create a Dropbox upload link and share it with you for submission
File Guidelines:
- Label all files clearly so reviewers can match client descriptions, transcripts, and video
- Confirm that video and transcript timestamps align precisely
- Verify that all videos meet required guidelines; if any portions fall outside them, mark the start and stop times clearly
🔍 The Review Process
After Carolyn confirms your reviewers and sends the fee invoice ($300):
- Two certified reviewers independently review your materials
- Reviewers evaluate your work against AEDP certification criteria
- You will be notified of the outcome by your Supervisor within approximately 8-10 weeks
- If additional work is needed, your certification supervisor will guide next steps
Next: Become an AEDP Certified Supervisor- Click here for all details