APD providing trauma counselor training

The Austin Police Department is seeking to partner with licensed mental health professionals to offer them additional training in counseling trauma victims. The department is allotting $50,000 to provide training in EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, which has been shown to help survivors of traumatic events and those suffering from PTSD. Selected counselors will receive two weekends of EMDR training free of charge in exchange for providing 50 pro bono counseling sessions for survivors referred by APD Victim Services. The announcement specifies that “APD is specifically looking for mental health counselors that are interested in a partnership to better serve the larger Austin area community. Counselors who have experience working with a variety of clients and communities are encouraged to apply for this training program.” The deadline to apply is April 25. Find more details about eligibility and the application process here.