EMDR Fidelity Rating Scale

The EMDR Fidelity Rating Scale (EFRS) is a 5-part application that evaluates adherence to EMDR therapy’s standard eight-phase treatment approach and three-pronged protocol (Shapiro, 2001, 2018). Originally developed for use in a study by van der Kolk et al. (2007), the Scale has been revised and expanded over the years after receiving feedback from researchers and raters who had used the scale.

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The current version (Version 2.1: 2023/01/12) was completed by Deborah L. Korn, Psy.D., Louise Maxfield, Ph.D., Robert Stickgold, Ph.D., and Nancy J. Smyth, Ph.D., and integrates continued feedback from clinicians, raters, and researchers.

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Introduction to Version 2.1

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The EFRS consists of 5 parts and the Scoring Form, Clinician Forms, and Workbooks should not be used without reading the Manual or, at least, the relevant sections of the Manual. The Manual is designed both to provide basic instructions for the use and scoring of the EFRS and to answer most questions that clinicians, raters and researchers might have about incorporating the EFRS into consultative and research settings.

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The five parts are described briefly, below. To obtain the EFRS, click on the zip file at the end of this page. Please be aware that the Workbooks use Microsoft Excel, and you must have that app to be able to them.

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Part One: EFRS Scoring Form (with five subscales)

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This form is used to score the (1) Introductory, (2) Resource Development and Installation (RDI), (3) Adverse Life Experiences (ALE), (4) Future Template (FT), and (5) Three-Pronged Protocol (TPP) subscales.

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Part Two: EFRS Manual

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This 53-page manual includes an overview of the EFRS, with descriptions of the subscales, relevant scoring and fidelity criteria, as well as instructions for researchers, clinicians, and raters. Citations to related literature are also included. Version 2.1 (January 2023) includes several corrections of typographical errors.

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Part Three: EFRS Clinician Forms

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This includes two forms completed by the clinician: (1) the Single Session Summary (SSS) Form and (2) the Treatment Plan Tracking (TPT) Form.

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Part Four: EFRS Blank Workbook 

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This is an Excel workbook that contains worksheets for up to ten sessions and an embedded calculator that automatically calculates (1) scores for each session, (2) a therapist’s overall fidelity, and (3) the overall fidelity of a research study.

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Part Five: EFRS Sample Workbook 

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This is a copy of the Blank EFRS Workbook with several sample spreadsheets showing how the EFRS Scoring Workbook is used.

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For questions or feedback, please contact the authors at: info@emdrresearchfoundation.org

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If you download (or plan to download) the EMDR Fidelity Rating Scale v2.1, please complete the EMDR Fidelity Rating Scale User Registration Form so that we can send you updates, information, and opportunities.​​  Get registration form here. We need to link to Registration Form and I don't know where that is.

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EMDR Fidelity Rating Scale (EFRS) Version 2.1 by Deborah L. Korn, Louise Maxfield, Robert Stickgold, Nancy J. Smyth is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Based on a work 

Korn, D. L., Maxfield, L., Stickgold, R., & Smyth, N. J. (2018). EMDR Fidelity Rating Scale (EFRS), Version 2.