Bonnie Mikelson

Bonnie Mikelson, LISW, is an experienced therapist, consultant and trainer specializing in trauma and EMDR therapy. She began Pt. 1 EMDR Basic in 1998, completing Pt. 2 EMDR Basic in 2001. As the changes in clients demonstrated the power of EMDR therapy, Bonnie became an EMDR consultant in 2009. She first facilitated EMDR Basic training as a volunteer facilitator for the Trauma Recovery Network (EMDR HAP). During Bonnie’s time volunteering for this organization in training non-profits in EMDR therapy, Roy Kiessling, LISW, Director, EMDR Consulting, recommended her to become a Basic trainer for the organization. As the highlight of her career, Bonnie was privileged to as spend two weekends with Francine Shapiro, Ph.D. founder of EMDR therapy, and other trainer candidates in 2012, one of the last trainer groups to be directly trained by Dr. Shapiro. In 2014, Roy Kiessling invited Bonnie to train for his new Basic training organization, EMDR Consulting, where she trained hundreds of clinicians in the midwest until her retirement as a trainer/consultant in 2019. Prior to retiring, Bonnie trained three other EMDR Basic Trainers (Amy Terrell, LMHC; Kenya Rocha, LMHC and Dr. Linda Russell) to further EMDR training offered in Iowa and other states. As a trainer, as well as a trainer-of-trainers, Bonnie brings her expertise in training and presenting from over 30 years of training and consulting for the University of Iowa’s School of Social Work National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice, ending her work as Senior Trainer and Associate Training Director in 2014. Bonnie delights in encouraging others as trainer/presenters and has nurtured more than one EMDR specialty trainer in offering their expertise to the EMDR community. In 2015, Bonne and Amy Terrell, LMHC, founded EMDR and Beyond, LLC, an organization offering therapy, education, consultant and training to survivors of adverse experiences and those who assist them in their recovery. Though retired as Director, Bonnie continues her work with EMDR and Beyond through managing finances, creative planning for EMDR specialty training and events, and nurturing team members who desire to become EMDR specialty trainers by integrating their specialties with EMDR therapy.As co-owner, Bonnie remains committed to working with Amy Terrell, co owner and current Director, in leading and growing the EMDR healing community.