2025 HAP® Conference: A Celebration of Learning, Connection, and Purpose
The 2025 HAP® Conference held August 14–16 in Denver, CO, brought nearly 200 EMDR clinicians and community partners together for three unforgettable days. With Trauma Recovery/HAP celebrating its 30th anniversary, this year’s theme 30 Years of Trauma Recovery: Empowering the Future of EMDR set the stage for a gathering that honored our past, celebrated our present, and charted a hopeful course for the future.
What made this year’s conference stand out was not only the excellence of the educational sessions, but also the unmistakable sense of community that formed among attendees. The event was as much about connection and shared purpose as it was about knowledge.
Highlights from the Keynotes
We began on a high note with The Four Avengers a keynote panel on EMDR early interventions featuring Dr. Ignacio Jarero, Dr. Philip Manfield, Dr. Gary Quinn, and Elan Shapiro, moderated by Regina Morrow Robinson. Dubbed the “Four Avengers” by Reg herself, the panel explored cutting-edge EMDR early intervention protocols, their applications, and the challenges of implementation. Attendees described the session as “moving,” “impactful,” and “an absolute pleasure to learn from giants in the EMDR world.”
Day two continued the momentum with Professor Derek Farrell MBE’s keynote, Scaling Trauma Therapy: The Promise and Challenges of Low-Intensity EMDR and Task-Shifting in Global Mental Health. His candid exploration of the opportunities and obstacles in expanding EMDR access pushed the audience to think critically about how research, teamwork, and innovation can extend trauma healing beyond traditional circles.
Sessions, Posters, and Book Signings
Over the three days, participants engaged in innovative and research-backed presentations on topics ranging from EMDR with grief and loss to Polyvagal-informed interventions, secondary trauma, and Trauma Recovery Network® leadership. Sessions explored EMDR applications with children, in crisis intervention, and in group settings while offering tools participants could take directly into their practice.
A new addition this year, Poster Presentations offered interactive opportunities to learn about disaster response interventions and the community impact of the Trauma Recovery Network.
Book signings brought another layer of connection, with authors including Dr. Jim Knipe, Erica Bonham, Rebecca Kase, Christine Mark-Griffin, and Regina Morrow Robinson. Reg was joined by eight co-authors of her book EMDR Group Therapy, Emerging Principles and Protocols to Treat Trauma and Beyond to include Elan Shapiro, Dr. Philip Manfield, Dr. Gary Quinn, Nicolle Mainthow, Marilyn Luber, Cherilyn Rowland Petrie, Gelly Asovski, and Dr. Robbie Adler-Tapia. Together, Jim Knipe and Reg Morrow Robinson generously donated their book signing proceeds, raising over $3,000 to support Trauma Recovery/HAP.
Building Community and Celebrating Legacy
While the learning was invaluable, many attendees described the deeper value of the conference as the connections they formed. This year’s new format began with a Welcome Reception and 30th Anniversary Celebration, where Dr. Bob Tinker reflected on HAP’s origins in the response to the Oklahoma City Bombing, and Dr. Jim Knipe reminded us of the importance of continuing Dr. Francine Shapiro’s vision of healing and peace.
Throughout the weekend, conversations flowed from session rooms into hallways, receptions, and meals. It is our hope that bonds formed will carry forward long after the event excitement fades.
Partnerships that Make a Difference
This year, we were proud to partner with Scaling UP to provide a two-day pre-conference training in the EMDR GAP Suite. Roughly sixty participants took part in this immersive workshop, leaving with hands-on knowledge of how to implement a stepped-care approach to address recent, present, or past adverse experiences. The training added depth to the conference by equipping participants with practical tools they can immediately apply in their communities.
We are deeply grateful to our Title Sponsor, NeuroTek, whose support has made this conference possible since its inaugural year. For the past three years, their commitment as Title Sponsor has helped ensure that the HAP Conference continues to be a space where education and community thrive.
In addition, we thank our 18 sponsors and exhibitors whose participation and support elevated the event. From engaging exhibitor booths to meaningful conversations, their presence contributed to the high-quality, interactive atmosphere that attendees experienced throughout the weekend.
Dinner, Dance, and Volunteer Awards
The conference closed in true HAP fashion, with celebration. Attendees enjoyed dinner hosted by Trauma Recovery/HAP, awards, raffle and contest prizes, and a lively dance floor with DJ Fadorah. Another new addition was this year’s selfie mirror, where attendees could take keepsake photos from the event.
Volunteer and community awards recognized individuals making a lasting impact around the world. Among the honorees, Dr. Rosalie Thomas received the inaugural Shapiro Effect Award for embodying the ripple effect of Dr. Francine Shapiro’s legacy. For a full listing of this year’s award recipients, click here.
Gratitude and Looking Ahead
As we reflect on the 2025 HAP Conference, we are filled with gratitude for our attendees, presenters, sponsors, exhibitors, and volunteers who showed up with open minds and open hearts. Together, we not only shared knowledge but strengthened the bonds that make our mission possible: increasing the capacity for effective treatment of psychological trauma in under-served communities anywhere in the world.
We’re excited to carry this momentum forward into next year:
Save the Date 2026 HAP® Conference
Location: Charleston, SC
Dates: October 1–3, 2026
Pre-conference training: Sept. 30 – Oct. 1
We can’t wait to see you there! More details will be coming soon.
