EMDR Intensives
EMDR Intensives offer a focused, accelerated approach to healing from trauma, distressing life experiences, and deeply rooted emotional patterns. Instead of meeting for traditional weekly therapy sessions, EMDR intensives provide extended blocks of time—often over one or multiple days—allowing clients to engage in deeper therapeutic work with greater continuity and momentum.
About EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a research-supported therapy designed to help the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer feel overwhelming or disruptive in the present. EMDR does not require detailed retelling of traumatic events. Instead, it uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or tapping) to help the nervous system resolve experiences that have become “stuck.”
EMDR is commonly used to address:
- Trauma and PTSD (including complex or developmental trauma)
- Anxiety, panic, and phobias
- Grief and loss
- Chronic stress and emotional overwhelm
- Negative core beliefs (e.g., “I’m not safe,” “I’m not good enough,” “I don’t have control”)
What Is an EMDR Intensive?
An EMDR intensive condenses the work typically done over several months of weekly therapy into a shorter, more concentrated timeframe. Sessions typically range from 3 to 6 hours per day and may be scheduled as a single-day intensive or across multiple days.
This structure allows for:
- Deeper therapeutic immersion
- More consistent momentum in processing
- Flexibility to move at a pace guided by your nervous system rather than a session clock
Each intensive is thoughtfully planned and tailored to your history, goals, and current supports.
Who May Benefit From an EMDR Intensive
EMDR intensives can be especially helpful for individuals who:
- Feel “stuck” in weekly therapy or want faster progress
- Have experienced trauma or complex trauma
- Are navigating a major life transition or crisis
- Have limited availability due to work, travel, or caregiving demands
- Want focused support around a specific issue or event
- Prefer privacy and concentrated therapeutic work
Intensives are appropriate for many, but not all, clients. A consultation is typically required to ensure this format is a good fit and that adequate supports are in place.
Benefits of EMDR Intensives
- Efficiency: Achieve meaningful progress in a shorter amount of time
- Continuity: Maintain therapeutic focus without weekly interruptions
- Depth: Create space for thorough preparation, processing, and integration
- Personalization: Treatment is highly tailored to your goals and nervous system
- Reduced Distress: Many clients report faster relief from emotional and somatic symptoms
What to Expect
The intensive process includes three phases:
Preparation and Assessment:
Prior to the intensive, time is spent clarifying goals, reviewing relevant history, building grounding and regulation skills, and ensuring readiness for intensive trauma work with a 90 minute pre-intensive interview. All clients will be provided with a digital workbook to complete prior to interview which offers resources and psychoeducation on how to prepare and recover after, as well as prompts to explore themes for their intensive.
Intensive EMDR Sessions:
During the intensive, time is intentionally structured to include EMDR processing, resourcing, breaks, and integration. Sessions are paced carefully, with attention to both emotional and somatic responses. Sessions will be between 3-6 hours depending on client’s needs.
Integration and Follow-Up:
After the intensive, follow-up sessions or referrals may be recommended to support integration and ongoing stability. Many clients find that continued support helps solidify gains and maintain progress.
A Thoughtful, Individualized Approach
EMDR intensives are not about rushing the healing process; they are about creating enough space for it to unfold with intention and care. For some clients, having dedicated time and focused support allows for deeper processing and meaningful relief that may be harder to access in shorter weekly sessions.
If you are interested in learning whether an EMDR intensive is right for you, a free 15 minute consultation can help determine the best next step. Schedule your initial consult or reach out for more info.