EMDR Intensives
When you’ve been struggling for most of your life, you’ve waited long enough to feel better.
EMDR Intensives
You've spent years understanding your patterns. You may have read the books, done therapy, asked ChatGPT for advice, and developed insight into why you feel and react the way you do.
And yet, something still feels stuck.
Maybe you know exactly where your people-pleasing comes from, but you still struggle to say no. Maybe you understand why conflict makes you anxious, but your body reacts before you can remind yourself that you're safe. Maybe you've worked hard to move forward, but experiences from your past continue to affect how you feel about yourself and your relationships.
Understanding why something happens and actually experiencing change are not always the same thing.
EMDR intensives offer an opportunity to devote more focused, uninterrupted time to the therapeutic process.
What is an EMDR Intensive?
An EMDR intensive is an extended therapy session or series of sessions designed to allow for concentrated therapeutic work.
Unlike traditional weekly therapy, where sessions typically last 50 minutes, intensives provide additional time for preparation, processing, reflection, and integration.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that helps people process distressing experiences and the beliefs, emotions, and reactions associated with them.
The goal isn't to erase the past. It's to help the past have less power over how you experience the present.
Why consider an intensive?
Sometimes weekly therapy is exactly what's needed. Other times, having more uninterrupted time can be helpful.
An EMDR intensive may be worth exploring if:
You've done therapy before and feel ready to work more directly with a particular issue.
You recognize recurring relationship patterns but struggle to change them.
You carry negative beliefs about yourself that don't seem to shift, even when you know they're not true.
Past experiences continue to influence your confidence, relationships, or sense of safety.
You have a demanding schedule and prefer a more concentrated format.
You're looking for a focused approach to a specific therapeutic goal.
An intensive isn't necessarily faster or more effective for everyone. What matters is finding the approach that fits your history, needs, and capacity for processing.
My approach to EMDR Intensives
I bring an attachment-informed, compassionate, and collaborative approach to EMDR.
I understand that the patterns we want to change often developed for good reasons. They may have helped us feel safe, connected, accepted, or in control during earlier experiences. I usually refer to these patterns as our “protector parts.”
We don't need to judge those patterns to begin changing them. Actually, if we try to judge or get rid of them, they have a tendency to double-down… protect more fiercely.
Our work begins with understanding your history, your goals, and your current resources. Together, we'll determine whether an intensive is clinically appropriate and develop a plan that allows sufficient time for preparation, processing, and integration.
Throughout our work, we'll pay attention to your emotional and physical responses and adjust the pace as needed.
The goal isn't to push through as much material as possible. It's to create the conditions for meaningful, sustainable change.
FAQS
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The primary difference is the amount of time dedicated to the work. Intensives offer longer sessions, which can provide greater continuity for focused processing. Weekly therapy offers a different rhythm, with more time between sessions for integration and ongoing support.
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Not necessarily. We'll begin with a consultation and assessment to determine whether an intensive is appropriate for you and what preparation may be needed.
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Not unless you want to. EMDR doesn’t generally require you to describe every detail of a distressing experience. We'll discuss what to expect and figure out what level of disclosure feels right to you.
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That depends on your goals, history, and clinical needs. After an initial consultation, we can discuss an appropriate format and schedule.
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No. Some people benefit more from ongoing weekly therapy, additional stabilization, or a different treatment approach. Clinical appropriateness is always considered before scheduling an intensive.
Ready to explore a different approach?
If you've been feeling stuck despite understanding your patterns, an EMDR intensive may offer an opportunity for more focused therapeutic work.