EMDR Intensives for Focused, Accelerated Healing
Trauma can leave the nervous system stuck in patterns that don’t shift simply through insight or time. Even when you know an experience is over, your body and brain may continue to respond as if the threat is still present.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based trauma therapy that helps the brain fully process distressing experiences so they lose their emotional charge and no longer drive automatic reactions. Rather than relying on repeated retelling, EMDR works directly with the brain and nervous system to support integration and relief.
For many people, EMDR intensives offer a more effective and contained way to do this work.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy helps the brain reprocess traumatic or distressing memories so they can be stored in a more adaptive way. Through bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements, tapping, or sound—the brain is supported in completing processing that was interrupted at the time of the original experience.
EMDR can be helpful for:
Trauma and adverse life experiences
Anxiety and panic symptoms
Persistent emotional reactivity or triggers
Shame, self-worth, and relational wounds
Patterns that feel “stuck” despite insight or effort
Because EMDR works at both cognitive and somatic levels, many clients experience shifts that feel deeper and more lasting than talk therapy alone.
What Are EMDR Intensives?
EMDR intensives are an accelerated format of EMDR therapy that allows for extended, focused sessions over a shorter period of time. Instead of touching into trauma briefly each week, intensives create enough continuity for the brain to build momentum and integrate change more fully.
Many clients find this format helpful because:
The brain doesn’t have to repeatedly start and stop trauma processing
There is more time to follow material where it naturally leads
Progress often feels more cohesive and efficient
Relief can come sooner than with weekly sessions alone
EMDR intensives are especially well suited for adults who feel ready to engage in deeper work and want a more focused approach to healing.
How EMDR Intensives Work
Each EMDR intensive is personalized, but most follow a structured flow designed to support safety, effectiveness, and integration.
Free Consultation
We begin with a brief consultation to discuss your goals, answer questions, and determine whether an EMDR intensive is an appropriate fit for you at this time. Then we’ll schedule your intensive dates.
Focused EMDR Intensive Sessions
Intensives are offered in extended sessions (often 3 to 6 hours per day across multiple days). This format allows for sustained processing while respecting your nervous system’s limits and capacity for integration.
Preparation & Treatment Planning (1.5–2 hours)
This session focuses on history-taking, identifying targets, and building internal resources. We establish grounding strategies and a shared plan so you feel supported going into the intensive work.
Integration & Follow-Up
After the intensive, we meet for a follow-up session to support integration, reflect on progress, and discuss next steps—whether that’s returning to weekly therapy, continuing integration work, or taking time to notice changes.
Who EMDR Intensives Are For
EMDR intensives may be a good fit if you:
Feel emotionally stuck despite ongoing therapy
Want to supplement work you’re already doing with a therapist
Are seeking faster relief from trauma-related symptoms
Prefer a focused, time-limited format
Have the capacity to engage in deeper processing
Weekly EMDR may be a better fit if you need a slower pace or more time between sessions to integrate change. We can explore this together during a consultation.
Why I Use Somatic and Attachment Focused EMDR (SAFE EMDR)
All EMDR is not the same.
I use Somatic and Attachment Focused EMDR (SAFE EMDR), a model designed to prioritize nervous system regulation, attachment safety, and pacing. This approach is especially important in intensive work, where protecting against overwhelm and retraumatization is essential.
SAFE EMDR emphasizes:
Careful preparation and resourcing
Attunement to the body and nervous system
Attention to attachment patterns and relational safety
Flexible pacing based on your capacity, not a rigid protocol
This allows EMDR to reach the root of distress while maintaining stability and emotional safety throughout the process.
Explore Whether an EMDR Intensive Is Right for You
Choosing the right format matters. A free consultation offers space to ask questions, understand the process, and decide whether an EMDR intensive feels like the right next step.
Schedule a free consultation to learn more about virtual EMDR intensives and SAFE EMDR therapy.