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EMDR and Trauma Intensives

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What is an EMDR Intensive?

An intensive is an extended EMDR session, focused on specific needs and goals. Intensives are designed to support momentum and progress in a shorter period of time than weekly therapy. I follow the same protocols and considerations for EMDR in intensives that I do in any other EMDR session.

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EMDR Intensives are backed by research. Studies have shown that intensives are effective and that they can result in symptom relief in a shorter period of time vs. EMDR therapy one hour per week.

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EMDR and trauma intensives are not just 4 hours of the eye movements or hand-held buzzers that you’ve heard of! We can also incorporate IFS-informed parts work, sound healing, meditation, guided imagery, breath work, gentle movement, and somatic techniques. It’s all part of trauma work. We’ll work together to identify what you’d like your intensive to include.

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THE INTENSIVE PROCESS

01. Preparation

We will meet for an intake appointment, which feels more like a typical first therapy session. I’ll gather more information about your needs, goals, symptoms, background, and why you’re interested in a trauma intensive. We’ll identify adjunctive interventions that you’d like to bring into your intensive, such as parts work, sound healing, somatic techniques, and meditation. We will also usually meet for 1 or 2 preparation sessions before the intensive to ensure that you feel ready for the next step.

02. Intensive

Intensive sessions are 4 hours long, and depending on scheduling, I am open to holding up to 3 intensive sessions with you in one week. After that, I generally recommend that we take a break to allow you to integrate insights from your intensive into daily life before you decide to do any further intensive sessions. Not sure how much time you’ll need? Most people aren’t! Identifying your intensive goals and number of sessions is a part of the intake process.

03. Follow Up

We’ll schedule a follow up session 1-2 weeks after your intensive to discuss how you’re doing and identify the next steps in your journey, which could be with me, or could be other services with other therapists or mental health professionals. Either way, you still have support from me after the intensive session(s).

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Is an intensive right for me?

An intensive might be the right fit if…

You’ve done EMDR and/or trauma therapy before, and you can dive right in.
Your schedule makes it difficult for you to set aside time for therapy every week.
You’ve gotten discouraged by the loss of momentum between weekly EMDR sessions, and wish you could just keep going!
You appreciate having more time to engage in grounding, meditation, and reflection. 60 minute sessions feel rushed to you.
You’ve tried talk therapy, maybe even for years, and still feel stuck. You know you need something different.
You’re at a point in your life where you know you need to make changes now. Therapy can’t wait anymore.

An intensive might not be the right fit if…

You’re not really sure what you need to work on. You’d like some time to explore that first.
Insurance is the only financial option for your sessions. Intensives do involve an out of pocket cost.
You’re not interested in or don’t find EMDR helpful. While I do incorporate other modalities, EMDR is the foundation of my trauma intensives.

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