EMDR Intensives: A Path to Faster, Focused Healing

Are you tired of feeling anxious, sad, angry, or overwhelmed and just barely keeping it together?

Do you notice your efforts to "think positive," self-soothe, or make changes only result in temporary relief?

Do you notice you keep repeating cycles of unhealthy relationship patterns?

Are you ready to experience significant progress in a shorter amount of time?

Do you want a more flexible therapy option that works with your schedule?

Imagine if you could dedicate focused time to work on your trauma and emotional wounds, leaving sessions with significant progress and feeling more grounded. If you’re ready for a transformative experience, EMDR intensives might be the solution you’ve been searching for.

Who Benefits Most from EMDR Intensives?

EMDR intensives are ideal for anyone who:

Is ready to tackle trauma, relationship or emotional challenges head-on.

Wants to see how EMDR therapy can support them without having to wait months to notice results.

Feels stuck in their current therapy progress.

Needs help processing a specific traumatic event, such as a loss, accident, or assault.

Struggles to make time for weekly therapy appointments.

Prefers a focused, immersive approach to healing.

What Are EMDR Intensives?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a well-established, evidence-based therapy designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences, anxiety, and other emotional challenges. While traditional EMDR is typically done in weekly, 50-minute sessions, EMDR intensives offer a concentrated format where you can work through issues in a matter of days or weeks rather than months or years.

EMDR intensives provide extended, uninterrupted time to focus on your healing, offering an immersive experience that accelerates progress. Each session is customized to your needs, ensuring that the time spent together is highly productive and impactful.

The Intensive Sessions

During the intensive, we’ll move through all eight phases of the EMDR protocol, including:

History-taking and Treatment Planning
We’ll explore your past experiences, identify target memories, and establish goals for the intensive.

Resource Development

You’ll learn grounding skills, mindfulness techniques, and tools to help you regulate emotions during and after sessions.

Assessment
We’ll identify specific memories, beliefs, and triggers to focus on during the reprocessing phase.

Desensitization and Reprocessing
Using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, we’ll help your brain process traumatic memories in a safe and structured way.

Installation of Positive Beliefs
Once distress is reduced, we’ll work to replace negative beliefs with empowering, positive ones.

Body Scan
We’ll ensure any lingering physical tension or emotional distress is fully addressed.

Closure

Each session ends with grounding and stabilization techniques, ensuring you feel safe and supported before leaving.

Reevaluation
In follow-up sessions, we’ll assess the progress made during the intensive and determine any additional areas for focus.

What if I Have Never Experienced Trauma?

For many clients, their current emotional pain or trouble functioning isn't so much about what did happen to them, but rather, what they didn't get (consistent emotional support, nurturing, reassurance, healthy role models, protection, etc). Therefore, they may struggle with acknowledging the depth and impact of their childhood experiences, and wonder if they even need trauma therapy. For these clients, I may recommend an intensive focused on EMDR attachment repair. We may decide to fully focus on building a sense of safety, love, and compassion in their mind and body before (or rather than) completing all 8 stages of EMDR. If this sounds like this may be you, read more about Attachment EMDR resourcing here.

Flexible Scheduling

EMDR intensives can be customized to fit your schedule and needs. Options include:

Half day and Full-Day Intensives: Perfect for individuals ready to dive deeper into their healing, typically focusing on a specific traumatic incident or enhancing their nervous system resources.

Multi-Day (2 to 3 day) Intensives: Designed for those with complex trauma, attachment (relational) wounds, or multiple areas to address.

Why Choose Nourished Minds Therapy for Your EMDR Intensive?

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified EMDR therapist, I specialize in conditions such as anxiety, depression, chronic stress, low self-worth, and disordered eating stemming from trauma. My approach is client-centered, culturally sensitive, and rooted in creating a safe space for deep healing. With over a decade of experience helping clients navigate complex trauma, anxiety, and other mental health challenges, I’m committed to tailoring every intensive to your unique needs. My clients frequently share how in awe they are at the level of relief they are able to attain and insight they gain once completing therapy from trauma(s) that has plagued them for years.

My expertise includes:

Trauma-Informed Care: Understanding the profound impact of trauma on the mind and body.

Integrated Techniques: Incorporating mindfulness, grounding skills, and parts work into sessions as needed.

Multicultural Competence: Recognizing the intersection of cultural, familial, systemic, and individual factors in your healing process.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is EMDR different from other forms of therapy?

Unlike talk therapy, EMDR focuses on reprocessing distressing memories to resolve their emotional impact. The goal is not just to talk about what happened but to heal how your brain and body react to it. To read more about EMDR therapy, click here.

Will I feel overwhelmed during the intensive?

Safety is the priority in every session. We’ll establish resources and grounding skills to ensure you feel supported throughout the process.

How do I prepare for an EMDR intensive?

Before your intensive, you’ll receive detailed instructions and resources to help you prepare emotionally, mentally, and physically.

How are intensives structured?

Intensives at Nourished Minds Therapy are typically scheduled in either 1, 2 or 3 day packages. Each full day intensive contains 4 hours of total therapy time with your therapist. Via telehealth, you will meet with your therapist for 2 hours with a 1 hr break for lunch, then resume therapy for the final 2 hours of the day. What is covered in those 4 hours depends on your goals/individual factors that will be discussed and structured with your therapist. Short breaks can be scheduled as needed throughout the day. Each intensive package also includes a 90 minute pre-intensive interview (scheduled ahead of the full intensive session) and a 60 minute post intensive follow up. Rest assured that intensives are fully customizable, and additional days/hours may be added or subtracted from an intensive depending on client need. **In certain circumstances, half day intensives may be indicated. You and I will discuss and decide if a half day intensive is the best fit for you.

What happens after the intensive?

Follow-up sessions may be scheduled to evaluate your progress, integrate new insights, and address any remaining concerns. You will also be given recommendations/resources to continue to implement the strategies learned and maintain the progress gained. Follow up may include, with client permission, connecting with other members of the client's treatment team (if applicable) to help ensure a smooth transition.

How much do EMDR Intensives Cost?

**Between Feb 1 and March 15, intensives are 25% off standard pricing! Pricing below reflects discount:

The price for EMDR intensives vary depending on the package you and your therapist select that best fits your needs.

Half day intensives (6 hour program, 4 face-to-face hours) are $875 $700

1 day intensives (9 hour program, 6.5 face-to-face hours) are $1375 $1100

2 day intensives (13.5 hour program, 10.5 face-to-face hours) are $2200 $1750

3 day intensives (18.5 hour program, 14.5 face-to-face hours) are $3000 $2400

Intensives are fully customizable, so time may be added or subtracted from an intensive as needed. The price is adjusted pro rata depending on the total time ultimately needed for therapy. ***Please note, insurance does not cover EMDR intensives services.

What's included?

All EMDR intensives packages include:

1. A customized workbook with resources and activities to prepare for the intensive as well as resources to maintain progress after the intensive.

2. Pre-intensive assessments to gather information pertinent to your past and present functioning.

3. A 90 minute pre-intensive session to review assessment results, determine target(s) from which you are seeking relief, and determine structure of the intensive.

4. The 1, 2 or 3 day EMDR intensive therapy session(s) where the healing is in high gear!

5. A 60 minute post-intensive session to process the experience and reflect on insight and areas of focus for continued growth (typically scheduled 4-6 weeks post intensive). **Note: For half day intensives, the post intensive session is 30 minutes.

6. If applicable, all packages also include follow up with other members of the client's treatment team to help ensure a smooth transition and continued success.

Please contact me for any questions about financing EMDR intensives.

Who Are EMDR Intensives Not Right For?

While EMDR intensives can be life-changing, they may not be the right fit for everyone. Possible contraindications include:

• Highly Dissociative Clients: If you experience frequent dissociation or have a diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), the fast-paced nature of intensives may be overwhelming. Weekly therapy sessions with a slower pace may be more appropriate.

• Unstable Mental Health Conditions: Individuals in active crisis, with unmanaged severe depression, or with a history of recent self-harm or suicidal ideation may need a more gradual, supportive therapeutic approach.

• Unresolved Physical Health Conditions: If physical symptoms (e.g., chronic pain, sleep deprivation) significantly interfere with your ability to focus, these should be addressed before an intensive.

If you’re unsure whether an EMDR intensive is right for you, I encourage you to reach out for a consultation. We’ll explore your needs and determine the best path forward.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Are you ready to prioritize your healing in a focused, transformative way? If you’re tired of feeling weighed down by past trauma, EMDR intensives can help you break free and move forward with confidence.

Contact me today to schedule your consultation and discover how EMDR intensives can accelerate your journey to healing

An EMDR intensive is more than just a few days of therapy—it’s a powerful investment in your future. By dedicating uninterrupted time to your healing, you’re prioritizing your well-being and setting the foundation for a healthier, more fulfilling life. Take control of your healing journey—don’t wait another day to start living the life you deserve.

How Do EMDR Intensives Differ from Traditional Therapy?

Deeper Processing

In traditional weekly therapy, sessions are often short, leaving limited time to dive deeply into complex issues. EMDR intensives, on the other hand, offer extended blocks of time—ranging from a half-day to several days—allowing us to fully immerse in your healing process.

Healing Without the Wait

Do you ever feel like you’re making progress in therapy, only to lose traction between sessions? In a weekly therapy model, it’s easy for life’s distractions—work, family obligations, or stress—to dilute the impact of your healing journey. EMDR intensives eliminate this stop-and-go pattern, enabling a continuous flow of healing and integration. This results in significantly enhanced treatment effects. Clients often report feeling like they’ve made months' or years' worth of progress in just a few days.

Tailored to You

EMDR intensives are not one-size-fits-all. Before your intensive begins, we will create a customized plan based on your goals, personal history, and specific needs. This ensures that every moment of the intensive is purposeful and aligned with your healing journey.

What to Expect from an EMDR Intensive

Pre-Intensive Consultation

Every EMDR intensive begins with a thorough assessment and consultation. We will discuss your history, current challenges, and goals to develop a tailored plan that aligns with your unique needs. This step ensures that you feel safe, supported, and prepared to begin the work.