EMDR is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help individuals heal from trauma and other distressful life experiences by helping reduce symptoms, enhance coping, and restore balance. Licensed professionals use EMDR to address a wide range of challenges—some to include:
EMDR aims to "unstick" distressful memories and allows the mind to process them correctly through an 8-phase approach: history taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and re-evaluation. Bilateral stimulation (BLS), using eye movements, taps, or auditory tones, mimics REM sleep's natural memory processing. During sessions, focusing on distressful memories while engaging in BLS helps reprocess distressful memories, reducing their emotional charge and transforming them into more manageable memories, akin to the body's natural healing of wounds.
EMDR is unique in that it does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or completing homework between sessions. Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, freeze, or fawn instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create an overwhelming feeling of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” The experience is still remembered, but the response from the original event is resolved.
Adjunct EMDR counseling involves working with 2 therapists: a primary therapist and a secondary EMDR therapist focusing on specific concerns. The client may meet both therapists concurrently or take a break from the primary therapist for intensive EMDR sessions. The therapists create a customized treatment plan and schedule. After the adjunct counseling, the client returns to the primary therapist. This approach combines the strengths and specialties of both therapists to provide comprehensive care.
Access to therapists with different therapy specialties, ensuring comprehensive care for complex issues.
Getting help in releasing negative beliefs and emotions that are blocking healing and may be causing you to feel "stuck" in therapy.
Intensive work on specific issues without interrupting overall therapy progress.
Could be more cost-effective and save time...in other words, you can start living your best life sooner!
Just as EMDR is a very different approach to psychotherapy, EMDR Intensives are a very different approach to providing EMDR treatment. Because of the “rewiring” and truly healing effect of EMDR, EMDR Intensives can work in ways that are not possible utilizing standard talk-therapy techniques. This approach has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma. EMDR helps us process negative feelings and change the way we think about ourselves and our memories. Because of the powerful healing effect of EMDR therapy, intensives can produce faster results than weekly sessions using standard talk-therapy techniques.
An EMDR therapy intensive is customized, but can consist of up to several hour sessions with breaks over the course of a day, a few days, or a few weeks, allowing for concentrated and accelerated healing compared to weekly sessions. This method involves intense work but can yield significant progress. Intensives are not suitable for everyone so a thorough assessment is conducted during an intake session. Intensives can also focus on specific issues, with clients returning to their regular therapists afterward (adjunct).
EMDR therapy intensives offer more effective and efficient treatment compared to traditional 50-minute sessions. In a typical session, significant time is spent on check-in and check-out, leaving limited time for deep therapeutic work. However, in a 3-hour intensive, 2 hours are dedicated to in-depth trauma work, which can be the equivale
EMDR therapy intensives offer more effective and efficient treatment compared to traditional 50-minute sessions. In a typical session, significant time is spent on check-in and check-out, leaving limited time for deep therapeutic work. However, in a 3-hour intensive, 2 hours are dedicated to in-depth trauma work, which can be the equivalent to several weekly sessions condensed into a single day. This accelerated approach allows for real and life-changing healing in a matter of days or weeks, rather than months or years. It enables individuals to start living the healthy life they desire without having to schedule their lives around weekly counseling appointments.
Intensives can be more cost-effective due to their concentrated and focused nature, increasing efficiency and reducing the total number of sessions and overall costs. This upfront investment in your well-being often proves more economical compared to the ongoing costs of traditional weekly therapy sessions.
EMDR helps individuals process and heal from trauma by utilizing the brain's natural healing capabilities, leading to significant and lasting improvements in mental health. The body and mind are inherently designed to heal. When you cut yourself, your body naturally works to close the wound and repair the tissue. Similarly, the mind striv
EMDR helps individuals process and heal from trauma by utilizing the brain's natural healing capabilities, leading to significant and lasting improvements in mental health. The body and mind are inherently designed to heal. When you cut yourself, your body naturally works to close the wound and repair the tissue. Similarly, the mind strives to process and integrate experiences, including traumatic ones, to restore emotional balance. An Intensive can be that emotional reset you’ve been looking for to care for your mind, body, and soul.
An intake therapy session is arranged to determine the objectives of the EMDR intensive and to adequately prepare for the process. During this session, we will identify the distressing memories, beliefs, emotions, or images you wish to address for relief. Additionally, we will gain clarity on your circumstances and challenges through a comprehensive history-gathering process.
The EMDR therapy intensive sessions take place virtually and are scheduled based on individual specific needs. Each intensive is unique and customized to the individual. The pre-intensive intake is where we’ll discuss the schedule for the day(s).
A follow up therapy session is scheduled the week after the EMDR intensive to debrief the experience and reflect on areas of insight, relief, and transformation, as well as ongoing support, if necessary.
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