Deep processing with rapid results

EMDR Intensives offer the opportunity to do a focused, immersive piece of trauma therapy over a shorter period of time.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy that helps people heal from traumatic experiences. Developed in the late 1980s, EMDR uses guided eye movements or other forms of gentle stimulation while a person brings their painful memories to mind. This process helps the brain reprocess those memories, making them less overwhelming and helping the person develop healthier ways of thinking and coping. EMDR is commonly used to treat PTSD and other anxiety-related issues, and many people find it effective for moving past trauma.

There is growing evidence supporting an intensive approach to EMDR treatment. Studies have shown that intensives can have the same outcomes as treatment delivered over several months and therefore provide a quicker recovery and potentially less disruption to clinicians and clients.

The benefits of EMDR intensives include:

  • Treatment efficiency: Compared to weekly sessions, less time is spent checking in at the beginning and closing down at the end, enabling more time to be spent on active trauma processing.
  • Reduced risk of destabilization: There is obviously less scope for life crises to disrupt treatment and less need to catch up on current challenges and concerns.
  • Reduced anxiety: Knowing you have a dedicated, protected time to address your issues away from the demands of daily life can alleviate much of the anxiety and pressure often associated with weekly sessions. This can help you enter the therapeutic space feeling more prepared and open.
  • Adjunct treatment: Intensives can be a good choice if you are already in therapy but have encountered a trauma-related issue that your counsellor does not feel trained to manage. Processing that issue in a short period of time removes that block, allowing you to proceed with your ongoing therapy.

An EMDR Intensive comprises the following:

  • Preparation: Once you have made contact and booked an assessment session, I will also send you a series of short assessment questionnaires to gather key clinical information about your situation.
  • 90-minute assessment session: This is designed to build a picture of your background, your strengths and your areas of vulnerability. We also assess whether an intensive approach is a good fit for you and clarify treatment goals for the process, particularly the symptoms that you would like to resolve. If we decide to proceed with the intensive, you will then receive a customized workbook with a range of preparatory reflection exercises to help you get the most out of your time with me.
  • Intensive therapy sessions: These are structured in blocks of up to three hours per day over three days. (This is flexible and can be adjusted according to need.)

If you feel that this way of working could help your journey of recovery, please contact me to arrange a complimentary initial conversation. For more information on my trauma practice, click here.