Learn About the Benefits of Intensive EMDR Therapy

What is Intensive EMDR?

An EMDR intensive is designed to provide longer sessions, typically 3 to 5 hours per day over several days to maximize time spent on trauma healing often leading to relief in symptoms in a shorter amount of time. A 15 hour intensive has been equated to the progress made during six months of weekly sessions.

During an intensive EMDR session, you will learn how to manage difficult emotions through relaxation and grounding techniques and then begin the trauma reprocessing phases of EMDR treatment with a Certified EMDR therapist to support you along the way. Intensive EMDR is a good fit for individuals who have experienced single-incident or complex trauma, individuals who have limited time to give to weekly therapy and individuals who would like to accelerate the healing process.

Why choose Intensive EMDR?

1. Accelerated Progress- the traditional model of weekly psychotherapy is shifting to meet your needs. Now more than ever, we need flexibility in how we get support. EMDR intensives are personalized treatment plans that allow you to move towards healing in a shorter time frame and accelerate the healing process.
2. Time Efficient- even compared to other trauma therapy, the intensive format may decrease treatment time because it is highly structured and continuous, it eliminates time spent opening and closing sessions, addressing current crises and concerns and instead focuses on addressing past trauma that is getting in the way of current functioning. 
3. Individualized Treatment Plan- create a personalized treatment plan during the 90-min intensive intake session that will help you meet your goals and jump-start the healing process.
4. Comprehensive Approach- An EMDR intensive begins at the root of your distress and works to manage current life stressors so it is a comprehensive treatment approach tailored to each individual's needs.

Research Findings

There is evidenced-based research supporting the effectiveness of utilizing an intensive EMDR treatment model. For example, Hurley (2018) found that veterans diagnosed with PTSD had statistically significant reductions in symptoms following an intensive model of EMDR treatment that was maintained at one-year follow-up. Additionally, Bongaerts et al., 2017 found that intensive EMDR was a potentially safe and effective treatment for complex PTSD. Another pilot study by Mendez et al. (2018) found a reduction in PTSD symptoms in participants after a five day intensive treatment program, with some no longer meeting PTSD criteria after 21 days. These findings support the use of intensive EMDR therapy for trauma healing.