Are Intensives right for you?

By Kitty Ferguson-Mappus, M.S.S.W., LCSW-S · 4 min read

Are Intensives right for you?

EMDR intensives may be right for you if you're short on time, want to make progress faster than the weekly therapy model allows, or need a lot of support right now. By blocking out a larger chunk of time, an intensive lets you stay focused on the heart of the issue instead of spending part of every hour checking in and closing down. Intensives can also work alongside your regular talk therapy as adjunctive EMDR.

TL;DR

  • The standard 55-minute weekly session exists largely because of insurance norms, not because it's how EMDR works best
  • In a typical hour, check-in and close-down time can leave only 35-40 minutes of actual reprocessing
  • Intensives block out longer sessions, cutting that overhead and reducing weekly travel
  • They suit busy schedules, seasonal free time, urgent needs, and people who prefer short-term focused work
  • Adjunctive EMDR lets you keep your regular therapist while doing focused intensive work
  • Session options range from 50-minute weekly sessions to 3-hour intensives

The traditional model of weekly psychotherapy is shifting to meet your needs. Now more than ever, we need flexibility in how we get support.

Like most types of therapy, EMDR is usually done within the confines of the typical weekly “therapy hour,” which usually runs about 55 minutes. This isn’t because that is how EMDR is most effective, rather it is because that is what the insurance companies have said they want to cover! People certainly do benefit from EMDR therapy done in this way, but often wish it could be more efficient.

The problem with the typical weekly “therapy hour” is that we must spend some time at the beginning of each session checking in to make sure nothing big came up during the week, getting the target set up, and getting started. And then we also must spend some time at the end of the session closing down and making sure the client is feeling stabilized and safe to leave the office and go about daily life. This can easily take 5-10 minutes or more on either end of the reprocessing, making the actual time spend reprocessing your target closer to 35-40 minutes.

EMDR Intensives make things much more efficient by blocking out a larger chunk of time for the session, eliminating the need for checking in and closing down every hour. This also eliminates the need to travel to and from the office each week, which can have benefits in terms of travel time, fuel costs and taking time off work.

One way to think of it is, it is sort of like how when high schools go to block scheduling, the school days become more efficient because the teacher doesn’t have to take attendance as often, students don’t have to spend time putting away supplies as often, and half of the passing periods are eliminated.

You can get at-and stay at-the heart of the issue for longer in order to accelerate your healing.

Are you limited on time? Do you dread the idea of slogging through weekly therapy for years on end? Are you possibly engaging in unsafe or dangerous behaviors you just can’t stop but know you need to?

Then an intensive format might be just what you are looking for!

Instead of working through trauma or a yucky experience over a prolonged period, which can be a long investment of time, money, and energy, an intensive allows us to make progress faster and find you relief sooner.

Intensives are ideal for:

  • Those who prefer a short-term treatment model due to a busy lifestyle
  • Individuals with general time constraints
  • You might be engaging in unsafe or dangerous behaviors that need to stop sooner rather than later.
  • Folks who have struggled to find time week to week in an ongoing and consistent basis to tend to their emotional health.
  • People who have seasonal blocks of free time like Teachers or Accountants
  • Clients who wish to supplement their regular talk therapy with focused EMDR treatment on specific issues or memories which is called adjunctive EMDR. You get to keep your regular therapist and work in a focused manner with an EMDR therapist too.
  • Support seekers who’ve been meaning to get into weekly therapy for a while now, but their schedule has been so hectic and demanding that a weekly therapy appointment feels more overwhelming than supportive.
  • Perhaps you’re needing help —- and a lot of it—- right now, and you don’t want to spend months in the traditional weekly model of therapy treatment to feel better.

EMDR is not just for trauma; it is also used for performance enhancement to excel in areas such as athletics, business, and relationships.

*Choose your own Investment*

50 minute weekly sessions = $150

80 minute sessions = $225

2 hour sessions = $300

3 hour sessions = $450

FAQ - Your Questions Answered

What is an EMDR intensive?

An EMDR intensive is a longer, focused session format that blocks out a bigger chunk of time than the standard weekly therapy hour. Instead of opening and closing every 55-minute session, you and your therapist stay with the work, so more of your time goes toward actual reprocessing. You can learn more about how this approach works on our EMDR page.

How long is an intensive session?

We offer several session lengths so you can choose your own investment: 50-minute weekly sessions, 80-minute sessions, 2-hour sessions, and 3-hour sessions. The length that fits best depends on your goals, your schedule, and what you and your therapist decide together.

Why can intensives be more efficient than weekly therapy?

In a typical weekly hour, 5-10 minutes or more on each end goes to checking in, setting up, and closing down, which can leave closer to 35-40 minutes for reprocessing. An intensive removes most of that repeated overhead, and it also cuts down on weekly travel time, fuel costs, and time off work.

Can I do an EMDR intensive while keeping my current therapist?

Yes. This is called adjunctive EMDR: you keep your regular talk therapist and work with an EMDR therapist in a focused way on specific issues or memories. Many people use intensives to supplement the therapy they're already doing.

Is EMDR only for trauma?

No. While EMDR is well known for trauma work, it is also used for performance enhancement, helping people excel in areas like athletics, business, and relationships.

How do I know if an intensive is right for me?

Intensives tend to fit people with busy lifestyles, general time constraints, or seasonal blocks of free time, as well as those who want relief sooner or are struggling with behaviors they need to address quickly. If you're unsure, reaching out to talk it through with one of our therapists is a good first step.