What Is an EMDR Intensive (and Why It Might Be Exactly What You Need)

Let me guess: you’ve heard of EMDR, and maybe even considered trying it, but the thought of committing to weekly therapy for months (or years) feels impossible. Your schedule is full. Your energy is limited. And yet, you know something needs to shift.

That’s where EMDR intensives come in.

If you’ve ever wished you could tackle your trauma or anxiety more quickly and effectively without dragging it out week after week an EMDR intensive might be exactly what you need.

Let’s break down what it is, who it’s for, and why it can be such a transformative option.

What Is EMDR, Exactly?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a powerful, evidence-based therapy that helps people process trauma and distressing memories so they stop running the show behind the scenes.

Instead of just talking through what happened, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (often through eye movements, tapping, or sound) to help your brain reprocess those memories in a way that feels safer and less activating.

It’s not magic. But it can feel like it. Especially when it helps you let go of emotional pain you’ve carried for way too long.

So What’s an EMDR Intensive?

An EMDR intensive is a longer, condensed therapy session or series of sessions designed to help you move through targeted trauma work more quickly than traditional therapy.

Instead of 50-minute sessions once a week, intensives are typically:

• Half-day (2–3 hours)

• Full-day (4–6 hours)

• Or multi-day experiences (2–3 days in a row)

They allow you to go deeper without stopping just as things are starting to click.

We don’t rush the process. We just remove the weeks of pause between sessions, which means we can get to the root faster and stay there until something meaningful shifts.

Who Are EMDR Intensives For?

This kind of deep-dive work isn’t for everyone, but it can be especially beneficial if you:

• Have already done some therapy and feel ready to process specific trauma

• Want to work through a particular event, belief, or issue in a focused way

• Are short on time but want long-lasting results

• Feel stuck in talk therapy and are ready for something different

• Need help managing chronic anxiety, perfectionism, or people-pleasing patterns
  

I also see a lot of high-achieving, overwhelmed moms choose EMDR intensives because they just don’t have the capacity to add one more thing to their weekly schedule, but they’re tired of carrying the emotional weight they’ve been dragging around.

Why EMDR Intensives Work So Well

There’s a reason intensives are gaining popularity: the structure allows for more uninterrupted processing, which means we don’t have to waste time catching up or revisiting what you said last week.

Here’s what makes them so effective:

1. Deeper Focus
We have the time and space to go below the surface instead of scratching the same wounds over and over.

2. Less Disruption
You don’t have to keep reopening the wound every week. Instead, you move through the process in one cohesive experience.

3. Faster Progress
Clients often say one intensive session feels like 6–10 regular sessions. That’s not a guarantee, but it’s a common result.

4. Personalized Prep and Integration
Before your intensive, we’ll meet for a prep session so we can map out your goals and make sure it’s a good fit. And after, we’ll schedule a follow-up to help you integrate the work into your daily life.

What Happens During an EMDR Intensive?

Every intensive is tailored to your specific needs and goals, but here’s a general idea of what to expect:

1. Pre-Intensive Planning Call
We’ll meet to talk through what’s bringing you in, what you want to focus on, and make sure EMDR is appropriate for your situation.

2. Intensive Session(s)
This is where the real work happens. We’ll use EMDR and other supportive tools to help you process stuck memories, release body-held tension, and move toward resolution.

3. Integration Support
After your intensive, you’ll receive grounding resources, check-ins, and a follow-up session to help you make sense of what came up and stay supported as things settle.

What EMDR Can Help With

You don’t have to have a “big trauma” to benefit from EMDR. It’s incredibly effective for:

• Childhood trauma or emotional neglect

• Birth trauma or difficult postpartum experiences

• Anxiety, panic attacks, and chronic worry

• Feeling stuck in old patterns you thought you had outgrown

• Shame, guilt, or limiting beliefs (like “I’m not enough”)

• Relationship pain or people-pleasing patterns

So many of the women I work with say they’ve read the books, listened to the podcasts, even gone to therapy and they still feel stuck.

That’s often because the body is still holding the story.

EMDR helps the body let it go.

EMDR Intensive vs. Weekly Therapy

You might be wondering, “Should I do an intensive instead of regular therapy?”

It depends.

Some people use intensives as a supplement to ongoing therapy maybe to process a specific event or when they feel stuck. Others use intensives as their therapy, especially if they’re short on time.

The beauty of EMDR intensives is flexibility. We can tailor the experience to fit what you need.

Let’s Be Real—Healing Can Be Hard, But It Doesn’t Have to Be Slow

You don’t have to wait until you’re completely burned out or broken down to get relief.

You don’t have to go to therapy for years just to feel a little better.

You can take a more focused, intentional approach to your healing—and walk away with real change.

EMDR intensives are one way to do that.

And if you’re curious? I’d love to talk with you about what it could look like.

Ready to Explore an EMDR Intensive?

I offer free 15-minute consults to help you decide if an EMDR intensive is right for you.

Together, we’ll talk about your goals, your history, and your needs and we’ll create a plan that actually fits your life.

You deserve to feel lighter. Let’s get you there—without dragging it out.