The Benefits of Intensive EMDR Sessions for Trauma and PTSD Healing
Intensive EMDR Sessions
You might be here because your therapist has suggested intensive EMDR sessions might be a benefit for you, or perhaps you have stumbled to this page all on your own. Either way, welcome! The goal of this post is to provide you with some insight into the process of intensive EMDR sessions and highlight why they might be a good fit for you.
What are Intensive EMDR Sessions?
Intensives refer to any session that is longer than the typical 50-75 minute therapy session that your therapist currently offers. The structure of intensives can vary, and are dependent on your therapeutic goals, needs, and availability. An example of an intensive session can look like scheduling a block of either 2 or 4 hours to dedicate to a therapy session. Intensives can occur once per week or on back-to-back days. Depending on the length of the session, your therapist will suggest a break. Intensive EMDR sessions are done in-person.
Example:
- 2 hour session once per week
- 2 hours + 1 hour break + 2hours
- 50 min. Wednesday + 2 hours Thursday + 2 hours Friday
Why Intensive EMDR Sessions?
There are so many reasons that intensive EMDR sessions could be a fit for you, and here are a few of those reasons:
Continuity: Intensives can eliminate the start/stop that can happen in a standard 50/75 minute session. Do you ever get to minute 50 of your session and think “wow, we’re already done and I’m just getting into this!” If you have had this thought you are not alone. Intensives can create more continuity in processing and allow us to dive in deep.
Shift Work: I am a big advocate of weekly therapy sessions, and sometimes it’s just not feasible due to the nature of doing shift work. Intensive EMDR sessions can be a great option for folks who are working out of the community and return to the community on their days off.
Finances: Alright, so the money up front to do intensive therapy sessions can be jarring, however, intensives have been shown to be more effective in decreasing disturbances to functioning. This means that the time you spend in therapy can be decreased, resulting in decreased money allocated to therapy in the long run.
Commute: Working in a rural community means that we support folks that are sometimes driving an hour in for therapy. Intensive EMDR sessions can be a great fit for folks who have a commute and are wanting to make the drive worth their time.
Am I a Good Fit for an EMDR Intensive?
To determine fit for intensive EMDR sessions, I first invite you to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation. If it feels like a good fit for you, we could then start talking about scheduling you in for a first session. Clients can first be offered to do a 50 minute session as a way to gain some comfort with their therapist and the environment. While this is a suggestion, there are
times when clients might be scheduled for an intensive in the first session. This is dependent on the needs of the client and availability of the therapist. If you are already connected with a therapist at our clinic, please reach out to them.
How do I Prepare?
Preparation for an intensive EMDR session is minimal. Clients are suggested to come wearing something comfortable. Clients are encouraged to be as comfortable as possible, and are invited to bring additional items that provide comfort such as a favorite tea, mug, blanket or snack. The office is equipped with hot and cold beverages, snacks and blankets, however, bringing in personal items can support with resourcing and feeling comfortable within the space.
Cost:
$600/2 hours.
If you have any questions, please feel free to connect with your therapist. If you are new and curious about our clinic, please schedule a free 15 minute consultation here.
Ready to Join Us for an EMDR Trauma Therapy Intensive in Olds, Alberta?
Are you ready to make significant progress toward feeling better? If you’re ready to work intensely with an individual therapist through our trauma therapy intensives, we’re ready to help. You can fill out our contact form to start the process. Our office manager can set you up with a quick free call with one of our clinicians just to make sure it’s the right fit
Living with the aftermath of trauma is hard. You didn’t want that to happen. But it did. And now, you can’t keep living this way. It’s time for a change. There is hope. You can feel better. And our experienced, compassionate trauma therapists want to help.
