EMDR Therapy Intensive: Rapid Relief in 1-3 Days

An EMDR Intensive is a focused block of trauma therapy that condenses weeks or months of progress into one to three concentrated days of extended EMDR sessions.

Unlike traditional weekly 45-50 minute therapy sessions that can slow momentum and require constant restarting, EMDR therapy intensives offer 3-hour sessions that allow for deeper, uninterrupted processing.

Each intensive follows a structured, evidence-based approach to reprocess distressing memories, reduce emotional and physical triggers, install positive beliefs, and restore emotional balance.

The extended format gives your brain the time it needs to fully process experiences without the stop-start pattern of weekly therapy.

EMDR intensives are ideal for high-achieving professionals, trauma survivors, and anyone seeking deep healing without waiting months between sessions or for busy professionals who find it difficult to commit to weekly appointments.

This accelerated format provides rapid relief while maintaining the depth and thoroughness of traditional EMDR therapy.

The 3-day EMDR intensive format is carefully structured to maximize healing while respecting your nervous system’s capacity to process.

It includes one 90-minute preparation session the week before your intensive where we’ll identify target memories, practice grounding techniques, and ensure you feel prepared for the work ahead. Then come three therapy days, typically scheduled as three consecutive weeks on the same day (like three Thursdays) rather than three consecutive days, though consecutive days can be arranged if needed.

Each therapy day involves a 3-hour EMDR processing session with breaks as needed.

Finally, there’s one 90-minute integration session the week after to debrief your experience, process insights, and create a plan for continued growth.

This pacing, weekly rather than daily, allows your nervous system to integrate what you’ve processed between sessions while maintaining therapeutic momentum.

You’ll also receive a personalized treatment workbook to support reflection and integration throughout the experience.

We’ll decide together during your free consultation, and I’ll help you determine which format best suits your needs and goals.

Generally, a 1-day EMDR intensive works best when you’re dealing with a single, clearly defined issue, like a specific professional humiliation, betrayal, medical trauma, or discrete traumatic event that still feels emotionally charged and affects your daily life.

The 3-day intensive offers enough depth and time for long-standing trauma, complex childhood wounds, chronic patterns like imposter syndrome or people-pleasing, or multiple interconnected experiences that have shaped your sense of self and worth.

During the consultation, we’ll discuss what brings you to therapy, what you’re hoping to achieve, and your timeline.

I’ll share my clinical recommendation, but ultimately you’ll decide what feels right. You can always start with a 1-day intensive and extend to additional days if needed.

EMDR therapy intensives are particularly beneficial for high-achieving professionals, caregivers, trauma survivors, and anyone who feels stuck or exhausted by ongoing stress, self-doubt, or unresolved experiences.

You might benefit most if you’re: preparing for a major career transition (promotion, new role, entrepreneurship) and need to feel emotionally steady beforehand; carrying specific traumatic experiences that still feel unresolved (professional humiliation, relationship betrayal, medical trauma); struggling with imposter syndrome despite clear evidence of your competence; dealing with chronic patterns like perfectionism, people-pleasing, or difficulty setting boundaries; experiencing symptoms of complex trauma or PTSD from childhood experiences; or finding that weekly therapy feels too slow or keeps getting interrupted by life demands.

EMDR intensives provide an immersive space to heal underlying trauma and return to daily life with more calm, clarity, confidence, and capacity to handle challenges. If you’re motivated for deep work and ready to invest in rapid healing, intensives can be transformative.

Yes, absolutely. Many clients choose EMDR therapy intensives as their first experience with EMDR therapy, and the format is designed to accommodate this.

The 90-minute preparation session is specifically structured to help you understand the EMDR process, learn what bilateral stimulation feels like, practice grounding and regulation techniques, and feel confident and prepared before we begin processing work.

We’ll go at a pace that feels safe for your nervous system, and I’ll teach you everything you need to know along the way.

During your free consultation, we’ll discuss what EMDR involves, what to expect during an intensive, whether you feel ready for immersive work, and any concerns or questions you have.

You don’t need prior EMDR experience. You just need to be motivated for change and willing to engage with emotional material in a focused way.

• 1-Day EMDR Intensive: $3,000
  Includes: 1 preparation session (90 min), 1 three-hour processing session, 1 integration session (90 min), and personalized treatment workbook

• 3-Day EMDR Intensive: $6,000
  Includes: 1 preparation session (90 min), 3 three-hour processing sessions, 1 integration session (90 min), and personalized treatment workbook with exercises for integration between sessions

  A 50% deposit is required to secure your spot, with the remainder due on the first day of your intensive (during the preparation session).

  These intensives are a significant investment in your emotional well-being, offering rapid, focused healing that would typically require months of weekly therapy.

Think of it as a deep retreat for your mind and nervous system.

Payment plans can be discussed during your consultation for the 3-day intensive.

Insurance does not typically cover intensives, though you may be able to submit for out-of-network reimbursement.

Yes, I provide EMDR therapy intensives virtually for clients in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois using a secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform.

Virtual EMDR intensives are just as effective as in-person sessions. The extended format actually works particularly well online because you can process from the comfort and privacy of your own space, which many clients find helps them feel safer when working with vulnerable emotions and memories.

You’ll have immediate access to your own coping resources after sessions, and there’s no need to commute while emotionally activated.

I also offer in-person EMDR intensives at my Chicago office for clients who prefer face-to-face work.

Whether virtual or in-person, the structure, depth, and effectiveness of the intensive remain the same.

During your consultation, we can discuss which format feels most comfortable for you.

Preparing for your EMDR therapy intensive begins with the 90-minute preparation session where we’ll review the process, practice techniques, and identify target memories.

Before your first intensive day, I recommend: clearing your schedule as much as possible during intensive weeks to minimize external stress; arranging childcare or pet care so you can focus fully during sessions; preparing your space if doing virtual sessions (quiet, private, comfortable); having water, tissues, and comfort items nearby; planning for lighter activity after each session rather than jumping into high-demand work; letting trusted people know you’re in intensive therapy and may need extra support; and completing any workbook exercises I provide beforehand.

The day before each session, prioritize good sleep, avoid alcohol, stay hydrated, and do gentle self-care.

You don’t need to “study” or over-prepare mentally. Just show up ready to be present with whatever arises.

Your personalized treatment workbook includes exercises, reflections, and grounding practices specifically designed to support integration between EMDR intensive sessions.

These activities help you process insights, track changes, notice what’s shifting, and stay grounded as your nervous system continues metabolizing the work we’ve done.

I also provide email support throughout your intensive if questions, concerns, or unexpected reactions come up between sessions. You’re not alone in this process.

Most clients find it helpful to keep their schedule lighter than usual during intensive weeks, allowing time for rest, gentle movement, adequate sleep, and processing rather than packing in social obligations or high-stress work demands.

Think of the time between sessions as part of the healing process itself. Your brain and nervous system continue integrating even when we’re not actively in session, so honoring that with space and self-care is important.

The 50% deposit is non-refundable but can be applied to future sessions if you need to reschedule, with at least 2 weeks notice and within 6 months of your original booking date.

I understand that unexpected situations arise such as illness, family emergencies, work crises, so please reach out as soon as possible if your plans change and we’ll work together to find a solution.

EMDR intensives require significant advance preparation and block out multiple days in my schedule, which is why the deposit protects both of us.

For the remaining 50% balance due before your first session, cancellations with less than 2 weeks notice will result in forfeiture of the full fee.

However, I strive to be as flexible as possible within these parameters and genuinely want you to get the support you need.