EMDR Intensives: What Are They? Who Are They For?

You might be familiar with EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). If not, check out my website for more information:  www.DesertBloomTherapyEMDR.com.  You may have experience or be familiar with doing EMDR in a traditional weekly format.

So, what is an EMDR intensive?

EMDR intensives are longer EMDR sessions compacted into a short period of time. Unlike the typical weekly 50-80 minute EMDR sessions where processing may happen over months, EMDR intensive sessions may occur in 3-6 hour sessions over a matter of days.

Why an intensive instead of a normal 50-minute psychotherapy session?

 EMDR intensives allow the opportunity to progress through your symptoms in a more succinct and focused way without the interruption of a 50 minute session.

An intensive format may decrease overall treatment time because of the time spent on: a) checking in at the beginning of each session, b) addressing current crises and concerns, c) focusing on stabilization between sessions that may not be necessary after healing, or d) working on regaining composure at the end of the session.

Who can benefit from EMDR?

EMDR addresses the psychological and physical symptoms stemming from adverse life experiences. EMDR is not just for trauma; it is also utilized for performance enhancement. I have personally used EMDR successfully with many clients who struggle with performance anxiety.

While I will continue to offer EMDR and EMDR intensives to a variety of clients, I will also be specializing in the area of performance anxiety and enhancement.

Who can benefit from EMDR intensives?

EMDR intensives have been shown to be an effective treatment for a variety of adverse life experiences. A half-day intensive offers a multitude of resources and can help to either increase performance and confidence, or significantly decrease the devastating effects of single event trauma (e.g. negative cognitions, disturbing emotions and body sensations). While significant healing can occur in one half-day intensive, more complex trauma may require multiple days or multiple intensives.

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

I always start with a consultation call where we will discuss your treatment goals. I work with people who are either struggling with performance anxiety and/or are looking for performance enhancement in addition to others who have experienced trauma. I do not currently offer EMDR intensives to people who have complex trauma. If you are unsure of what type of trauma you have and whether you are a good candidate for EMDR intensives with me, please reach out for a free consultation.

While I am adding EMDR intensives to my services, I will also continue to do traditional EMDR sessions both via teletherapy or in person in Tucson.

If I already have a primary therapist, can I do an EMDR intensive as adjunct therapy?

Yes. Perhaps you have a felt sense that something profound has yet to change, but you’re not quite sure how to shift all the way into a new experience of yourself with your current therapist.

Maybe you now cognitively understand new things, yet your body is still confused, so you are curious about how adjunct EMDR intensive therapy can help. We will identify what format is best for you during your initial consultation.

Feel free to reach out for a complimentary phone consultation to learn more about EMDR and EMDR intensives and if they might be right for you.

AndreaHarbeck@Proton.me

720-336-9454