EMDR Intensive Therapy

WITH CERTIFIED EMDR THERAPIST

“I know it in my head, but I don’t believe it in my heart.”

Sometimes telling yourself it’s not your fault or that you don’t need to be afraid anymore isn’t enough. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) can help you connect what you know and how you feel.

When overwhelming events occur, they don’t get stored in our memory correctly and get “stuck”. This causes us to re-experience the events in forms of flashbacks, unwanted memories and overwhelming emotions.  It also affects how we think and feel about ourselves and others.  EMDR helps to access those events to process and store the memories correctly so they no longer take control of your life.

EMDR has helped my clients process:

  • Feeling not good enough

  • Sexual trauma

  • Intimate Partner Violence

  • Accidents (car, workplace)

  • Natural disasters

  • Painful childhood experiences

  • Divorce

  • Relationship disappointments

  • Phobias

  • Medical trauma

  • Experiences of having a neurodivergent mind in a neurotypical world

  • Upsetting thoughts and images

  • Feelings of unsafety and constant danger

  • Negative beliefs that are blocking them from moving forward

  • Recent traumatic events (to prevent PTSD from developing)

  • Anxiety

  • PTSD symptoms

  • Religious trauma

Why I Do EMDR Intensives

Intensives are an exciting newer model of treatment that allows space to really dive into the deeper work. It provides therapy at an accelerated pace. 

I have been using EMDR during one hour individual sessions for years in my practice, but often found that once we got started and entered the deeper work, it was time to end. Or we may have agreed to do an EMDR session, but something more pressing came up in everyday life that needed attention. This really prolongs the treatment that I know can provide significant healing, causing my clients to continue to hold on to painful experiences in between sessions.  

The intensive model sets aside dedicated time to really get to the root of the challenges you’re facing. Knowing there is sufficient time to address the deeper work puts less pressure on trying to fit everything in during an hourly session. By setting aside 3 hour blocks of time, my clients have expressed feeling safer, calmer and more open to addressing the deeper issues. It allows for greater depth and transformative experience.  

Research has shown that the end results from EMDR therapy are the same whether done in individual weekly sessions or in intensive sessions, they just get there much quicker in the intensive model. The intensive format may decrease treatment time because of time not spent on checking in at the beginning of each session, addressing current crises and concerns and grounding at the end of each session. What may take months to process in weekly sessions can often be addressed in one half day session.

  • If you don’t have time to commit to weekly therapy

  • You want to address a specific traumatic event

  • You have an ongoing talk therapist but may be stuck with specific beliefs or memories 

  • You want to experience deep therapeutic work that can be transformative

  • You have had very painful experiences that are still impacting you today

  • You have done EMDR before and found it helpful for your healing and wellbeing

  • You want to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for a big life event like a wedding, becoming a parent, a medical procedure, starting a new job, or moving to a new city

Who EMDR Intensives Are Good For

What does an EDMR Intensive include?

  • Pre-Intensive Interview

    A 120-minute session to determine the goals of the EMDR Intensive and prepare for the experience. We will identify the painful memories, beliefs, emotions, or images from which you are seeking relief.

  • Personalized treatment workbook

    The workbook includes assessments and activities to prepare for the Intensive. The workbook allows you to keep a record of progress on your treatment goals before, during, and after our sessions.

  • Customized treatment program

    The EMDR Intensive sessions take place at my office in Highland Park or virtually, and are scheduled for 1-3 days for 3 hours each day.  It includes targeted treatment and resourcing activities customized for you.

  • Post-Intensive Interview

    A 60-minute session to debrief the experience and reflect on areas of insight, relief, and transformation. Discuss your next steps for continued growth and healing.

OPTIONS & INVESTMENT

While the initial cost of intensive EMDR may be higher than weekly therapy, it offers a more efficient way to access the power of EMDR without having time in between sessions. It helps people journey deeper and feel better faster.

One half-day intensive session can provide the benefits equivalent to 3-4 months of weekly hour-long EMDR sessions, saving you time, money, and energy.  

I encourage anyone new to EMDR and/or working with me to start with a foundational 2-3 day intensive. This allows for time to get to know you, your background, goals and create a personalized treatment plan. This will include some assessments for you to complete and a personalized workbook to accompany you on your EMDR journey. If you would like to continue EMDR work following an intensive, this can be done on a monthly and quarterly basis.

1-day
EMDR Intensive $1,750

  • 6 face-to-face hours + resources/ assessments/ personalized treatment workbook 

    • 120-minute pre-interview before intensive 

    • 1 half-day intensive (3 hours) 

    • 60-minute post-interview for follow up

2-day
EMDR Intensive $2,500

  • 9 face-to-face hours + resources/ assessments/ personalized treatment workbook

    • 120-minute pre-interview before intensive 

    • 2 half-day intensives (3 hours per day) 

    • 90-minute post-interview for follow up

3-day
EMDR Intensive $3,250

  • 12 face-to-face hours + resources/ assessments/ personalized treatment workbook 

    • 120-minute pre-interview before intensive 

    • 3 half-day intensives (3 hours per day) 

    • 90-minute post-interview for follow up

Monthly Intensive

$750 per month

  • Half day (3 hours) session once a month

    • Good fit for people who have a busy schedule and are unable to do weekly therapy

    • If you have a therapist you see for day-to-day stressors and support and would also like to do deeper therapeutic work

Quarterly Intensive

$750 per quarter

  • Half day (3 hours) session once a month

    • Good fit for people who have already done an intensive or several months of monthly intensives

    • If you have a therapist you see for day-to-day stressors and support and would also like to do deeper therapeutic work.


Learn more about EMDR

  • Every individual’s experience with trauma is unique. For single-incident trauma, such as a car accident, processing can often be effectively addressed in a 1-2 day intensive. For longer-term, attachment, and/or relational trauma, a more extended approach may be needed.

    After an initial intake, we will create a customized intensive schedule tailored to your specific needs. Typically, I recommend starting with a foundational 2-3 day intensive and then discussing the best path forward based on your progress and needs.

  • Not necessarily. As humans, we have all experienced things that have scared, stressed or overwhelmed us. Essentially, that is what trauma is. However, many times people don’t come to therapy with a specific “trauma” in mind - but rather feelings of being stuck, exhausted, or discouraged. I can help you dig deeper and understand what’s beneath the surface when it comes to these feelings. 

  • Part of EMDR is allowing yourself to feel a bit of the painful emotions associated with a traumatic experience. Before we do this, we practice emotional regulation and self care. We are able to take breaks and not push past your emotional limits. We can take as much time as we need to be gentle in our approach to these sensitive topics.

  • You can talk about it as little or as much as you want. EMDR Therapy is still effective even if you don’t tell your therapist every detail. Some details feel especially painful or embarrassing. You can decide what to share and what to keep private.  EMDR Therapy does not require you to talk or relive every second of the worst moment of your life.

  • Yes! This is called adjunctive EMDR therapy and I love this model of treatment. With your permission, your primary therapist and I can collaborate to create your treatment goals. This allows you to keep your relationship with your therapist while meeting with me for more focused, specific treatment.

  • If you have out of network insurance, you may have a percentage of the intake and follow-up sessions, as well as the first hour of intensive sessions covered. However, because most insurance companies use the traditional “therapy hour” model, full coverage for the 3-hour intensive work can be limited.

  • Sessions are held either in my office in Highland Park, NJ or online if you are in New Jersey at the time of our sessions.

  • A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking. This deposit is nonrefundable. The remaining balance is due on Day 1 of the Intensive.

    By booking the Intensive, you have purchased this time and it is yours unless you cancel at least 2 weeks prior to Day 1, in which the remaining balance will not be charged.

    I require 48-hour notice to cancel or reschedule 60-120 minute intake/ follow-up appointments.  I require a 1 week notice to cancel or reschedule 3 hour intensive sessions. If notice is provided within the 1 week window, the full fee will be charged.

FAQs about EMDR Intensive Therapy

 
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