Your Guide to Therapy Intensives: What Happens and How They Help
If you're considering therapy but feel like the traditional once-a-week model isn't enough, you’re not alone. Many people struggling with anxiety, trauma, or perfectionism find that therapy intensives offer the deep, focused work needed for true healing. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) intensives are particularly powerful because they allow you to process emotions, rewire negative thought patterns, and experience transformation in a condensed period of time. But what exactly happens in an EMDR therapy intensive? Let’s walk through what you can expect.
Why Choose a Therapy Intensive?
Therapy intensives are designed for people who want to make significant progress in a shorter time frame. Some of the most common reasons clients choose this format include:
Feeling stuck in weekly therapy and needing a breakthrough.
Wanting to address the root of their anxiety or trauma rather than just learning to cope with symptoms.
Struggling with perfectionism and self-criticism that impacts daily life.
Preparing for a major life transition, such as a career change, relationship shift, or personal growth journey.
Having a busy schedule that makes traditional weekly therapy challenging.
Unlike standard therapy sessions, which may only allow time to scratch the surface, intensives provide the space to deeply explore and process what’s holding you back.
What Happens During an EMDR Intensive?
An EMDR therapy intensive typically involves longer sessions spread over one or more days, allowing you to dive deep into the healing process. Here’s what a typical intensive might include:
Assessment and Preparation:
You’ll begin by discussing your history, concerns, and goals with your therapist.
Your therapist will guide you through grounding techniques to ensure you feel safe and supported throughout the process.
Target Identification:
You and your therapist will identify specific memories, beliefs, or emotions that are causing distress.
If you struggle with perfectionism, for example, you might explore early experiences where you felt like you weren’t “good enough.”
EMDR Processing:
Using bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or tapping), your therapist will help you process distressing memories and reframe negative beliefs.
You may experience emotional releases, shifts in perspective, or even a sense of relief as your nervous system reprocesses these experiences.
Integration and Reflection:
At the end of the session, you’ll discuss insights and changes you’ve noticed.
Your therapist will provide tools and strategies to help you integrate the work into your daily life.
How to Prepare for an EMDR Intensive
To get the most out of your intensive, preparation is key. Here are some steps to help you feel ready:
Set Clear Intentions: Think about what you want to focus on and what healing would look like for you.
Take the Day Off Work: Give yourself the space to fully engage in the process without distractions.
Prepare Your Environment: Have a journal ready, set the atmosphere to be quiet with no distractions, and make sure your space is comfortable.
Create a Support Plan: Schedule downtime after your intensive to reflect and rest. Have a trusted friend or journal ready to process any emotions that may come up.
Trust the Process: It’s natural to feel nervous before an intensive, but remember—healing happens when you give yourself the space to feel, process and explore what comes up.
Who Benefits Most from a Therapy Intensive?
EMDR therapy intensives are ideal for individuals who:
Feel stuck in traditional therapy and need a breakthrough.
Struggle with high-functioning anxiety, perfectionism, or deep-seated self-doubt.
Have experienced trauma that continues to impact their daily life.
Are in a season of transition and want to move forward with clarity and confidence.
Prefer deep, immersive work rather than spreading therapy out over weeks or months.
Final Thoughts
Therapy intensives offer a powerful, transformative experience for those ready to heal at a deeper level. If you’ve been feeling like you’re just managing symptoms instead of truly addressing the root of your struggles, an EMDR intensive could be the path to lasting change. Healing is possible—and you don’t have to do it alone.
If you’re curious about whether an EMDR therapy intensive is right for you, reach out to schedule a consultation. Your healing journey starts here.