A Therapist's Advice for an Optimal EMDR Intensive Experience
What Is an EMDR Intensive?
An EMDR intensive is an extended session instead of the standard 50-minute therapy session. An intensive can last for 3-4 hours, a full day, or even multiple days. Intensives can allow people to focus on one specific event, multiple events or thought/behavior patterns that they have not been able to change.
Hi, I’m Michele Ross, LCSW. As a Licensed Therapist in the state of California, I offer EMDR Intensives to clients in my Los Angeles office and online for CA residents. The core of my work is to help you decrease or break negative thought cycles so that you can get “unstuck” and create a steady change in your behavior.
In this article, I’ll share with you some of the ways I prepare my clients for their EMDR Intensives. Whether they come into my Larchmont office or do a virtual Intensive, these tips help them to arrive more prepared and grounded for the day.
Who Can Benefit from an EMDR Intensive?
People book EMDR Intensives for different reasons. They might want to focus on a specific issue or trauma, or they might like that one longer session fits their schedule better than weekly sessions.
An intensive could be worth it if you want a more concentrated and continual therapy experience. This can allow for more breakthroughs to happen in a shorter amount of time.
If you’re a California resident and are curious if an EMDR intensive is a good fit, contact me here. I can help you decide if an intensive is right for your treatment goals.
How to Prepare for an EMDR Intensive:
1.Create a Plan With Your Therapist
Before the intensive, you will meet for an initial 30 minute session where you will discuss your goals and the therapist will determine if an intensive can be a good fit. During this time, the therapist can give you an idea of how many hours they think could be beneficial. Then you will meet for a 90 minute in depth assessment to give a detailed history and identify the goals of the intensive.
Since you’ll be with your therapist for a few hours, the preparation is important to help focus on goals and also gives the client a chance to understand the format including breaks. When I prepare a client for an EMDR intensive, we talk about what they can expect including time frame, how I will help them regulate during this process, what breaks provide and how this is a true collaboration.
Did you know that a collaborative relationship can play a role in the effectiveness of your treatment? A recent study of a 4-day EMDR intensive program found that participants who had a stronger connection with their therapist had greater reductions in PTSD symptoms. The term for this connection is “therapeutic alliance.”
In other words, your relationship is part of the treatment.
2. Don’t Try to Cram In How Much You Process
Intensives can be…well, intense. Don’t pressure yourself to go past your bandwidth on that day. It is also the therapist’s role to help regulate the emotional experience so that one never gets too overwhelmed.
Before your session, the therapist will help you identify some ways with your to breaks between the intensive focused work. Some people find that a walk, snack, change of scenery, music, or even doing something totally random helps them feel settled again.
You might think that each minute of the session needs to be utilized in order for it to be more effective, however breaks allow time for regulating and continuing the reprocessing. and actually help you process more.
3. Create a Dedicated Space For Yourself During and After the Intensive
This tip is especially helpful if you’re doing a remote EMDR intensive. As much as possible, create some separation from distractions that could pull your attention away from the work you’re doing with your therapist.
In a 2024 qualitative study about people’s experiences with intensive EMDR, participants spoke about the benefit of a dedicated period of time that was separate from their usual daily life in some way.
Some ways to create that separation:
Turn off your cell phone, or put all notifications except for emergency contacts on mute
Take care of errands (like buying groceries or laundry) ahead of time
Arrange for child care if necessary
If your intensive is remote, also try to:
Turn off any browser or email notifications on your computer
Close out of tabs
Let those in your home know that you'll need quiet time
Find pet care during the session
Have water, snacks, and food ready
Make the room as comfortable and distraction-free as possible
Use a space where you can stay for the day without interruption
4. Leave Room for the Unexpected
Researchers identified a theme in EMDR intensive experiences that they called the “Wow! Moment.” Participants found that these breakthrough moments changed how they saw themselves and their pasts.
When I work with clients, I want them to have a clear intention for the intensive. But I also think it’s important to be flexible enough to follow the unexpected memories or realizations that come up for them.
You might have a “Wow!” moment, and get insights about yourself and your past that you didn't expect. Even if you come into the session with a specific goal, the process could bring up something different than you anticipated.
Think of the day as a time for therapy where some of the breakthroughs you have won’t always be predictable.
5. Post-Session Plan & Follow-Up
You might continue to process what came up after your session ends. Give yourself some space before you go back to your usual routine.
Keep the rest of the day and the next day relatively open
Plan to have an easy dinner that night
Arrange for transportation if you don’t want to drive afterward
Let family or housemates know that you’ll likely want some quiet time afterward
This post-processing time is part of the experience, too. Before the intensive, ask your therapist when and how you’ll reconnect afterward. See what they recommend if something unexpected comes up after the intensive. A plan can make the transition out of the day feel less abrupt.
Considering an EMDR Intensive?
I create EMDR intensive experiences for clients in Los Angeles and throughout California that give them the space to move at a pace that works for them.
Before the intensive, we’ll talk through what you can expect. You’ll share with me what you want to work toward, and we’ll come up with what will be most supportive after the intensive. You’ll schedule a follow-up call to integrate the day.
If you’re thinking about doing an EMDR intensive in Larchmont or virtually, schedule a consultation to talk about what you'd like to work on and whether an intensive is a good fit for you.
FAQs about EMDR Intensives
How long is an EMDR Intensive?
My EMDR Intensives usually last four hours, with the entire day set aside for the process.
Do I need to have previous EMDR experience?
I find that clients who have some experience with EMDR before their intensive get the most out of it. If you’re new to EMDR, we can start with standard-length sessions. Then you can get a feel for the process before you decide if you want to try the longer format.
Can EMDR Intensives happen virtually?
Yes. I offer EMDR Intensives virtually for clients throughout California. We’ll talk beforehand about creating a private, comfortable space where you can stay present with the process.
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