EMDR Intensive Therapy: Questions & Answers
Considering EMDR Intensive Therapy?
If you are considering EMDR Intensive Therapy, you probably have questions.
How is an EMDR Intensive different from weekly therapy? How many days will you need? Can you travel for treatment? How much does it cost? What if you have complex trauma or PTSD? And perhaps most importantly, how do you know whether an intensive is the right treatment approach for you?
EMDR Intensive Therapy can compress months of therapy into days by providing multiple hours of focused trauma treatment over consecutive days within one week rather than spreading treatment across weekly sessions for months or years. This allows more time for sustained trauma processing without repeatedly stopping at the end of a traditional therapy hour and returning to therapy again a week later.
This page answers some of the most common questions people have when considering EMDR Intensive Therapy, including how intensives work, who may benefit, treatment length, cost, travel, telehealth, and what to consider when choosing an EMDR Intensive therapist.
Ready to find out whether EMDR Intensive Therapy may be right for you?
What Is EMDR Intensive Therapy?
EMDR Intensive Therapy is a concentrated approach to EMDR treatment that provides multiple hours of focused therapy over consecutive days within one week rather than spreading treatment across weekly sessions for months.
Instead of beginning and ending the therapeutic work within a traditional weekly therapy hour, an intensive provides extended time for focused trauma processing. This allows you to continue working without having to stop simply because the session time has ended and then wait another week to continue.
Depending on your history, symptoms, and treatment goals, an EMDR Intensive may focus on a specific traumatic experience or involve treatment of multiple experiences associated with PTSD, complex trauma, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, or other trauma-related symptoms.
At Trauma Recovery Institute, EMDR Intensive Therapy is individualized to each client. The length and number of treatment days are determined based on your treatment needs and progress rather than using the same intensive format for everyone.
EMDR Intensive Therapy can compress months of therapy into days, allowing you to complete focused trauma treatment within a concentrated period of time.
How Is an EMDR Intensive Different From Weekly Therapy?
The primary difference is time and continuity.
Traditional therapy is generally provided in sessions approximately once per week. When trauma treatment is divided into weekly appointments, therapeutic work must repeatedly stop at the end of each session and resume at a later appointment.
EMDR Intensive Therapy provides several hours of focused treatment each day, often over consecutive days. This creates longer periods of uninterrupted therapeutic work and allows treatment to continue without waiting a week between sessions.
For someone who has already spent months or years in therapy, wants to focus specifically on unresolved trauma, has difficulty fitting weekly appointments into a demanding schedule, or wants a more concentrated approach to treatment, an EMDR Intensive may offer an alternative to the traditional weekly model.
Rather than spreading treatment across months, EMDR Intensive Therapy concentrates that work into days.
This does not mean an intensive is appropriate for everyone. The appropriate treatment format depends on your individual history, symptoms, goals, and clinical needs.
What If I’ve Already Tried Therapy and Still Feel Stuck?
Many people who consider EMDR Intensive Therapy have already spent months or years in therapy. You may understand what happened to you, recognize your patterns, and have developed useful coping skills, yet still experience anxiety, triggers, intrusive memories, sleep problems, emotional reactions, or other symptoms that continue to interfere with your life.
Understanding what happened and processing what happened are not always the same thing.
If unresolved traumatic experiences are contributing to your current symptoms, EMDR Therapy is designed to help the brain reprocess those experiences so they can be stored in a more adaptive way.
An intensive format provides extended periods of focused treatment over consecutive days, allowing more time to work directly on the experiences contributing to your symptoms rather than limiting that work to a traditional weekly therapy hour.
If you have tried therapy and still feel stuck, it does not necessarily mean that therapy has failed. It may mean that you need a different treatment approach or format.
Is EMDR Intensive Therapy Appropriate for PTSD?
EMDR Therapy is an evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and EMDR Intensive Therapy provides that treatment in a concentrated format.
PTSD symptoms can include intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance, anxiety, feeling constantly on edge, difficulty sleeping, strong emotional or physical reactions to reminders of what happened, and changes in how you think or feel about yourself, other people, or the world.
During EMDR treatment, traumatic memories and the associated emotions, physical sensations, and beliefs are processed so that the experiences can be stored in a more adaptive way.
For some individuals with PTSD, an intensive format allows several hours of focused trauma processing each day rather than spreading that work across weekly sessions for months.
Whether EMDR Intensive Therapy is appropriate depends on your individual history, current symptoms, treatment needs, and goals. A consultation and clinical assessment help determine whether an intensive format is appropriate for you.
Can EMDR Intensive Therapy Help With Complex Trauma or C-PTSD?
EMDR Intensive Therapy may be appropriate for individuals with complex trauma or complex PTSD (C-PTSD), including people who have experienced repeated or prolonged traumatic experiences across different periods of their lives.
Complex trauma may involve multiple experiences rather than a single traumatic event. These experiences can become connected through similar emotions, physical sensations, beliefs, triggers, or patterns of responding that continue long after the original experiences occurred.
An intensive format provides more time to identify and work through these interconnected experiences without limiting trauma processing to one therapy hour at a time.
Treatment is individualized. Some people may have several clearly identified traumatic experiences they want to address, while others may have a more extensive history requiring careful identification and sequencing of treatment targets.
The goal is not to process every difficult experience that has ever occurred. Treatment focuses on the experiences and patterns most relevant to the symptoms and difficulties affecting you today.
Whether an intensive format is appropriate for complex trauma or C-PTSD is determined through consultation and assessment based on your individual history, current symptoms, treatment goals, and clinical needs.
Who May Benefit From EMDR Intensive Therapy?
EMDR Intensive Therapy may be a good option for people who want a focused approach to trauma treatment and are able to dedicate several hours or consecutive days to the therapeutic work.
You may consider an EMDR Intensive if you:
Have participated in therapy but continue experiencing trauma-related symptoms.
Want to focus specifically on unresolved traumatic experiences.
Have PTSD, complex trauma, or trauma-related symptoms that continue to interfere with your daily life.
Find that weekly therapy feels too fragmented or that sessions end just as you begin getting into meaningful therapeutic work.
Want to complete a concentrated period of treatment rather than attending weekly therapy for months.
Have a demanding professional or personal schedule that makes ongoing weekly appointments difficult.
Are already working with a therapist and want adjunctive EMDR treatment focused specifically on trauma.
Are willing to travel for specialized EMDR Intensive Therapy.
Want to determine whether a focused intensive approach may help you make progress toward specific treatment goals.
You do not need to determine on your own whether you are a good candidate for an EMDR Intensive. A consultation provides an opportunity to discuss what you are experiencing, what you have already tried, and what you hope to accomplish so we can determine whether this treatment format may be appropriate for you.
Who May Not Be Appropriate for an EMDR Intensive?
EMDR Intensive Therapy is not appropriate for everyone.
Some individuals may benefit from additional preparation, stabilization, medical or psychiatric care, substance use treatment, or another level of care before beginning focused trauma processing.
An intensive may also need to be postponed when current circumstances make it difficult to participate safely and effectively in several hours of trauma-focused treatment.
Determining whether an intensive is appropriate is an individualized clinical decision. Your history, current symptoms, ability to participate in focused trauma processing, treatment goals, current supports, and other relevant clinical factors are considered before treatment begins.
If an intensive is not the appropriate treatment option at this time, that does not mean EMDR Therapy or another trauma treatment would not be appropriate in a different format or at another time.
How Do I Know Whether My EMDR Therapist Is Qualified?
When considering EMDR Intensive Therapy, ask about the therapist's training and experience in both EMDR Therapy and intensive trauma treatment.
EMDRIA identifies several levels of professional development beyond completion of EMDR basic training, including EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and EMDRIA Approved Consultant™.
You may want to ask:
When did you complete your EMDR Therapy basic training?
Are you an EMDRIA Certified Therapist or EMDRIA Approved Consultant?
How much experience do you have treating PTSD and complex trauma?
What experience do you have providing EMDR Intensive Therapy?
How do you determine whether someone is appropriate for an intensive?
How do you monitor symptoms and progress during treatment?
What happens if my treatment needs change during the intensive?
At Trauma Recovery Institute, Dr. Yvette Curtis is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant with more than 15 years of clinical experience and specializes in EMDR Intensive Therapy for PTSD, complex trauma, and trauma-related symptoms.
How Many Days of EMDR Intensive Therapy Will I Need?
There is no single number of days that is appropriate for everyone.
The amount of treatment needed depends on factors such as your treatment goals, trauma history, current symptoms, the number and complexity of experiences being addressed, and how treatment progresses.
At Trauma Recovery Institute, EMDR Intensive Therapy is typically provided over 3 to 6 days, although some clients may need fewer or additional treatment days. The treatment plan is individualized based on each client's needs and progress.
Some people may be working on a more circumscribed traumatic experience or treatment goal. Others may have multiple or interconnected traumatic experiences requiring additional treatment time.
Progress is assessed throughout the intensive. Treatment planning can be adjusted based on how you are responding rather than assuming in advance that every client requires the same number of days.
A consultation is the first step in determining what intensive format may be appropriate for your treatment needs.
How Many Hours of Therapy Happen Each Day?
EMDR Intensive Therapy provides extended periods of focused therapeutic work rather than limiting treatment to a traditional therapy hour.
At Trauma Recovery Institute, intensive treatment days may include approximately 4 to 7 hours of therapy, depending on your treatment plan, clinical needs, and progress.
The extended format provides time to move into trauma processing, continue working without having to stop because a traditional therapy hour has ended, and complete more therapeutic work within a concentrated period of time.
The number of hours is individualized. More time is not automatically better. The goal is to provide enough focused treatment time to support meaningful progress while continually assessing how you are responding throughout the day.
What Happens During an EMDR Intensive?
Your EMDR Intensive begins with assessment and treatment planning to identify your current symptoms, treatment goals, relevant experiences, and the areas you want to address.
During the intensive, much of the therapeutic time is dedicated to focused EMDR processing. EMDR helps the brain reprocess unresolved traumatic experiences so that the memories, emotions, physical sensations, and beliefs associated with those experiences can become less distressing and more adaptively stored.
Treatment progresses according to your individual needs and response. As one target is resolved, treatment may move to related experiences or other targets connected to your current symptoms and treatment goals.
Throughout the intensive, progress is continually assessed so treatment can be adjusted as needed.
Each treatment day also includes breaks and time to transition out of focused trauma processing before the day concludes.
Are There Breaks During an EMDR Intensive?
Yes. Breaks are an important part of an EMDR Intensive day.
EMDR Intensive Therapy involves several hours of focused therapeutic work, but this does not mean you spend four to seven continuous hours processing traumatic memories.
Breaks are incorporated throughout the day based on your needs and the natural progression of treatment. You may have time to eat, hydrate, walk, rest, use the restroom, or simply allow your mind and body some time away from focused therapeutic work.
The intensive format provides more therapeutic time, not nonstop therapy.
How Might I Feel After an EMDR Intensive?
People respond differently to EMDR Intensive Therapy, and your experience after treatment will depend on your history, the material processed, and how your brain continues to integrate the therapeutic work.
After an intensive treatment day, you may feel tired or want some quiet time before returning to your usual activities. You may also notice changes in thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, memories, or how you respond to situations that previously triggered distress.
Some clients report feeling calmer, lighter, clearer, or less emotionally reactive as traumatic experiences are processed. Others may continue noticing thoughts, memories, dreams, or new insights between treatment days as processing continues.
Your response and progress are monitored throughout the intensive, and time is provided at the end of each treatment day for stabilization and transition before you leave.
How Much Recovery Time Should I Plan After an EMDR Intensive?
It is helpful to leave some space in your schedule after each intensive treatment day rather than immediately returning to a demanding schedule.
You may want time to rest, eat, take a walk, spend time somewhere quiet, or simply allow yourself to decompress after several hours of focused therapeutic work.
If you are traveling to Alaska for treatment, consider keeping your evenings relatively unstructured and avoiding an itinerary filled with activities during your intensive. The purpose of the trip is treatment, and allowing time for rest and integration can be an important part of the experience.
Your individual needs may vary. During your consultation and treatment planning, we can discuss what to expect and how to plan your schedule around your intensive.
Can I Travel for EMDR Intensive Therapy?
Yes. Some people choose to travel for EMDR Intensive Therapy when specialized intensive treatment is not available where they live or when they prefer to step away from their usual environment and dedicate several consecutive days specifically to treatment.
Trauma Recovery Institute offers destination EMDR Intensive Therapy in Fairbanks, Alaska for clients traveling from outside the area.
Traveling for an intensive allows you to set aside a defined period of time for treatment rather than fitting trauma therapy around work, family responsibilities, and the demands of everyday life.
If you are considering traveling to Alaska for an EMDR Intensive, your consultation can include discussion of the anticipated number of treatment days, scheduling, travel considerations, and how much time you may want to allow before returning home.
You do not need to live in Alaska to travel to Fairbanks for in-person EMDR Intensive Therapy.
Learn more about destination EMDR Intensive Therapy in Alaska
Why Would Someone Travel to Alaska for an EMDR Intensive?
Some people travel for EMDR Intensive Therapy because they are looking for specialized treatment that may not be available in their local community or because they want to dedicate a concentrated period of time specifically to trauma recovery.
Travel can also create distance from the responsibilities and interruptions of everyday life. Rather than trying to fit trauma treatment between work, appointments, family responsibilities, and other demands, you can set aside several days with one primary purpose: treatment.
Trauma Recovery Institute provides destination EMDR Intensive Therapy in Fairbanks, Alaska, allowing clients to combine specialized trauma treatment with time away from their usual environment.
For some people, Alaska also provides something difficult to replicate elsewhere: space, quiet, nature, and an opportunity to slow down outside of treatment hours.
Your intensive remains the purpose of the trip. Treatment scheduling is planned so you have time outside of therapy to rest and prepare for the next treatment day.
Can EMDR Intensive Therapy Be Provided Through Telehealth?
Yes. EMDR Therapy can be provided through secure telehealth when clinically appropriate.
Trauma Recovery Institute offers telehealth EMDR Intensive Therapy to clients located in Alaska at the time treatment is provided.
Telehealth can make intensive treatment more accessible for people who live outside Fairbanks, have difficulty traveling, or prefer to complete treatment from their own private environment.
Before beginning a telehealth intensive, we consider whether the format is appropriate for your individual needs and whether you have a private, reliable setting where you can participate without significant interruptions.
For clients traveling from outside Alaska, in-person destination EMDR Intensive Therapy is available in Fairbanks.
Can I Continue Working With My Regular Therapist?
Yes. You do not necessarily need to end your relationship with your current therapist in order to participate in EMDR Intensive Therapy.
Some clients use an EMDR Intensive as an adjunct to their ongoing therapy. Their regular therapist may continue addressing other treatment goals, while the intensive provides a concentrated period of EMDR treatment focused on unresolved traumatic experiences.
With your written authorization, coordination with your existing therapist may be appropriate before or after the intensive to support continuity of care.
After completing the intensive, you may return to your regular therapist to continue ongoing therapeutic work as needed.
EMDR Intensive Therapy does not have to replace an established therapeutic relationship. It can provide a focused period of trauma treatment within your broader course of care.
How Much Does EMDR Intensive Therapy Cost?
At Trauma Recovery Institute, EMDR Intensive Therapy is $2,490 per treatment day, prepaid.
The total cost depends on the number of intensive treatment days recommended based on your history, symptoms, treatment goals, and treatment needs.
A deposit is required to reserve your intensive dates. If you reserve a longer intensive and complete treatment sooner than anticipated, any unused prepaid treatment days are refunded.
During your consultation, we can discuss the anticipated length of your intensive and associated costs so you have clear information before deciding whether to proceed.
Does Insurance Cover EMDR Intensive Therapy?
Insurance coverage for EMDR Intensive Therapy varies by insurance company and individual plan.
Trauma Recovery Institute does not bill insurance directly for EMDR Intensive Therapy. Documentation may be provided that you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement, depending on your plan and benefits.
Because coverage varies, you may want to contact your insurance company before scheduling and ask specifically about your out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits and reimbursement for extended psychotherapy sessions.
Insurance reimbursement is not guaranteed, and you remain responsible for the cost of treatment regardless of whether your insurance company provides reimbursement.
How Soon Can I Schedule an EMDR Intensive?
Depending on your treatment needs and current availability, an EMDR Intensive may sometimes be scheduled within a couple of weeks.
The first step is to schedule a consultation. During the consultation, we will discuss what you are experiencing, your treatment goals, whether an intensive may be appropriate, and current scheduling options.
If EMDR Intensive Therapy is appropriate and you decide to move forward, treatment dates can be reserved based on current availability and the number of days anticipated for your intensive.
If you are traveling to Fairbanks for treatment, confirm your intensive dates before making travel arrangements.
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How Do I Know Whether an EMDR Intensive Is Right for Me?
You do not need to determine this on your own.
EMDR Intensive Therapy may be worth considering if you have tried therapy but continue to experience trauma-related symptoms, want to focus specifically on unresolved traumatic experiences, or are looking for a more concentrated treatment format than traditional weekly therapy.
Whether an intensive is appropriate depends on your individual history, current symptoms, previous treatment experiences, treatment goals, and clinical needs.
A consultation is the first step. We can discuss what you have been experiencing, what you have already tried, what you hope will change, and whether EMDR Intensive Therapy appears to be an appropriate treatment option.
There is no obligation to schedule an intensive simply because you schedule a consultation.
Where Can I Receive EMDR Intensive Therapy?
Trauma Recovery Institute provides in-person EMDR Intensive Therapy in Fairbanks, Alaska, including destination intensives for clients traveling from elsewhere in Alaska, throughout the United States, or internationally.
For individuals in Alaska, EMDR Intensive Therapy may also be available through secure telehealth when clinically appropriate.
If you are searching for EMDR Intensive Therapy in Anchorage, Fairbanks, elsewhere in Alaska, or an EMDR Intensive near you, a consultation can help you determine whether traveling to Fairbanks or participating through telehealth within Alaska is the better option for your treatment needs.
Clients traveling from outside Alaska receive treatment in person in Fairbanks.
Learn more about EMDR Therapy in Fairbanks
Do I Need a Referral for EMDR Intensive Therapy?
No. You do not need a referral from another therapist, physician, or healthcare provider to schedule a consultation for EMDR Intensive Therapy at Trauma Recovery Institute.
Some clients find Trauma Recovery Institute while searching for specialized trauma treatment themselves. Others are referred by a therapist, physician, psychiatrist, or another healthcare professional.
If you are currently receiving mental health treatment, coordination with your existing provider may be helpful. With your written authorization, information can be shared when clinically appropriate to support continuity of care.
You can begin by scheduling an Intensive Therapy Consultation directly.
Can I Do an EMDR Intensive If I Have Complex or Multiple Traumatic Experiences?
Yes, having multiple traumatic experiences does not automatically mean that EMDR Intensive Therapy is inappropriate.
Some people seeking intensive treatment have experienced a single traumatic event. Others have histories involving repeated, prolonged, or multiple traumatic experiences across different periods of their lives.
With complex trauma, treatment may involve identifying connections among experiences, symptoms, emotional and physical reactions, and beliefs that developed over time. The amount of treatment needed will vary depending on your individual history and treatment goals.
You do not necessarily need to process every traumatic experience individually. EMDR treatment can address related experiences and patterns as treatment progresses.
Because complex trauma varies considerably from person to person, consultation and assessment are important for determining whether an intensive format is appropriate and how much treatment time may be needed.
Can an EMDR Intensive Really Replace Months of Weekly Therapy?
EMDR Intensive Therapy allows multiple hours of treatment to be completed over consecutive days rather than distributing those treatment hours across weekly appointments.
For example, several days of intensive treatment can provide an amount of therapeutic time that would otherwise require many weeks or months to accumulate in traditional weekly therapy.
This is why EMDR Intensive Therapy is sometimes described as compressing months of therapy into days.
The intensive format does not mean that everyone will complete all of their treatment within a specific number of days or that individual outcomes can be guaranteed. The amount of treatment needed depends on your history, symptoms, treatment goals, and response to treatment.
For people who are appropriate for the intensive format, however, concentrating treatment hours into consecutive days can provide an alternative to spreading the same therapeutic work across months of weekly appointments.
How Do I Prepare for an EMDR Intensive?
Preparing for an EMDR Intensive includes both clinical and practical planning.
Before treatment begins, we complete the assessment and treatment-planning process, identify your treatment goals, and discuss what you can expect during the intensive.
It is also helpful to prepare your schedule so that treatment has your attention during the days you have reserved. Consider arranging time away from work, childcare or pet care when needed, transportation, meals, and other responsibilities ahead of time.
If you are traveling to Fairbanks, plan to arrive with enough time to settle in before treatment begins rather than scheduling a demanding travel day immediately before your intensive.
You will receive additional information before treatment so you know what to bring, how to prepare, and what to expect during your intensive.
Can I Work During an EMDR Intensive?
Because EMDR Intensive Therapy involves several hours of focused treatment each day, it is generally best to take time away from work during your scheduled intensive.
One of the advantages of the intensive format is the ability to step away from everyday demands and dedicate a concentrated period of time to treatment. Trying to manage meetings, emails, deadlines, or other work responsibilities between therapy blocks can interfere with that purpose.
If possible, keep your treatment days and evenings relatively free of work and other demanding obligations.
For busy professionals, this can also be one of the advantages of intensive therapy: rather than arranging a weekly therapy appointment for months, you can reserve a defined block of time for treatment and then return to your regular schedule.
What Happens After I Complete an EMDR Intensive?
At the completion of your intensive, we assess your progress, review the work completed, identify any remaining treatment needs, and discuss recommendations for what comes next.
For some clients, the intensive may accomplish the primary treatment goals they came to address. Others may have additional experiences or treatment goals they want to work on later.
You may return to an existing therapist, continue with other therapeutic work, schedule additional EMDR treatment when appropriate, or simply allow time to experience and evaluate the changes that occurred during the intensive.
Trauma Recovery Institute also uses follow-up assessment to monitor how symptoms and functioning change after treatment.
The goal is not simply to finish several days of therapy. It is to determine whether the problems that brought you to treatment are actually changing in your everyday life.
How Will We Know Whether EMDR Intensive Therapy Is Working?
Progress during EMDR Intensive Therapy is evaluated throughout treatment rather than waiting until the final day to determine whether anything has changed.
During EMDR processing, we continually assess the experiences being targeted, the level of distress associated with them, changes in thoughts and beliefs, emotional and physical responses, and whether previously distressing material has been successfully processed.
We also look beyond individual memories. The larger question is whether the symptoms and difficulties that brought you to treatment are changing.
Depending on your treatment goals, this may include changes in PTSD symptoms, anxiety, sleep, emotional reactions, triggers, intrusive memories, avoidance, daily functioning, or your ability to respond differently to situations that previously caused significant distress.
Your progress helps guide what we work on next and whether additional treatment is needed.
Does Trauma Recovery Institute Measure Progress During an EMDR Intensive?
Yes. Trauma Recovery Institute incorporates measurement-based care into EMDR Intensive Therapy.
Standardized clinical measures may be used before treatment to establish a baseline for symptoms such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, and overall well-being. Measures are selected based on your individual symptoms and clinical needs.
Progress is also assessed throughout treatment and again following the intensive when clinically appropriate.
These measures provide another source of information alongside your own experience and the clinical assessment. They allow us to look at whether symptoms have actually changed rather than relying solely on a general impression that treatment went well.
The purpose of measurement is not simply to generate a score. It is to help answer an important question:
Is treatment producing meaningful change in the symptoms and problems that brought you here?
What If I Need More Treatment After My EMDR Intensive?
Completing an EMDR Intensive does not mean you can never need therapy again.
Some clients complete the treatment goals they came to address during their intensive. Others may have additional traumatic experiences, symptoms, or treatment goals that they want to address later.
If additional treatment is indicated, we will discuss your options based on what remains and what you need next. This might include another period of EMDR treatment, returning to your regular therapist, or another appropriate form of care.
The amount of treatment needed is individualized rather than predetermined.
An intensive is designed to provide a concentrated period of therapeutic work, not to make unrealistic promises that every problem a person has experienced will be resolved within a specific number of days.
What If I Am Not Sure How Many Days to Schedule?
You do not need to decide how many intensive treatment days you need before contacting Trauma Recovery Institute.
During your consultation and assessment, we will discuss your symptoms, trauma history, previous treatment, treatment goals, and what you would like to accomplish. This information helps determine an initial recommendation for the length of your intensive.
Treatment progress is continually assessed during the intensive. If your treatment needs change as the work progresses, the treatment plan can change as well.
The goal is not to fit you into a predetermined package. The goal is to provide the amount of focused treatment appropriate for your individual needs.
Is an EMDR Intensive Worth the Cost?
This is an important question, particularly because EMDR Intensive Therapy represents a significant financial investment.
One way to evaluate the cost is to consider the treatment format as a whole. Weekly therapy spreads treatment hours across months, while an EMDR Intensive concentrates multiple hours of therapy into consecutive days.
For some people, there are also indirect costs associated with weekly treatment, including repeatedly taking time away from work, arranging childcare, traveling to appointments, or maintaining a weekly therapy schedule over an extended period.
An intensive is not automatically the more economical choice for every person, and no ethical provider can guarantee a particular treatment outcome. The relevant question is whether the concentrated treatment format makes sense for your clinical needs, goals, time, and financial circumstances.
Your consultation gives you an opportunity to understand the recommended treatment plan and anticipated cost before deciding whether you want to proceed.
What Should I Look for When Choosing an EMDR Intensive Therapist?
Choosing an EMDR Intensive therapist involves more than comparing price or the number of treatment hours offered.
Consider the clinician's professional licensure, EMDR Therapy training and credentials, experience treating the problems you want addressed, experience providing intensive treatment, and how they determine whether an intensive is appropriate for you.
You may also want to understand:
How the therapist evaluates your symptoms and treatment needs.
How treatment goals are established.
How progress is monitored throughout the intensive.
Whether treatment is individualized as your needs change.
What support and follow-up are provided after treatment.
Whether the therapist regularly treats PTSD, complex trauma, or the particular concerns bringing you to treatment.
You should also feel comfortable asking questions before making a significant commitment of time, money, and emotional energy.
At Trauma Recovery Institute, Dr. Yvette Curtis is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant with more than 15 years of clinical experience and specializes in EMDR Intensive Therapy.
A consultation gives you an opportunity not only to determine whether an intensive may be appropriate, but also whether the therapist and treatment approach are a good fit for you.
Can EMDR Intensive Therapy Help If Weekly EMDR Has Been Moving Too Slowly?
For some people, yes.
You may already be participating in EMDR Therapy and finding it helpful, but feel that the traditional weekly format does not provide enough time to complete the amount of processing you want to accomplish.
A weekly session may include time for checking in, discussing what has happened since the previous appointment, preparing for processing, completing EMDR work, and closing the session. This can leave a relatively limited amount of time for actual trauma processing before the session ends.
EMDR Intensive Therapy changes the treatment schedule, not the fundamental purpose of EMDR. Multiple hours of focused treatment over consecutive days allow substantially more therapeutic work to occur within a shorter period of calendar time.
For someone who is responding to EMDR but wants a more concentrated treatment format, an intensive may be worth considering.
Do I Have to Tell My Entire Trauma Story During an EMDR Intensive?
No. EMDR Therapy does not require you to provide a detailed verbal account of every traumatic experience in order to process it.
You will need to provide enough information for appropriate assessment, treatment planning, and identification of the experiences connected to your current symptoms and treatment goals. However, EMDR processing is different from spending hours repeatedly describing every detail of what happened.
During EMDR, attention is given to the traumatic memory along with associated thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and beliefs while bilateral stimulation is used as part of the processing procedure.
You remain in control of what you choose to share verbally throughout treatment.
What Questions Should I Ask During an EMDR Intensive Consultation?
Your consultation is an opportunity to determine whether EMDR Intensive Therapy and the therapist providing it are appropriate for you.
Consider asking questions such as:
Do you regularly provide EMDR Intensive Therapy?
What experience do you have treating PTSD or complex trauma?
How do you determine whether I am appropriate for an intensive?
How many treatment days might you recommend for my goals?
How many hours will I be in treatment each day?
How will you monitor my progress?
What happens if I need more or less treatment than originally anticipated?
What should I expect between intensive treatment days?
What follow-up occurs after the intensive?
What will the total anticipated cost be?
How soon could treatment begin?
You should leave the consultation with a clearer understanding of the treatment being recommended, why it is being recommended, what the intensive would involve, and what your next steps would be if you decide to proceed.
A consultation is also your opportunity to decide whether you feel comfortable moving forward with the therapist.
What Does Research Say About Intensive EMDR Therapy?
Research on intensive EMDR Therapy suggests that EMDR does not need to be limited to one session per week to be effective.
Hurley (2018) compared EMDR Therapy delivered in two formats for veterans diagnosed with PTSD: intensive EMDR provided twice daily over a 10-day period and EMDR provided once per week. Both groups received the same overall number of EMDR sessions. PTSD symptoms improved significantly in both groups, with treatment gains maintained at follow-up. The intensive format allowed the treatment to be completed within a much shorter period of calendar time.
Research has also examined intensive EMDR Therapy for individuals with complex PTSD and multiple co-occurring conditions. Bongaerts, van Minnen, and de Jongh (2017) studied an eight-day intensive treatment program that included EMDR Therapy twice daily. Participants experienced significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, with improvements maintained at three-month follow-up. The authors concluded that intensive EMDR was feasible for individuals with severe and complex PTSD, while noting the small sample and need for additional research.
Additional research has examined intensive trauma-focused programs combining EMDR Therapy with other evidence-based trauma treatments. Studies involving individuals with PTSD and complex PTSD have reported substantial symptom reductions following concentrated treatment delivered over eight days. Because these programs included EMDR alongside other interventions, their outcomes cannot be attributed to EMDR Therapy alone, but they add to the growing research examining intensive approaches to trauma treatment.
Taken together, the research supports an important principle behind EMDR Intensive Therapy: evidence-based trauma treatment can be delivered successfully in a concentrated format rather than necessarily being spread across weekly appointments for months.
Research on intensive EMDR Therapy continues to develop, and individual outcomes vary.
References
Bongaerts, H., van Minnen, A., & de Jongh, A. (2017). Intensive EMDR to treat patients with complex posttraumatic stress disorder: A case series. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 11(2), 84–95.
De Jongh, A., Hafkemeijer, L., et al. (2024). Trauma-focused treatment of a client with Complex PTSD and comorbid pathology using EMDR therapy. J Clin Psychol. 80(4):824-835.
Greenwald R, & Camden AA. (2024). A pragmatic randomized comparison of intensive EMDR and intensive PC for victims of crime. Psychol Trauma.16(1):134-142.
Hurley, E. C. (2018). Effective treatment of veterans with PTSD: Comparison between intensive daily and weekly EMDR approaches. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1458.
Voorendonk, E. M., De Jongh, A., Rozendaal, L., & Van Minnen, A. (2020). Trauma-focused treatment outcome for complex PTSD patients: Results of an intensive treatment programme. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11(1).
Ready to Find Out Whether EMDR Intensive Therapy Is Right for You?
If you have been searching for a different approach to trauma treatment, have tried therapy but still feel stuck, or are ready to dedicate focused time to healing from unresolved traumatic experiences, EMDR Intensive Therapy may be worth exploring.
You do not need to know how many days you need or whether an intensive is the right treatment format before contacting Trauma Recovery Institute.
That is what the consultation is for.
During your consultation, we will discuss what you are experiencing, what you have already tried, your treatment goals, and whether EMDR Intensive Therapy may be appropriate for you. If it is, we can also discuss the recommended treatment length, cost, and current availability for beginning treatment.
There is no pressure to commit to treatment. The goal of the consultation is to help you understand your options and determine the appropriate next step.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Schedule Your EMDR Intensive Therapy Consultation
A 30–60 minute confidential consultation to explore whether an EMDR intensive are the right fit.
Limited intensive spots available each month. Most clients book 3–6 weeks in advance.
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