Introduction to EMDR Therapy

An EMDR intensive is an extended, focused therapy session designed to help the brain process trauma more efficiently than traditional weekly therapy alone. Instead of meeting for 45–90 minutes, intensives are 3–6 hours long and allow us to stay with the healing process long enough for the nervous system to move through activation and into resolution—without having to stop just as progress begins.

Intensives are booked directly with Dr. Thompson and are thoughtfully planned to ensure safety, preparation, and adequate support before and after the work.

 (What the Research and Clinical Evidence Show)

Research on EMDR consistently shows that treatment dose and continuity matter. Trauma processing requires sufficient time for the brain to:

• Access the traumatic memory network
   
• Reprocess distressing material
   
• Install adaptive beliefs
   
• Allow the nervous system to settle back into regulation
   

Studies and clinical outcomes demonstrate that extended EMDR sessions can lead to:

• Faster symptom reduction
   
• Greater emotional integration
   
• Fewer disruptions between sessions
   
• Less re-activation from stopping mid-processing

Clinical research and EMDR outcome studies suggest that approximately 12–15 hours of EMDR processing often produces meaningful and lasting change for many trauma presentations.

810 minutes (13.5 hours) falls squarely within this evidence-supported range.

Instead of spreading this work over many months, intensives allow this time to be completed in a concentrated, structured way, often resulting in:

• Quicker stabilization
   
• Clearer emotional shifts
   
• Reduced trauma intrusion in daily life

• Length: 3–6 hours per session
   
• Format: Individual therapy
   
• Rate: $230 per hour (virtual). $350 per hour (in person)
   
• Scheduling: Booked directly with Dr. Thompson
   
• Preparation: Pre-intensive planning and readiness assessment
   
• Follow-Up: Integration and support sessions as needed

EMDR intensives are especially helpful for individuals who are psychologically ready and seeking focused healing, including:

• Ongoing intrusive thoughts or images
   
• Emotional shock, grief, or loss of safety
   
• Feeling “stuck” despite insight or couples work
   
• Desire to stabilize before or alongside relationship repair
   

• Persistent guilt, shame, or self-attacking thoughts
   
• Difficulty understanding or regulating emotional responses
   
• Wanting to address underlying trauma patterns contributing to behavior
   
• Commitment to accountability and personal repair
   

• Have limited availability for weekly therapy
   
• Want to accelerate progress safely
   
• Have already done preparatory or stabilization work
   
• Are emotionally motivated and engaged in the process

EMDR intensives are not appropriate for everyone. An intensive may not be recommended if you are currently experiencing:

✘ Active suicidal ideation or severe self-harm behaviors
✘ Active substance dependence without stabilization
✘ Untreated psychosis or mania
✘ Significant dissociation without adequate resourcing
✘ Ongoing crises that prevent emotional containment
✘ Lack of external support or inability to rest afterward

If an intensive is not the right fit, we will discuss alternative pacing or preparation to ensure your safety and success.

EMDR intensives are not about pushing through pain or “doing more faster.” They are about creating enough time, safety, and continuity for your brain and nervous system to do what they are designed to do—heal.

If you’re curious whether an intensive is right for you, this decision is made collaboratively, with careful attention to readiness, capacity, and support.

Please reach out to discuss next steps or to determine whether an EMDR intensive aligns with your treatment goals.