EMDR intensives
An EMDR intensive is a concentrated format — multiple hours of EMDR work in a single day or across several consecutive days — designed for people who want to move faster, have limited availability for weekly sessions, or are dealing with material that benefits from sustained momentum.
Weekly therapy has its place. But for some people and some presentations, the week between sessions works against the process. An intensive removes that gap. You go deeper, you stay in the work longer, and you often see movement that would take months in a weekly format.
Who intensives are a good fit for
People who have done EMDR before and want to accelerate progress
Those with limited schedules who can't commit to weekly sessions
People dealing with a specific incident they want to resolve completely
Those preparing for or recovering from a major life event
Couples who want to do concentrated trauma work together
What an intensive looks like
Intensives at NWMHA are tailored to each client. A typical format might be 3–4 hours of active EMDR work with breaks built in, preceded by a preparation session and followed by an integration session. We don't rush — the intensive format gives us room to work thoroughly rather than watching the clock.
Both individual and couples intensive formats are available. Couples intensives combine EMDR processing with focused relational work.
Is an intensive right for you
Not everyone is a good candidate for an intensive format. Clients with very high baseline activation or limited internal resources may need more preparation time before intensive work is appropriate. We'll assess this together.