EMDR Intensives provide 6 months of therapy in one week. Get your life back by investing in yourself!
Why Should I Consider an EMDR Intensive for trauma instead of Weekly Therapy?
Picture your symptoms as a backpack. A really heavy backpack with the zippers open and all your stuff falling out. Weekly therapy helps tighten up the the zippers and pull out items at the top of the backpack while intensives help get the heaviest items that are weighing you down.
EMDR Intensives for Trauma are a powerful and efficient way to treat trauma, anxiety, depression and postpartum symptoms. Intensives get to the nitty gritty which can takes months or even years in weekly therapy. For EMDR, clients in weekly therapy will often find it frustrating to end a session at 55 minutes when it feels like things are just getting started. An EMDR Intensive gives you and your therapist the time and space to do the deeper work to help you move forward faster.
Click on the link below to view a presentation that walks through the details of EMDR Intensives for trauma:
Who is a Good Fit for EMDR/Brainspotting Intensives?
You might be a good fit for an EMDR/Brainspotting Intensive if:
- YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD FASTER: If you’ve had a recent trauma (car accident, difficult birth, dog attack, etc…), it can be really beneficial to get treatment right away. If you’ve struggled in weekly therapy and are ready for big mental, spiritual, physical gains, it’s worth considering an intensive.
- YOU HAVE NEGATIVE CORE BELIEFS THAT HAVE BEEN TOUGH TO SHAKE IN WEEKLY THERAPY: Toxic beliefs like (“I’m broken.” “I’m not lovable.”)
- YOU HAVE COMPLICATED TRAUMA OR CHILDHOOD TRAUMA
- YOU HAVE A CRAZY SCHEDULE: Intensives are game-changing if you have a really busy schedule, are a working parent, travel for work or just hate the hustle of getting to an appointment every week.
- YOU HAVE A LIMITED BUDGET: While some people have sticker shock when they see the price of an intensive, it’s helpful to think about the cost of sessions and copays over the course of a year. It can also be powerful to think about the costs of delaying feeling better. Our lives, families, self-esteem all suffer when we aren’t our best selves.
How Much Does an Intensive Cost?
Half Day
In-person Intensive
This includes:
- 3 hours of therapy
- 1 hour break for lunch
- Breaks (as needed for the bathroom, getting outside, etc…)
- Light snacks/coffee/tea
Full Day
In-person Intensive
This includes:
- 6 hours of therapy
- 1 hour break for lunch
- Breaks (as needed for the bathroom, getting outside, etc…)
- Light snacks/coffee/tea
*Individuals must be physically located in the state of Michigan to receive psychotherapy services.
EMDR Intensives FAQ
The number of days needed for an intensive varies greatly depending on the person and the complexity of the issues. It’s typical for an intensive to take between 2-4 full days. Your therapist will provide an estimate based on your goals during your EMDR Intensive Evaluation.
Sessions are focused on both what the individual wants to focus on and their ability to tolerate and reprocess memories.
To make the most of your time and effort, we recommend a minimum of 3 full-days to see results. Complex and complicated trauma may require additional sessions.
Half-day sessions start at 9:00 am and wrap up at 12:00 pm. Half-day sessions included breaks as needed as well as resourcing/grounding/coping skills as needed depending on the individual.
Full-day sessions start at 9:00 am and wrap up at 4:00 pm.
Breaks and an hour lunch are included in the day. Time may be spent on resources/grounding/coping skills as needed depending on the individual.
Think about intensive sessions as similar to a spiritual or personal retreat. It’s best if you plan to set aside time, energy and engage support to ensure you’re able to get the most out of your experience.
Consider:
-Reducing afternoon/evening obligation to focus on self-care.
-Creating plenty of opportunities for activities that support you and your body (exercise, art, massage, etc…).
-Limiting work phone calls.
-Informing with your support system so they are aware that you’ll be focused on self-care and growth during your intensive.
-Making a plan for a healthy lunch (packed or pickup) and consider a picnic at Heritage Park in Farmington Hills on your intensive days.
How Do I Know if an EMDR Intensive Is Right for Me?
Individuals must first schedule an EMDR Intensive Evaluation with Andrea Nitzkin by calling (248) 296-3104 or book online through our portal before becoming eligible to sign up for EMDR Intensive. If Andrea feels that it is clinically appropriate (e.g. you demonstrate sufficient skills to cope with negative emotions that may arise from processing trauma), then our office will schedule your EMDR Intensive.
