From Overwhelmed to Unstuck: Insights from EMDR Intensives

I’ve been offering EMDR Intensives at REM Therapy Services for about 4 months now, and I have to say, I’m blown away by the results so far. I’ve been an EMDR therapist since 2019, and have been using EMDR very regularly in my practice over the past 6 years, and am starting to teach EMDR, too. I’ve often boasted about how quickly EMDR therapy can work for trauma healing. I tell new clients to try this therapy out for 6 to 10 sessions to notice a difference, and many people graduate from therapy in a few months, which is pretty short in therapy world, quite frankly. BUT - even though a few months isn’t considered long for a time commitment in therapy, a few months can still feel like an excruciatingly long time to wait to feel relief, for some people. Some people just want to feel better now, as soon as possible, and that’s the hope EMDR intensives can provide. Rather than waiting months in order to start feeling better, I’ve seen clients experience incredible results in just 3 days. Many of these clients report contentment and satisfaction with the process, that they did not feel the need to commit to longer-term therapy because their goal has been met already in the 3 days. And this is so, so gratifying for me to witness as a therapist.

What I’m learning and sharing is that EMDR intensives can actually save people’s time, money, and mental/emotional energy in the long-run. Yes, it’s a more expensive investment upfront, but the results truly speak for themselves. Research on outcomes for EMDR also indicate that intensives are just as effective, or more effective, than traditional weekly/biweekly therapy (Hurley & Becker, 2018). Imagine that; Potentially cutting out months or even years of therapy, experiencing more emotional peace and freedom in just a few days. It’s not magic, but it’s pretty close.

And don’t get me wrong; the traditional weekly therapy model WORKS, and it works well. There are plenty of reasons why EMDR therapy at a steady pace makes more sense for people, and I’m 100% on board with it. I don’t believe that EMDR intensives are the right choice for everybody, but with the right-fit client, it’s an absolute game-changer.

Want to see if an EMDR intensive program might be right for you? Schedule a free intro call today.