What is an EMDR Intensive?
An EMDR intensive is a focused block of trauma therapy designed to help you process more in less time. Instead of weekly 60-minute sessions, you’ll spend a half day, full day, or series of days in structured, extended sessions with your therapist. This allows you to enter a flow state where deeper processing can happen, without the stop-start rhythm of traditional therapy.
We use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a well-researched approach that helps your brain and body reprocess traumatic memories and reduce emotional distress. Intensives follow the same phases of EMDR as weekly therapy, but the extended time gives us space to go further, safely, intentionally, and with the support you need at every stage.
This isn’t rushed therapy. It’s therapy with fewer interruptions, greater momentum, and room to breathe.
Research shows EMDR intensives can lead to significant symptom reduction in fewer sessions, often achieving in days what might take months with weekly therapy.
Who Is This For?
EMDR intensives are for people who are ready to work through something that feels too big, too stuck, or too urgent for once-a-week therapy. You might already be in therapy, or you might be starting for the first time. Either way, you know it’s time to face what’s holding you back.
This approach can be especially helpful if you:
- Are a first responder or front-line professional exposed to trauma
- Are living with PTSD, complex trauma, or dissociation
- Feel like your nervous system is always on high alert
- Have done therapy before but feel like something’s still unresolved
- Struggle with anxiety, grief, or emotional overwhelm that won’t go away
- Want to avoid retraumatization by staying in the work longer, not starting and stopping each week
We also support current clients who want to deepen their trauma work through a short-term, intensive format.
Who It May Not Be For
While EMDR intensives can be powerful, they’re not the right fit for everyone.
This approach may not be recommended if you:
- Are currently in an acute mental health crisis
- Are actively using substances in a way that disrupts daily functioning
- Have limited emotional regulation skills or safety resources
- Are unable to take time away from work, parenting, or caregiving responsibilities
- Have not yet developed a strong sense of internal stability or support
If an intensive isn’t the best fit right now, we can still help.
We offer weekly trauma therapy, EMDR preparation sessions, and nervous system regulation support with members of our team. Our intake process is collaborative, we’ll help you figure out what pace and format is safest and most sustainable for where you are right now.
A 2021 study found that EMDR intensives were just as effective, if not more, than weekly therapy, with many participants experiencing a significant drop in PTSD symptoms after just one intensive weekend.
Why Choose an EMDR Intensive?
Both weekly therapy and EMDR intensives can support healing, but they serve different needs.
Weekly sessions offer consistency and connection, especially during challenging times or when life feels overwhelming. But when you’re working through trauma, the short format can sometimes make it harder to build momentum. You might spend part of each session checking in, navigating the stress of the week, and gently re-entering the work. Just as you start to touch something important, the session is wrapping up, and by the next week, life has shifted again.
EMDR intensives offer an option that’s more focused and immersive. With extended time and fewer transitions, they allow you to stay in the therapeutic flow, helping you move through what’s been weighing you down with more depth and continuity.
In just one 4-hour intensive, you may experience the same amount of focused trauma work as 8 weeks of weekly sessions.
Here’s how they compare:
Weekly Therapy
- 60-minute sessions, once a week
- ~20-30 minutes of EMDR or deeper processing per session
- Gentle, gradual pace over months
- Weekly check-ins and transitions can interrupt momentum
- Ideal for ongoing support, stability, or emotional maintenance
- Approx. $1,600 over 8 one-hour sessions, over a 2 to 8 months period (depending on weekly or monthly appointments)
EMDR Intensives
- 2-4 hour sessions (half-day, full-day, or multi-day options)
- 90-220 minutes of sustained trauma processing per session
- Focused, immersive healing-progress in days or weeks
- Fewer interruptions = more continuity and depth
- Ideal for trauma resolution, stuckness, or deeper shifts
- Approx. $1,700 for a 4-hour intensive.
What to Expect in an EMDR Intensive
Starting an EMDR Intensive can feel like a big step. Whether you’re new to therapy or have done trauma work before, we want you to feel informed, supported, and grounded.
Here’s what the process looks like, step by step.
Free 20-minute phone consultation
A 20-minute phone call with our intake coordinator.
We’ll talk about your goals and whether an intensive is the right fit.
If it’s not, we’ll guide you to other options that support your healing.
Intake & Workbook
You’ll complete secure online forms and assessments.
Your therapist will review these to understand your history and goals.
You’ll also receive a custom workbook to support you before, during, and after your intensive.
The Intensive
Each day runs 5.5 hours with a 1.5-hour lunch and breaks as needed.
You’ll work on:
- Grounding and regulation
- Trauma processing using EMDR
- Supportive tools like tapping, mindfulness, or parts work
Your therapist will guide you at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
Aftercare
Your workbook becomes a tool to reflect and track progress.
You can schedule a follow-up session 1-2 weeks later to check in and plan next steps.
You’ll leave with greater clarity, calm, and confidence.
What Makes PMP Therapy Different?
At Private Matters Psychotherapy, trauma work isn’t just something we offer. It’s what we do.
Our team specializes in trauma and PTSD, with a particular focus on EMDR and integrative, evidence-based approaches. Whether you’re a first responder, a survivor of a single event, or someone carrying complex or developmental trauma, we meet you with warmth, skill, and structure.
Here’s what makes our EMDR intensives unique:
- Trauma is our clinical focus. You won’t have to explain what hypervigilance, freeze, or dissociation mean, we understand trauma at its core.
- We work with the nervous system, not against it. Intensives are paced, not pushed. You’ll be supported through regulation and grounding, not rushed through protocols.
- We’re flexible and collaborative. We tailor the format and session flow to your needs, not the other way around.
- We know the weight first responders carry. We have deep experience supporting police, firefighters, paramedics, and other frontline professionals with trauma-informed care.
- We’re committed to meaningful change. These intensives are designed to move the needle, not just help you cope, but help you heal.
You don’t need to carry this alone, or carry it forever.
Let this be the start of something lighter.
Did You Know? At PMP Therapy, over 80% of our clinical work involves trauma, PTSD, and dissociation. EMDR isn’t just something we do, it’s central to how we help clients heal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an EMDR Intensive cost?
We offer three half-day intensives, from 10am to 3:30pm. This includes 1.5 hrs for lunch and other shorter breaks.
- Initial 90-min intake assessment and workbook review: $500
- 5.5 hour intensive day: $1700 / day
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. We offer flexible payment options, including split or scheduled payments for intensives. Let us know what you need, we’re happy to work with you.
What's your cancellation policy?
We ask for at least 7 days’ notice to cancel or reschedule your intensive. Because of the time commitment and preparation involved, cancellations with less than 7 days’ notice are subject to a fee.
Is this covered by insurance?
It may be, it depends on your insurance policy. EMDR intensives are billed as psychotherapy sessions with a registered therapist (RP or RSW), which are covered by most extended health insurance plans. We recommend checking with your provider to confirm your coverage.
Do I need to be a current client to book an intensive?
No. EMDR intensives are available to both new and existing clients. If you’re already working with a therapist, we’re happy to collaborate with them to support continuity of care.
What if I’m not ready for trauma processing?
That’s okay. If we determine together that an intensive isn’t the right fit at this time, we’ll support you in finding another option. Such as weekly therapy, EMDR preparation work, or nervous system regulation support with one of our therapists.
Can I do more than one intensive?
Absolutely. Some clients use intensives as a one-time reset. Others return for additional sessions after a few weeks or months. Your therapist will help you determine what’s most supportive based on your goals.
What if I get overwhelmed or shut down during the session?
Your therapist will pace the work in a way that honors your nervous system. There’s no pressure to “push through.” You’ll have time to pause, regulate, and shift focus as needed. We’re here to help you feel safe, not flooded.
Can I book just the consultation before deciding?
Yes. The free 20-minute consult is designed to help you decide if this is the right path. There’s no pressure to commit, and we’ll offer alternative support if an intensive isn’t the best fit.
Are EMDR intensives in person or virtual?
EMDR intensives are offered in person only at our Burlington office. This allows us to provide a grounded, regulated space for extended trauma processing.
Can I combine EMDR intensives with ongoing therapy?
Yes. EMDR intensives can be a standalone service or used to complement ongoing therapy. Some clients pause weekly sessions during an intensive period, while others continue with both. We’re happy to collaborate with your existing therapist if you’re working with someone outside of PMP Therapy.
Which therapists at PMP Therapy offer EMDR intensives?
Currently, EMDR Intensives are only offered by Marleen Filimon
