What is an
EMDR Intensive?
An accelerated path to healing, designed just for you.
An EMDR Intensive is a focused, extended therapy session that allows you to do deep healing work in a short period of time. Instead of weekly 50-minute sessions that stretch out over months or years, intensives offer several hours of dedicated support over the course of one or more days. It’s like giving your healing the time, space, and attention it truly needs—without interruption.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful, research-backed therapy that helps people process and release painful memories, trauma, and emotional stuck points. During an intensive, we gently and effectively target the root of what’s keeping you stuck—whether it’s anxiety, trauma, grief, burnout, or old patterns that no longer serve you—and work through it in a compassionate and supportive environment.
You’ll leave each day feeling clearer, lighter, and more in control. Many people experience more progress in one intensive than they’ve felt in months of traditional therapy.
Whether you’re facing a recent life event or working through something from the past, an EMDR Intensive can help you move forward with more ease, peace, and self-understanding.
What Does an EMDR Intensive Day Look Like?
Each intensive is personalized, but here’s an example of what a full-day experience may include:
9:00 AM – Arrive & Settle In
We’ll begin with a grounding exercise and check-in. You’ll have time to get comfortable and clarify your goals for the day.
9:30 AM – Resourcing & Preparation
We’ll start with calming, body-based tools and imagery to help you feel safe, supported, and ready to process difficult material gently.
10:00 AM – EMDR Processing Begins
Using EMDR techniques, we’ll begin targeting key memories, patterns, or beliefs that are keeping you stuck. We’ll move at a pace that feels right for you.
12:00 PM – Break for Nourishment & Integration
Take time to eat, rest, walk, journal, or simply be. Breaks are built in to help your nervous system regulate and integrate what’s coming up.
1:30 PM – Continued Processing
We’ll pick up where we left off or begin working with new material, always following your body’s cues and emotional readiness.
3:00 PM – Wrap-Up & Aftercare Planning
We’ll gently close the work, reflect on what shifted, and create a simple aftercare plan so you can continue healing in the days ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have done EMDR before?
Not at all. Whether you’re new to therapy or have years of experience, I’ll guide you through each step so you feel safe and supported.
What if I get overwhelmed during the session?
That’s okay. EMDR is designed to be titrated—we go at your pace. We build in grounding exercises, breaks, and lots of check-ins so you never feel alone or flooded.
How long is an intensive?
Options range from a half-day (2–3 hours) to multi-day formats depending on your needs and goals. We’ll decide together what’s right for you in a consultation.
Will I feel better right away?
Many people feel a sense of relief and clarity quickly, but because we’re doing deep work, it’s normal to feel a little tender or tired afterward. That’s why integration time is so important—and we help support you with that too.
Where does this take place?
Your EMDR Intensive is designed around what feels safest and most supportive for you. Choose from a private therapy office or hospitality suite, a unique destination experience, or the comfort of your own home via secure video. We’ll collaborate to create the setting that best supports your healing journey.
Is this covered by insurance?
Intensives are typically not covered by insurance, but I can provide a superbill for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Some HSA/FSA cards may also be used.
How much does this cost?
It depends on the setting and duration of your intensive. A transparent quote will be provided prior to your custom experience.
"I was amazed by how much we accomplished in just a few days. I flew in for an EMDR Intensive with Alyson because I had hit a wall in weekly therapy. The experience was beautifully held and thoughtfully structured—from the calming space she provided to the way she tailored each session to my needs. We covered more ground in three days than I had in months elsewhere. I left not only lighter, but with real shifts in my nervous system, my self-talk, and my hope for the future. It was truly transformational."
-M.N., age 41