Who Should (or Shouldn’t) Do an EMDR Intensive

Written By Drawing Within Design

I lead clients through EMDR Intensive sessions in my Los Angeles office or online to California residents.

An EMDR Intensive is a 3-4 hour therapeutic experience designed to help you quickly reduce the symptoms of a past traumatic event, or multiple related events.

This format - a longer, immersive session - can help you to have more breakthroughs than your standard 50 minute session. Instead, you have the spaciousness for deeper emotional processing. EMDR Intensives can offer long-lasting  symptom relief that can improve  your overall well-being. 

While it might seem like this opportunity to carve out a whole day focused on healing is for everyone, there are actually some things to know about EMDR Intensives. While rapid recovery is possible for some in a 3-4 hour session, it’s not appropriate for everyone.

In this article, I’ll share with you who is a good candidate for EMDR Intensives, based on my experiences with clients.

Who is a Good Candidate for EMDR Intensives?

Characteristics of Ideal Candidates:

  • Have a specific trauma or PTSD symptoms

  • Do not have time for weekly sessions due to personal reasons or work limitations

  • Emotional resilience to handle intensive sessions

  • Previously experienced EMDR 

  • Willing to participate in a comprehensive assessment to determine if intensive is appropriate

What to Consider Before Deciding on an EMDR Intensive

Are You Personally Ready?

It’s important to ask yourself - and your therapist - about your emotional and psychological readiness for intensive therapy.

Think about your typical experience working with your therapist in a regular EMDR treatment session. Do you feel comfortable with navigating through a longer experience? Does it feel like an intensive would be an opportunity to accomplish more - since you’re able to keep doing the work of addressing the traumatic event?

It’s also important to become clear on your personal goals and expectations for the session, and to talk this over with your therapist in pre-treatment meetings.

Life Circumstances:

What do you typically adjust in your schedule both before and after your time with your therapist?

You’ll want to be sure that your schedule allows you the ability to carve out an extended period of time - not just for the intensive itself, but before and after too.

You may wish to consider taking time off of work, arranging extended childcare, and even planning out your meals in advance for a few days after your intensive.

Support Systems:

Take time to consider your resources and support systems at home. You’ll be processing at lot both during and after your intensive. While there are benefits to this, it’s also essential to have a strong support network around you as you integrate your breakthroughs.

Contraindications

EMDR Intensives might not be advisable if you’re experiencing unstable mental health conditions, or a diagnosed personality disorder.

Shorter sessions might be a better fit for you if you don’t have adequate support or don’t have spaciousness in your schedule to properly process post-intensive.

Safety Protocols

Before the day of your intensive, make sure you work together with your therapist to establish a safety plan. This will help you to set boundaries for what your emotional, mental, and psychological limitations are. You’ll have a plan in place so that you can manage any potential triggers.

Conclusion

As a Licensed Therapist in the state of California, I offer EMDR Intensives to clients in my Los Angeles office and online to CA residents.

If you’re ready to make a massive stride toward lasting change with an EMDR Intensive, contact me here for a free 15-minute consult to see if you’re a good candidate for this offering.

Drawing Within Design http://www.drawingwithindesign.com