What Is an EMDR Intensive and How Does It Work?
If you’ve been researching trauma therapy, you may have come across the term EMDR intensive. At EMDR Indiana, our immersive EMDR intensives are a powerful way to accelerate healing and dive deeply into the work, often more effectively than traditional weekly therapy. But what exactly happens in an EMDR intensive, and how does it lead to transformation?
Understanding EMDR
First, a quick refresher on EMDR. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a well-established, evidence-based therapy for addressing trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and more. The core idea is that distressing memories sometimes get “stuck” in the brain, and EMDR helps reprocess them using a structured, gentle approach.
During EMDR, your therapist gently guides you through bilateral stimulation, usually by having you follow a moving light or hold small vibrating tappers. This helps your brain naturally process and release difficult or overwhelming experiences in a safe, supported way. Over time, the emotional intensity of troubling memories decreases, and more adaptive, positive beliefs can take root.
So, What Is an EMDR Intensive?
An EMDR intensive is simply a longer, more concentrated version of EMDR therapy. Instead of meeting once a week for a short session, you commit to a block of time, often three hours per session, with extended processing. At EMDR Indiana, we offer these three-hour intensives, either as a single session or as a series of three, depending on your needs.
This extended format gives you more continuous time for meaningful work, without the interruption of weekly gaps. It’s especially helpful for processing deep or complex trauma that benefits from sustained attention.
How Does It Work in Practice?
Here is a step-by-step look at how EMDR intensives typically unfold at EMDR Indiana:
Pre-Intensive Consultation
Before your intensive, you’ll have a 15 to 20-minute phone consultation. This helps us assess whether you're ready, what your goals are, and which memories or themes to focus on.Preparation
You’ll complete the necessary paperwork and begin building grounding or self-regulation strategies to support you during the session. Being well-prepared is key to safety and effectiveness.Three-Hour Sessions
Each session lasts about three hours, with breaks built in for rest and to integrate what comes up. For a three-session series, these are scheduled on non-consecutive days, allowing you to rest and reflect in between.Therapeutic Work (Processing + Integration)
During each session, you’ll engage in IFS-informed EMDR (Internal Family Systems + EMDR). That means we not only process traumatic memories but also explore the internal parts (or “sub-personalities”) that contribute to your emotional experience.
We’ll use bilateral stimulation, ask you to focus on specific memories, and guide you through reprocessing. The goal is to help your brain rewire how it stores and responds to those memories, turning distressing, stuck experiences into insights, clarity, and healing.Closure and Integration
At the end of your session, we help you come back into the present safely, using grounding techniques and reflection. Then, you have time to rest and integrate. For series intensives, each day builds on the previous one, deepening the work.Aftercare
Because intensive EMDR is emotionally powerful, having support afterward is important. We’ll talk about self-care, resources, and strategies so you can continue processing and integrating the work outside of session.
Why Choose an EMDR Intensive?
Here’s why many people at EMDR Indiana prefer our immersive intensives:
Accelerated Healing: Intensives can fast-track your progress, offering weeks or months of benefit in just a few days.
Deep Focus: With extended, uninterrupted time, you access more profound emotional material, things that may never fully surface in shorter sessions.
Immersive & Transformational: The IFS-informed EMDR model lets you connect deeply with internal parts, emotions, and memories for lasting change.
Efficient Use of Time: Rather than back-and-forth weekly scheduling, an intensive lets you commit in a focused way and then return to life with real progress.
Is It Right for You?
EMDR intensives are powerful, but they require readiness and intention. They’re best suited for people who:
We are motivated to do significant healing work now.
Can block out a chunk of time for therapy.
Have access to support after each session (self-care, rest, emotional processing).
We always do a consultation first to make sure this format is safe and appropriate for your situation.
Take the Next Step
If you’re ready to experience accelerated healing and want to explore whether an EMDR intensive is right for you, EMDR Indiana is here to help. Our immersive, IFS-informed EMDR intensives are designed to support deep transformation, powerful insight, and lasting change.
Get Started Today. Contact us for a free consultation. Let’s explore how intensive EMDR could help you reprocess trauma, build strength, and reclaim your life.