EMDR INTENSIVES

What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR therapy allows the brain to resume its natural healing process to resolve the unprocessed traumatic memories we carry. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). This form of therapy involves fewer sessions than traditional Cognitive Behavioral therapies. 

Individuals who choose to pursue EMDR therapies will see effectiveness in treating the following challenges:

Mom sitting by her childs bedside crying from stress and experiencing depression.
Young woman lying on her bed with hair over her face because she's mentally exhausted.

  • Anxiety

  • Panic attacks

  • Phobias

  • Chronic illnesses

  • Medical challenges

  • Depression

  • Grief

  • Violence

  • Abuse

  • Sexual assault

  • Sleep disturbance

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder

  • Performance anxiety

  • Pain 

This form of therapy affects the brain by creating a natural healing process. EMDR therapy helps patients process these memories and resume healing. So, while you might remember the memory, your initial stress response and the trauma are ultimately resolved.

Illustration of colorful brain wave patterns, symbolizing mental activity, displayed in a therapy office in Central Illinois to promote awareness of mental health and neurological functioning.

What is an Intensive?

An intensive is a way to deliver a specific type of therapy but over a short period, typically multiple consecutive hours. New research shows that incentive therapy for trauma and stress can be highly effective in symptom reduction.

These intensive sessions aim to deliver accelerated results. Our daily lives have required us to rethink standard approaches to help meet each client's needs while providing positive, tangible results with every therapy session.

Counselor engaged in a therapy session with a client at The Mental Wellness Center in Normal, Illinois, in a calm, welcoming office environment.

Traditional Psychotherapy vs. EMDR Intensives: Which One is Better?

Traditional psychotherapy—sometimes even EMDR therapy—lasts no more than 60 minutes long. EMDR intensives are 2 hours, 3 hours, or 4 hours depending on the need and appropriateness of the client and clinical necessity. However, it is more than just the length of time that differs between these two therapies. 

For many people with trauma, 60-minute sessions are not productive as an EMDR intensive. First, it takes time to convince their brains that they can trust their therapist each session. Then, they must persuade their brains to engage in the trauma work and put it away so they can safely return to the world. In the end, they probably only had thirty minutes of real trauma work. It can be hard to see results with this form of therapy, which is why intensives have become more popular. 

Research has proven that engaging in intensive treatment can make as much progress in the condensed format as in standard weekly sessions. This can eliminate living with trauma symptoms for weeks, months, or even years. 

All of this can take a toll on work, relationships, physical health, marriages, employment, parenting, life satisfaction, and general well-being if not properly addressed. For many individuals, these intensive therapies are more productive and take up less valuable, limited free time in their daily lives. These intensives are also alternative options for those waiting to see therapists to work through their trauma.

Child receiving EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy with a trained therapist at The Mental Wellness Center in Normal, Illinois.

Schedule Your EMDR Intensive Treatment Plan Today

With EMDR therapy, you can create an accelerated treatment schedule that meets your needs and comfort level. As EMDR therapy is not billable to insurance, you can dictate how often you schedule your intensives based on your need, not based on your insurance plan. You can even customize how long your intensive therapies last.

Our prices are as follows:

  • 1.5-hour intensive is $250

  • 2-hour intensive is $350

  • 3-hour intensive is $450

  • 4-hour intensive is $650

While the prices might seem more expensive compared to traditional therapies, each EMDR intensive delivers immense value. You receive more tangible, noticeable results in a shorter time as you work through your trauma at an accelerated rate.

That's why many clients have turned to EMDR intensives to assist in working through their trauma. You can reframe your journey in a faster amount of time—with tangible results—with EMDR-intensive sessions.

Contact us to learn more and to schedule your first EMDR therapy session today.