EMDR Intensive Therapy

in central new jersey & ONLINE throughout MAINE, massachusetts, New jersey, & florida.

Why I Offer EMDR Intensives:

When Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) was originally discovered & created by Francine Shapiro, it was designed to be offered in 90+ minute sessions. Insurance companies have unfortunately set the standard that therapy must be limited to 60 minute sessions. In my first few years offering EMDR in the traditional hour-long therapy model, I began to notice a few patterns:

  • My clients were coming in with multiple day-to-day stressors that would limit us to just 30 minutes of our sessions to process traumatic memories

  • By the time we were getting into the heart of the work, we had 5 minutes left to ground and wrap-up

  • And because they were returning to work or other life responsibilities after our session, it was sometimes a challenge to feel safe enough to engage deeply in the work.

Since I began offering longer 2 hour + intensive sessions to clients, I have received incredible feedback. Clients have shared that when they intentionally set aside longer amounts of time with no interruptions, their bodies/ systems feel much safer engaging in the work. When they know that this is the only thing they need to focus on, it allows for greater momentum, depth and capacity for change. Clients leave sessions feeling lighter and much more energized.

As a therapist journeying with clients processing trauma, I am also incredibly energized witnessing the change that is possible in intensive sessions. A memory or belief that takes 2-4 months to process in weekly EMDR therapy might be processed in a half-day session. And when working with fewer clients in a day, I am able to tune in deeper to each person's system and that focus allows for higher quality clinical care.

EMDR Intensives might be a good fit for you if you…

  • have been in ongoing talk therapy, but keep getting stuck surrounding internalized beliefs & impacts of past experiences

  • have a busy life and find it difficult to fit weekly therapy into your schedule

  • want a retreat-style, focused therapeutic experience

  • want to address a specific traumatic or difficult event (past or recent)

  • are highly motivated to work through trauma in an accelerated & focused format

  • have persistent negative beliefs about yourself that get in the way of living fully

  • logically know something to be true (i.e. I'm safe now, I can make mistakes, I'm doing the best I can), but your body & emotions have not yet got on board with that knowledge

  • have an upcoming life transition or event that you want to prepare for (i.e. marriage, surgery, becoming parent, new job)

If we determine that Intensive EMDR is a good fit for you, we will customize our work based on your needs.

Before we "jump" into any reprocessing of difficult memories, we will work together to ensure you have the resources/tools that help you feel prepared.

I approach EMDR with a relational & attachment lens weaving in Internal Family Systems (IFS), ego-state & somatic work.

EMDR has helped my clients to process:

  • sexual trauma

  • intimate partner abuse

  • pre-verbal & childhood trauma/ neglect

  • complex relational dynamics

  • religious/spiritual trauma (i.e. purity culture, clergy abuse, power dynamics)

  • medical trauma, chronic illness & chronic pain

  • accidents (automobile, workplace)

  • grief & loss

  • phobias

  • community violence

  • workplace/vicarious trauma (healthcare workers, mental health providers, clergy/spiritual leaders, first responders)

  • eating disorders & body dysmorphia

  • identity-based discrimination (LGBTQIA, race, culture, ability)

  • OCD-related triggers

  • persistent negative beliefs about themselves

Intensive EMDR is an investment in your healing.

While the upfront cost of intensive EMDR is greater than weekly therapy, the model offers cost, energy & time-effective treatment.

One half-day intensive is the equivalent of 3-4 months of weekly hour-long EMDR.

Formats I Offer for Intensive Work Include:

Monthly Intensives

  • -Half-day (3 hour) sessions once a month

    -Includes personalized workbook

    -A good fit for individuals who have a busy schedule/ demands and/or are seeing a talk therapist for day-to-day stressors & support.

    -Clients who engage in monthly work enjoy having time to notice & integrate the changes from the prior session.

  • $675 for weekday session on Wednesdays- Fridays ($225/hour)

    $750 for weekend session on Saturdays & Sundays ($250/hour)

Quarterly Intensives

  • -Half-day (3 hour) sessions once every 3 months

    -Includes personalized workbook

    -A good fit for individuals who have already done a retreat-style or several months of monthly intensives/ and/or are seeing a regular talk therapist for day-to-day stressors & support

  • $675 for weekday session on Wednesdays -Fridays ($225/hour)

    $750 for weekend session on Saturdays & Sundays ($250/hour)

Retreat-Style Intensives

  • -Meet for 1-3 days of Intensive EMDR Therapy over 1-3 weeks (scheduling can be customized to meet your specific needs)

    -Includes: 120 minute pre-interview, 60-minute post-interview & personalized workbook

    -A good fit for individuals who might be traveling from farther away and/or are looking for accelerated, focused relief

  • Retreat-Style Intensive packages start at $1350 (6-hour program) and are customized based on individual needs.

    My fees are $225/hour for weekday intensives & $250/hour for weekend intensives.

    A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to book a retreat-style intensive.

Frequently asked questions about EMDR Intensives

FAQs

  • I am currently accepting new clients for intensive work in the late Summer & early Fall of 2024. If you are interested in intensive work, I’d love to set-up a phone call to discuss your goals & together determine whether Intensive work might be a good fit for you.

  • Every person is different. A single incident trauma (i.e. car accident) can often be processed in a 1-day intensive. Longer term trauma or patterns can take a little bit longer to work through. Customized Intensive Schedules are created for each client following an intake. I generally recommend beginning with a foundational 2-3-day intensive & then discussing next steps.

  • Yes! I love offering adjunct EMDR work to individuals who have a long-term relationship with another therapist. In these cases, I like to partner and collaborate with your primary therapist (after you sign a release) as we create your treatment goals.

    EMDR in the intensive format is an especially great option for Adjunct work so that you don’t have to commit to more weekly appointments.

    Adjunct EMDR does not replace or interrupt the flow of long-term talk therapy, rather it supplements and enriches the progress you’re already making with specific & focused work.

  • Intensives are intense due to the greater time commitment they require. Yet as a clinician, I find them to often be gentler on the nervous system than the traditional hour-long weekly therapy model as we have adequate time to settle into the session, engage in deep work, make some solid progress, & ground at the end. As with most trauma work, the approach can be emotionally challenging at times, yet I remind all of my clients that this pain is temporary in pursuit of long-term relief.

  • -Intensive application of trauma-focused therapy seems to be well tolerated in patients with PTSD, enabling faster symptom reduction with similar, or even better, results, while reducing the risk that patients drop out prematurely. Learn more here and here.

    -Intensive EMDR treatment is feasible and is indicative of reliable improvement in PTSD symptoms in a very short time frame. Learn more here.

    -The economy is compelling: even compared to other trauma therapy, the intensive format may decrease treatment time, because of time not spent on a) checking in at the beginning of each session, b) addressing current crises and concerns, c) focusing on stabilizing and coping skills that the client won’t need after trauma healing, or d) assisting the client in regaining composure at the end of the session. Learn more here.

  • Through early July of 2024, I will continue to offer in-person sessions in Highland Park, NJ. In Summer 2024, my business will be moving north to Bangor, Maine, where I plan to open an office for in-person intensives.

    I also offer EMDR remotely via a secure, HIPPA compliant EMDR software called bilateral base. Remote intensives are available to individuals physically located in MA, ME, NJ, or FL at the time of service (due to licensing regulations).

    It would be my dream to host EMDR on a lavender farm someday….

  • Your session time is reserved for you. If you do not show up for your scheduled therapy appointment, and you have not notified me within the appropriate timeframe for the service , or if you cancel your appointment without giving me adequate notice, you will be required to pay a rate of $150/hour booked.

    I require 48-hour notice to cancel or reschedule 60-120 minute intake/ follow-up appointments

    I require 1-week notice to cancel or reschedule 3-hour intensive sessions.

  • In some cases, insurance may be able to cover the intake & follow-up sessions & the first hour of intensive sessions. However because most insurance companies operate in the "therapy hour" model, there are limitations to full coverage of Intensive work at this time.

    If you have been the victim of a violent crime & qualify for Victim’s Compensation, they will oftentimes cover the cost of Intensive EMDR.

    FSAs & HSAs can be used to pay for intensives.

Ready to get started?