EMDR Intensives in
St Louis
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) Therapy is a highly effective, evidence-based therapy method used to target disturbing incidents or traumatic events.
People experience stress everyday and our brains have the innate capacity to make sense of these events and still maintain mental wellness.
However, sometimes when a distressing event happens in our lives, we might not have the support or resources needed to move through it (maybe generational patterns left you without a stable, loving parent to model resiliency, for example) and these memories may create thoughts that are unhelpful- such as "I'm a bad person," or "I'm responsible for everyone else." As you go about life, these thoughts compound because our brains are really great at finding evidence to support what we already believe.
EMDR gives us the opportunity to revisit these incidents that caused the unhelpful thoughts- but in a safe and contained way. By creating felt-safety within the container of the present moment, with a compassionate guide, your brain gets the chance to rewrite the thought patterns and reduce the level of disturbance associated with this past event- and create a more helpful thought pattern for future events as well. So the next time you make a mistake- your brain follows a different path- "I'm not a bad person; I'm allowed to make mistakes."
My personal EMDR experience
(Explanation of EMDR is at 2x speed, but returns to normal)
What is an EMDR intensive?
An EMDR intensive is an extended therapy format which allows you to dedicate focused, uninterrupted time to trauma work. While weekly EMDR effectively helps you address a range of issues, intensives are formatted to get the work done quickly and effectively. Instead of meeting for one hour once per week, we schedule several hours over one to three days in order to maintain flow and continuity in processing. For some clients, this structure allows the work to unfold in a way that feels more natural and aligned.
An EMDR intensive is therapy accelerated.
Weekly EMDR has some drawbacks that intensives can fix:
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Long gaps between therapy sessions can interrupt momentum.
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You might need additional time to restabilize and check in each session, hindering processing progress.
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You may feel like you're stuck on the same problems without being able to fully move past them.
By engaging in EMDR intensive therapy, you can move through therapy more efficiently, leading to faster relief.
Perspective shift: You have two options.
Option one: You could attend weekly sessions for about a year and feel better later.
Option two: You could commit to an intense EMDR wellness retreat for one-three days, and start feeling the effects of moving past decades-old stuck points in a matter of weeks.
There's no right or wrong, both lead to results. The question is: Which one feels right to you?
Who benefits from EMDR Intensives?
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People who are still impacted by deeply painful events that happened long ago.
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People with unhelpful thought patterns stuck on loop, such as "I'm not good enough," "I have to be responsible," and "I'm not safe."
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People who need to get ready for a major change (like marriage, parenthood, surgery/medical procedure, starting a new job, etc).
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People who have experience with EMDR and experienced enhanced wellbeing.
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People who have been going to weekly therapy and feel like progress has stalled. (Sometimes, the intensive is just enough to get "unstuck," and progress may continue on in weekly therapy.)
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People who are needing to experience a significant shift and feel ready to change their life for the better.
Investment
I offer a variety of EMDR Intensive Therapy options in Collinsville, IL. EMDR
Intensive Therapy can be done in person or virtually.
If money is a concern, contact for financing options.
Extended Session EMDR
Half Day EMDR Session
up to 3 hours
Desinged for clients who would benefit from extended time to focus on a very specific goal, such as a recent event or single issue.
Includes:
Client Workbook
Preparation
EMDR Processing
Breaks as needed
Integration
Follow-up Support
$808
(or as low as $34/mo with financing option)*
Single Issue Intensive
Full Day EMDR Session
7 hour day
Work is focused on a very specific goal, such as a recent event or single issue.
Full Day
broken into two halves
one hour lunch in between
Includes:
Client Workbook
Preparation
EMDR Processing
Breaks as needed
One hour Lunch
Integration
Coordination of Care
Follow-up Support
$1600
(or as low as $67/mo with financing option)*
Story Clearing Intensive
3 Full
7 hour Days
Most comprehensive EMDR treatment. We may target multiple events across the lifespan.
3 Full Days are each broken into two halves
one hour lunch in between
Includes:
Client Workbook
Preparation
EMDR Processing
Breaks as needed each day
One hour lunch each day
Integration
Coordination of Care
Follow-up Support
$4800
(or as low as $200/mo with financing option)*
Benefits and Risks of EMDR Intensive Sessions
What does the research say?
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When you sign up for an intensive, you are the only client for the day. This means you will have a fully attuned and present clinician, with undivided focus on you.
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An EMDR intensive is an investment similar to a medical procedure. We could "cut the tumor out," per se, rather than shaving off a little bit at a time.
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An EMDR intensive is like a wellness retreat. You're putting aside your responsibilities to focus on what you need. You get to start feeling better sooner.
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EMDR Intensives are rarely covered by health insurance, but some plans may offer partial reimbursement. More information can be obtained by calling the number on the back of your insurance card. If needed, financing options are available.
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EMDR Intensives work as effectively as week-to-week sessions.
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EMDR Intensives get faster results and reduced dropout rates.
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EMDR Intensives are linked to positive outcomes in women with CPTSD.
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Clients report significant decrease in symptoms following EMDR Intensive sessions, and follow-up reports state that changes stay stable post-treatment.
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Reference articles listed at bottom of page for additional reading.
References
Butler & Ramsey-Wade (2024). How do clients experience intensive EMDR for post-traumatic stress? An interpretative phenomenological analysis. European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, Volume 8, 1-8, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejtd.2024.100479
Bongaerts et al (2017). Intensive EMDR to Treat Patients With Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Series. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, Volume 11, Number 2, 84-95. https://spj.science.org/doi/10.1891/1933-3196.11.2.84
Gutner, C. A., Suvak, M. K., Sloan, D. M., & Resick, P. A. (2016). Does timing matter? Examining the impact of session timing on outcome. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 84(12), 1108–1115. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000120
Tijsseling et all (2024). The Effectiveness and Tolerability of an Intensive Outpatient Trauma Treatment Program for Adolescents With PTSD. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, Volume 18, Number 2, 68-81. https://spj.science.org/doi/10.1891/EMDR-2023-0051