What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is commonly used for overcoming traumas (both big and small).
Unprocessed traumatic memories often come back in the form of nightmares, flashbacks, unexplained pain or general overwhelm, especially when there are reminders of the event.
How does it work?
In an EMDR session, we stimulate the left and right hemispheres of your brain in quick succession (known as bilateral stimulation) through rapid eye movements or sounds and this helps the brain to process the memories.
The path to recovery is considered to be similar to REM sleep when our eyes move back and forth very quickly as we sleep, this is when we process memories of the day. Where memories are particularly painful to revisit I have training in Flash Technique to make this feel more manageable.
I also have additional experience of Attachment Focused EMDR (AF-EMDR) which pays special attention to any difficult early-life relationships and focuses on building resilience and meeting early unmet relational needs as part of healing from the traumas.
EMDR Intensive Enquiry
Get in touch to find out if this therapy option would be a good fit for you
FAQs
What is an EMDR intensive?
EMDR intensives are bespoke treatment plans that give you faster access to therapy and can boost your progress through your difficulties.
Why choose to work intensively with me?
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This is a more flexible way of working that can suit some people’s goals and diaries better than the traditional method of meeting once a week.
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During processing, we carefully try to clean up the old trauma wounds so that they can heal, but this can cause people to feel stirred up after a session. With more frequent and longer sessions, you will not be left holding these feelings on your own for long periods whilst we are moving towards processing them.
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Often in weekly sessions, we do a check-in and sometimes events have arisen in the week which need our attention but can draw us away from your goals around the traumas. But when we work intensively we can stay focused on the main reason you came to therapy more effectively.
This intensive format might suit you if:
…you’ve been meaning to get into weekly therapy for a while now, but your schedule has been so hectic and demanding that a weekly therapy appointment feels more overwhelming than supportive.
…something has happened that has shown you that you need help right now, and you don’t want to spend months doing weekly sessions or sitting on a waiting list.
….you have a clear space to do therapy work for a short period, such as annual leave, university holidays, maternity leave and would like to undertake a chunk of it then.
…you want to do try to do a large amount of therapy work before an approaching deadline like moving house, going on holiday, a reunion, starting a new job etc.
…you have been attending counselling, but an issue related to trauma has arisen which your current therapist does not feel trained to manage. You can attend an EMDR intensive as an adjunct to your counselling and then continue your work with your original therapist.
The EMDR Intensive Week Program Includes:
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Three half-day (2.5 hours) EMDR-Intensives in the same week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. These are carried out either online using Zoom, or in-person.
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Pre-treatment assessments to identify 1) symptoms you would like to alleviate, 2) your attachment style, 3) your areas of being triggered, 4) memories or experiences that still need attention and soothing.
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A customized treatment workbook will be sent to you 2-3 weeks before your intensive. This allows you to work on your treatment goals before and after EMDR intensive sessions, and can also be shared with any future therapists for continuity of care
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Access to my Rewire Your Anxious Brain Kit, a short online course to help you prepare for the week-long intensive.
Fee for the above: £1200
What else might you need:
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An initial assessment session to assess the suitability of this approach (one-off session: £120)
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Follow up sessions to support your adaption to positive changes from treatment or to complete any work that couldn’t be finished during the week-long intensive.
What next? Book a free short 15 minute call to discuss this option.
What is the research that supports this intensive EMDR format
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The intensive application of trauma-focused therapy can enable faster symptom reduction in people with PTSD. It has similar, or even better, results than weekly therapy while reducing the risk that patients drop out of therapy before the end of the treatment. Learn more here and here.
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Intensive EMDR treatment is feasible and is indicative of reliable improvement in PTSD symptoms in a very short time frame. Learn more here.
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An intensive program using EMDR therapy is a potentially safe and effective treatment alternative for complex PTSD too. Learn more here