Service Details
At a glance
Who it’s for: People with one hard memory or event, something that keeps coming back, or something that stopped moving in regular therapy.
Why people come: To go deeper on one specific memory in fewer visits, instead of squeezing it into weekly sessions.
What to expect: A preparation conversation, then an extended session of about three hours using EMDR, then a follow-up session.
Good to know: Your therapist is trained in EMDR. Sessions are in person in Pleasantville, or online for clients located in New York.
Cost: Shared before you book, with a written Good Faith Estimate. Just ask.
What an EMDR intensive is
Some memories won’t settle, no matter how many times you talk them through. An EMDR intensive gives you a longer stretch of focused time, usually about three hours, to work on one specific memory or event. Instead of squeezing the work into fifty-minute weekly sessions, you get room to go deeper in fewer visits.
Who it helps
People come to an intensive with a single hard event, a memory that keeps coming back, or something that stopped moving in regular therapy. It can also suit anyone who would rather work in concentrated stretches than every week.
How it works, step by step
First, we talk about what you want to work on and make sure an intensive is a good fit. Then comes the extended session, where we use EMDR, a structured therapy for processing distressing memories. A follow-up session afterward helps you see how things have settled and what, if anything, comes next.
Is it right for you?
EMDR isn’t right for everyone, and we’ll tell you honestly if a different approach would serve you better. Your therapist is trained in EMDR and is a licensed clinical social worker and credentialed addiction counselor.
A closer look at how EMDR works
EMDR is usually described in eight phases. It begins with history-taking and treatment planning, then preparation, where you learn calming and grounding skills. Next come assessment, where you identify the target memory and how it feels, and desensitization, where you focus on the memory while following bilateral stimulation. Installation strengthens a more helpful belief, a body scan checks for leftover tension, closure helps you settle, and reevaluation checks progress at the next visit. In an intensive, these steps are concentrated, with preparation and follow-up built in.
What bilateral stimulation is
Bilateral stimulation means alternating input to the left and right sides of the body or senses, most often side-to-side eye movements, alternating taps, or tones. While you hold a memory in mind and follow the stimulation, many people find the memory becomes less vivid or less emotionally charged. Researchers continue to study exactly why EMDR works. What matters in practice is that it is structured, paced, and guided by a trained therapist who checks in often.
How we prepare you before the long session
Preparation is what makes an intensive safe and useful. Before the extended session, we talk about your history, what you want to work on, and how you cope with stress. We teach grounding and calming skills you can use if feelings become intense, and we agree on a clear target so the long session has focus. We also talk through practical matters: how to look after yourself the night before, what to plan afterward, and who you can lean on.
What the extended session feels like
Most people expect something dramatic and find it quieter and more focused than they imagined. You bring the memory to mind, notice what comes up, and follow the stimulation in short sets, pausing between sets to report what you noticed. You don’t have to describe every detail. The therapist paces the work, offers breaks, and helps you settle before you leave. It’s tiring, in the way a long, honest conversation can be.
The days after an intensive
When we suggest a slower pace
An intensive isn’t the right first step for everyone. We may suggest weekly sessions first if you’re in an active crisis, if substance use is heavy, if you’re dissociating often, if there’s very little support in your life right now, or if the experiences are long-standing and layered. A slower pace with more preparation can be safer, and it may lead to an intensive later.
About your therapist
Cost
Intensive pricing is shared before you book, along with a written Good Faith Estimate. Just ask and we’ll send it.
Self-pay rate. You have the right to a Good Faith Estimate of expected costs before your first session.
Common questions
Is EMDR only for PTSD?
EMDR is best known for post-traumatic stress, and it’s also used for other distressing experiences. Whether it fits you is something we assess together.
Will I have to talk about everything?
No. You don’t need to describe every detail, and you set the pace.
Can I do an intensive online?
Online intensives are available for clients located in New York. Some people prefer in person for this work, and we’ll talk it through.
How do I book?
Request a session and mention you’re interested in an intensive. We’ll talk about fit first, then plan the preparation and the extended session.
What does EMDR stand for?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a structured therapy that helps the brain process distressing memories.
How long is an intensive?
About three hours, plus a follow-up session. We’ll confirm the exact plan with you before you book.
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