Our Therapy

An intensive is a way to deliver treatment in an intensive but short period of time, typically a weekend, where multiple EMDR sessions per day are completed. New research shows that intensive therapy for trauma and stress can be extremely effective on symptom reduction. Our EMDR therapists are also trained in Trauma Counseling, CBT,   and will frequently wind these modalities into the EMDR treatment to further reduce and resolve symptoms. (These are referred to as “interweaves”).

• Research shows that clients completing intensive treatment can make as much progress in the condensed format as in standard weekly sessions. This can eliminate weeks or months of living with trauma symptoms, and with the toll this takes on work, relationships, marriages, parenting and general wellbeing.
• Since sessions are completed over two or three days (typically one of the days is also a Saturday), it greatly reduces lost work time.
• While there is a larger upfront cost, the shorter duration of treatment over all can save money.
• Waiting lists in Virginia are long for good trauma treatment providers. Intensives have much shorter wait times, as clients are through in the same week they start.
• Intensives are being studied in the literature as a state of the art modality for trauma.
• Clients who are out of town or out of state can take advantage of access to excellent treatment quickly
• Local clients who have transportation issues or childcare complications can also make arrangements for the single weekend. This eliminates the need to have ongoing help with children or rides to therapy. 

• Your therapist will do a strong assessment first. 
• Your therapist may also provide you with written assessment materials (typically a questionnaire) to help pinpoint targets for EMDR and your goals, as well as gather additional information about your background and history. Your therapist will also want to view relevant previous mental health records, and staff with your current therapist (if you have one).

• The treatment phase of the intensive is typically three sessions per day over a weekend. There will be breaks in between for meals, rest and self-care. 
• Your therapist will provide you with a list of suggested activities in town that help re-regulate your nervous system after sessions, such as massage therapists, yoga classes, nature hiking areas and other options. 

Intensives are $1500 self-pay. Insurance does not cover the costs, as intensives are not part of coverage plans. There are also no insurance codes for intensives for billing, so clients cannot submit claims to insurance themselves. 

If you are interested in learning more about Intensives or in scheduling this, please fill out our contact form and indicate this preference in the “reason for inquiry” section.