Why busy professionals are choosing EMDR Intensives

EMDR is an acronym you may have heard of come up lately in conversations or on social media. It stands for "Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing" - a therapy developed by the late Dr. Francine Shapiro, a Clinical Psychologist passionate about treating trauma on her iconic walk in the park in 1987. The story goes that while she was out for a walk, she noticed she started to feel less distressed about a situation that was bothering her which gave her the idea to incorporate eye movements (a form of bilateral stimulation) into therapy sessions with trauma survivors. Many of her early EMDR clients were Vietnam war veterans, and after they successfully found relief with the therapy, other populations have been studied as well. It is now one of the most researched therapies worldwide for PTSD, and has emerging evidence to be effective at treating other concerns as well, such as specific phobias (eg: emetophobia, needle phobia, etc.)

So what is an EMDR Intensive? You can think of it as a heroic dose of EMDR - several hours of therapy in a single day or across several days (eg: 3-15 hours) with specific focus and goals in mind. If ongoing weekly-biweekly EMDR is like HBO, an EMDR Intensive would be like Netflix - being able to binge watch your favorite show instead of waiting in between episodes to progress.

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Benefits of EMDR Intensives for Busy Professionals

More and more folks are switching from the ongoing grind of weekly sessions due to challenges with scheduling (late days at the office, shift work) parenting obligations (taking kids to activities, appointments) and the desire to "do the work" in depth and as efficiently as possible. EMDR Intensives are an excellent option for those who feel like they are playing Tetris while scheduling ongoing sessions, and for those who are ready to dive in to feel better, faster.

Clients also are enjoying the cost-effective nature of intensives. In Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), EMDR sessions on average cost $190-$210 per hourly session. If you work with a therapist weekly for 6 months at a rate of $200 per hour, that adds up to about $4800. At Following Seas Psychotherapy in Dartmouth, a 3 day EMDR Intensive costs $3600 - clients spend less time in therapy, and make progress faster without the start/stop, and limited processing time (roughly 30-40 min in an hour session is used for direct trauma work due to admin, checking in, risk assessment, etc.) When clients crunch the numbers with respect to their individual needs and goals - Intensives make sense for a lot of people, especially those who have already been in therapy for a long time and have hit a plateau.

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The EMDR Intensive Process

At Following Seas Psychotherapy, your intensive journey starts with a 15-20 min screening call to discuss goals, vibe check your therapist (Sam Sarty, MSW RSW RN - EMDRIA Certified Therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training), and to assess candidacy for an intensive. Other treatment options and resources will be explored for options so you can make an informed decision.

The next step is a 90 min assessment to review history of the presenting concerns, confirm goals and make a plan for the intensive days. There are no strings attached - if at any point you decide an intensive is not for you right now, that choice will be honored, and you will be provided with referrals.

In between the assessment and scheduled intensive days, clients are provided with an individualized intensive workbook that usually takes about 2-3 hours to complete. This is to prepare both you and your therapist for the intensive, as well as to support the processing throughout and post.

During your intensive days, your therapist will collaborate with you on your needs, structure, and ensure your safety and wellbeing is top priority. Your intensive days are all about you - you are the only client Sam sees that day/week, and taking time off or minimizing obligations in between intensive days is encouraged if possible.

After your intensive days are complete, your therapist will follow up with you in a few days as part of after care. If you have an ongoing therapist, with your written consent Sam is happy to collaborate and consult with them in the service of your mental health.

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Start your intensive journey

Following Seas Psychotherapy is one of the leading clinics offering groundbreaking EMDR intensives in Nova Scotia. New clients can schedule their free discovery call with Sam Sarty online through followingseas.janeapp.com