The Benefits of Intensive EMDR Therapy
EMDR Intensives, Los Angeles
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) is a highly effective method of dealing with trauma-related problems. Treatment using EMDR is effective for a wide range of mental health issues, including PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), depression, and anxiety.
Because of the unfamiliarity of EMDR Intensive therapy, first-time patients may experience feelings of fear, anxiety, or tension.
I hope that by explaining what EMDR intensives are, we will alleviate some of your anxiety. It's important to talk to your therapist before deciding to undergo EMDR intensive treatment.
To Start, What Exactly is an EMDR Intensive?
A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology suggests that high-intensity therapies for traumatic stress can be especially helpful in alleviating symptoms. In an EMDR Intensive, several hours of EMDR treatment (9-12 hours) occur over a period of a week, usually over 3-4 days. Alternatively, a client may choose to work “intensively” and have one 90-minute to 4-hour session per month. It’s the extended length of time per session that leads to the treatment being identified as “intensive.” Working intensively (one long session per month) or engaging in an intensive package (3-4 multi-hour sessions during one week) allows the client to have more uninterrupted time with a therapist to “dive deep” and get further than they would in one 50-minute session per week.
In addition, EMDR intensives are individualized treatment programs that let you skip the line by giving you first dibs on a limited number of available appointments and allowing you to set your own schedule and timetable. When participating in an EMDR Intensive Week, your therapist is reserving several hours for you and your treatment that week. You’ll have increased access to your therapist as they collaborate with you to tailor your intensive treatment to your specific needs and desired outcomes.
Intensive EMDR therapy treats a wide range of mental and physical health issues, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, sexual abuse, and drug and alcohol addiction.
It seems that the common denominator across these conditions is the inability to handle unpleasant feelings properly due to their overwhelming nature.
EMDR specialists are trained to address both the overwhelming emotions and physical discomfort that are often triggered in individuals who have experienced trauma or are currently experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, panic attacks, OCD, and more.
Is This Approach Ideal for You?
Seek the advice of your therapist. The goal of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is to lessen the discomfort caused by recalling or considering distressing experiences. Lessening the impact of upsetting thoughts, memories, and events can help you live a more positive, stress-free existence.
Recent studies have shown that people who engage in intensive EMDR therapy get the same positive outcomes as those who attend weekly sessions and often get it more quickly.
This can prevent the weeks or months of misery that might follow a traumatic event and its effects on a person's job, relationships, family life, parenting, and health. Furthermore, a notable study shows that EMDR therapy is viable for treating complicated PTSD.
It's still a good idea to go to a therapist first to be sure this is the best course of action.
What Are the Benefits of EMDR Intensives?
Results from a randomized trial suggest that patients with PTSD can endure rigorous trauma-focused therapy, which results in faster symptom reduction and the same or better outcomes with less attrition.
Flexibility in scheduling and increased access to your therapist. Working intensively typically means that sessions will be longer and less frequent. For example, you may have one 3-hour session a month and work “intensively,” or decide to take a whole week off of work and have multiple 3-4 hour sessions during that time.
Because sessions last longer than the standard 50 minutes, progress is accelerated. It is not unusual for the first 10 minutes of a session to be used to check in, identify the client’s current mood, and set an agenda. Another ten or so minutes are used at the end of trauma sessions to ensure that the client is emotionally regulated and has a coping plan for the following week. When you meet for one 3-hour session (or longer), you have much more time to do the “real” work of therapy. This has a big impact on what can get accomplished in one session. That’s why individuals who engage in 9-12 hours of therapy in an “EMDR Intensive Week” often feel like they have accomplished months of therapy and healing in that brief period.
People from out of town or state can get fast, high-quality therapy by making a single trip to see their preferred therapists or completing everything online.
Clients who are local and have transportation or childcare issues may make weekend arrangements. Childcare and transportation costs to therapy sessions will be reduced as a result.
There will likely be a more substantial investment initially, as multi-hour sessions are often not covered by insurance (or are only partially covered). The shortened treatment time, however, may result in cost savings down the road. Most individuals that decide to participate in Intensive EMDR Therapy find the time and financial investment upfront worth it, as more quickly getting to a place where one feels emotionally and physically settled dramatically impacts their overall well-being and life-functioning.
Conclusion
Overall, EMDR is a highly effective trauma treatment that can benefit those who undergo intensive sessions. Intensive EMDR can help people process and heal from their trauma more quickly than traditional therapy and can provide lasting relief from symptoms of PTSD.
