​​Looking to get unstuck and move life forward as quickly and completely as possible? 

An EMDR Intensive can help if you want to rapidly address issues limiting your life, such as:

• Trauma Memories/ Imprints (ie. Flashbacks, vivid memories, intense reactions)

• Anxiety, Panic Attacks, and/or Stress

• Grief

• Performance & Motivation Issues (ie. procrastination, self-sabotage, sports performance)

• Feeling stuck in the past/ unable to move forward

• Negative Self Talk/ High Self Criticism/ Persistent Shame/Self-Blame

• Pain or Sleep disturbances related to past experiences

• Self Esteem/ Self Confidence/ Self Worth

• Stopping People Pleasing - Develop Assertiveness & Boundaries

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How do EMDR Intensives Work?

• You will begin with a 1.5 hour Initial Assessment & Planning session - this can be done virtually or in person. In this session, you will provide a detailed history of the issue, discuss the outcomes and goals you are hoping for, have the process clearly explained, and be given options on how to move forward. At the end of this session, your clinician will give you an estimate of how many days of EMDR Intensive Therapy is recommended for your particular concerns. This is generally a 1-5 days which are usually booked back-to-back (making it easier for those flying in for this treatment, or needing to take time off work, for example). However, for intensives 3+ days in length, it is common to do 2-3 days first and then reconvene for the remaining 2-3 days in a couple weeks or months.

• You attend the allotted 1-5 days of EMDR Intensive Therapy; initially you will focus on building your internal grounding and stabilizing resources. This sets you up for good desensitization and reprocessing of whatever is disturbing you. Most people find building these adaptive skills immediately helpful, and often quite calming. Once the resources are well installed, your clinician will move into desensitizing and reprocessing the identified targets (situations, sensations, thoughts, emotions, etc.) which are causing you disturbance. The 1-2 hours of desensitizing and reprocessing are usually the most intense as you are just starting to confront the memories, feelings, and sensations you have been trying to avoid - by the 2nd-3rd hour, your system understands it's safe to do this and shifts start to happen quickly. This continues until the targets are neutralized (no longer cause you to feel disturbed when you think about them), and reprocessed (you have a more helpful and adaptive way to think about them and feel completely calm and neutral in your body). 

Daily Schedule (the time flies; it never feels like 6 full hours of therapy):

9am-12noon: EMDR (Breaks as needed)

12-12:30pm: Lunch Break - You pack/ provide your own lunch; many people use this break to take a brief nap, a walk outside, or for journaling, for example.

12:30-4pm: EMDR (Breaks as needed)

Rest in the evening; you are likely to feel tired, maybe even a bit foggy, but also lighter as the memories and beliefs that have been holding you back recede into the background. It's important to hydrate well, nourish your body with good food, and practice any grounding or stabilizing needed to take care of yourself and allow you to get a good rest. It is generally not a good idea to plan a full evening where you would be working, socializing, or otherwise extending yourself. 

• If follow-up sessions are recommended/ desired following the Intensive, these can be booked in full or half-days. Ongoing supportive therapy (ie. occasional check ins/ tune ups) can be booked for 1-1.5 hour sessions as needed.

• Intensives are often easier to plan around; you simply clear your schedule one time for the allotted number of days vs. clearing 60-90 minutes weekly for months.

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You have already survived whatever is troubling you; you can handle it again for a brief time in therapy... And, once it is addressed, you never again have to think about it (unless you want to). 

Why Choose an EMDR Intensive?

• Fast relief & meaningful progress. A 6-hour EMDR Intensive provides approximately the same scheduled therapy time as 6–8 weekly sessions, but without repeatedly losing time to weekly check-ins, life updates, and wrapping up just as meaningful processing begins. The uninterrupted format allows you to stay focused on your goals and build momentum that simply isn't possible in traditional weekly therapy.

• Break through a stuck point. If you've been feeling "stuck" in therapy or know exactly what you need to work on but haven't been able to move through it, an intensive provides the time and space to make meaningful progress.

• Complete more processing in a single sitting. Rather than ending a session just as processing is gaining momentum, an intensive allows you to continue working toward resolution before returning to daily life.

• Greater continuity and depth. Without a week between sessions, insights, emotional processing, and therapeutic gains can build on one another while they're still fresh.

• Address multiple related memories or treatment targets. The extended format often allows your clinician to work through several interconnected experiences within the same intensive.

• Less disruption to your life. Rather than attending therapy weekly for several months, you may be able to accomplish substantial therapeutic work in one or two dedicated days.

• Ideal for busy professionals. Spend less time scheduling, commuting, and fitting therapy into your workweek while still receiving concentrated, high-quality care.

• An excellent complement to ongoing therapy. An intensive doesn't have to replace weekly therapy. Many clients use one to work through a particularly difficult memory, overcome a stuck point, or accelerate progress before returning to their regular therapist.

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Getting Started

1. Book an Intensive Assessment & Planning session - 1.5 hours ($300); due on day of session; usually done as one 1-time session, but can be done as two 50 minute sessions billed at $200* each if preferred for billing or scheduling reasons). 

2. Book the block of time recommended in Planning Session & pay the non-refundable deposit (50% is due at time of booking and is non-refundable; rate is $1400*/ day). **Alternatively, some people prefer to book a 1 day intensive and have the Assessment and Planning time included in that 1 Day - please email to ask about this option if of interest. For most people, the recommendation is a 1-3 day Intensive.​​

3. 1 week prior to Intensive - pay remaining 50%. 

4. Attend Intensive (if processing completes ahead of projected schedule, you can opt to work on another issue, or you can be refunded any full days that are unused). ​

5. Schedule any follow up sessions you desire; half or full days available.

​*Rates subject to change without notice; current rates can be confirmed by emailing connect@kaydahealth.ca ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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