EMDR Intensives: A Pathway to Transformative Healing

When trauma gets stuck in our bodies and minds, it can feel like we’re carrying a weight that never quite lifts — even when we’ve done the work to develop healthy coping strategies. That’s why I’m excited to share that I’m now offering EMDR Intensive sessions, a concentrated approach to trauma processing that can create significant breakthroughs in a shorter timeframe.

These intensive sessions are designed for those moments when you recognize a pattern that keeps showing up, a trauma response that’s activated during important life events, or when you simply need deeply intentional and focused sessions of multiple hours, instead of 1 hour per week.

The idea came from being at the 45 minute mark of sessions and just scratching the surface and knowing that if we spent more time together, we’d make significant progress, but alas, the therapy hour was up and we had to bandaid the wound and continue in a week or two. Then it took another 15 minutes of the next session to get back into where we were last time. When I transitioned some of my clients into two hour sessions, I noticed meaningful progress. 

Who These Intensives Are For

These sessions are particularly beneficial if you:

• Have developed solid emotional regulation skills but find yourself stuck on specific traumatic memories
• You’ve been in therapy for a while now and noticing that your sessions end right when you’re getting into the heart of your issue
• Notice the same trauma responses being triggered in your daily life
• You don’t have the time in your schedule to commit to months of weekly therapy, but you can take a day or two off for intensive sessions
• Want to address a specific traumatic event rather than multiple concerns
• You love your current therapist, but they are not trained in EMDR. EMDR intensives work great as adjunctive therapy
• You’ve been in weekly, 50-minute therapy for a while and want to try a different approach with longer session times
• Want to prepare or recover from a major life event (i.e. childbirth, loss, retirement, trauma, car accidents, relationship troubles, starting a new job, career or business venture, taking an important exam, victim of a crime etc)

What Makes EMDR Intensives Different & What are the Benefits?

Unlike traditional weekly therapy, EMDR Intensives create a container for deep processing in one extended session. This approach allows us to:

• Move through the complete EMDR protocol without interruption
• Process a specific trauma from beginning to resolution
• Feel better quicker! Experience immediate relief from symptoms that have persisted despite other treatment approaches
• Work through blocks that might take months to address in traditional weekly sessions
• Save travel time, money, and gas (it adds up when it takes longer). Our sessions will be virtual.

Many clients report that this concentrated work creates a sense of completion and integration that weekly sessions sometimes can’t achieve. There’s something powerful about dedicating uninterrupted time to your healing — it sends a message to your nervous system that this work matters, that your healing matters.

Packages

1 – Day Intensive

Duration: 5 hours (4 hours + 1 follow up hour)

Location: Virtual Private Platform

Price: $1000

Includes one follow up session to discuss progress and insights

2 – Day Intensive

Duration: 8 hours (3-4 hours each day)

Location: Virtual Private Platform

Price: $1,600

Includes one follow up session to discuss progress and insights

*All intensive sessions will come with a client workbook for you to fill out, add insights, coping skills, journaling prompts and many other tools to continue your healing journey.

The Process

Before scheduling an Intensive, we’ll meet for a 30 minute consultation call to ensure this approach is right for you. We’ll identify specific traumatic memories to target and confirm you have the emotional regulation skills necessary for this deep work.

During the session itself, we’ll take breaks as needed while maintaining the therapeutic container. After completion, we’ll schedule a follow-up session to integrate your experience and adapt any self-care strategies.

Is This Right for You?

EMDR Intensives aren’t for everyone. They’re best suited for those who:

• Have previously worked with a therapist and developed coping strategies
• Are emotionally stable but feel stuck on specific traumas
• Can dedicate the time and number of hours in the package you choose for focused, sometimes challenging emotional work
• Have support systems in place outside of therapy

If you’re curious about whether an EMDR Intensive might be right for your healing journey, let’s connect for a consultation. You can email me at sofia@sofiamendozalcsw.com to inquire about scheduling and pricing. Together, we can determine if this concentrated approach to trauma healing aligns with your needs and goals.

Remember — healing doesn’t always follow a linear weekly schedule. Sometimes, our most significant breakthroughs come when we create the space for focused, intentional work on the patterns that have shaped us.

Do you take insurance for EMDR Intensive Sessions?

No. EMDR Intensive Sessions are not covered by insurance currently and will not quality as an out-of-network therapy session. However, I an qualified as a medical provider to take HSA/FSA (Health Spending/Flexible Spending) cards for payment.

Do you offer payment plans?

I can take a deposit at booking and bill the rest before our first session. We can work together to create payment plans between booking and the scheduled appointment.

I like my therapist and don’t want to stop seeing them. Would I have to stop seeing them?

Absolutely not. EMDR intensives are great adjunctive therapy. In fact, I have experience providing EMDR therapy to clients who see other therapists in different modalities. Many times, other therapists who are not trained in EMDR will refer their clients over to me for short term therapy. It’s a great collaboration. With a signed authorization to release information, I would be able to consult with your therapist if you would like and only if you authorize it.

Four – Eight hours is a long time. How will I feel afterwards?

It is a long time! I ensure we take plenty of breaks and as with all of my treatment sessions, you will have agency over the session. This means that if you say, “stop” we will. If you are in need of grounding, I will guide you through that. Bathroom breaks will be a must for both of us! I will constantly check in on you to see how you’re doing. Everyone is different in how they respond, however, after an emotionally cathartic session, most people feel drained. After all, your body went through a lot in those hours! I will also give you a pre- and post- session list of recommendations from self soothing, to meal choices, to lots of body TLC afterwards etc.

Some Issues EMDR Intensives can help with

• Treating addiction. Start your recovery journey by uncovering what’s at the root of your addiction. Read more here.
• Burnout Recovery. Reignite that passion for your profession and meaningful work you do. Read more here.
• The motherhood transition, demands, and unique challenges. Read more here.
• Building bravery and boundaries.

What people have said after their intensive sessions:

“It was a big time and financial investment in my mental health. But the price of continuing to be stuck would be much greater.”

“It was a long session, but glad I processed so much”

“I’m so glad we didn’t stop at the 50 minute mark. Wow. We got through so much more.”

Should you have any other questions, please feel free to email me at sofia@sofiamendozalcsw.com and I’ll be happy to consult with you about any concerns or questions you might have.