EMDR Intensives

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EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, that is certainly a mouthful.  Simply it means, EMDR accelerates the body's own healing process to treat trauma.  EMDR has been around since 1987, and has been well researched.  When practiced correctly, EMDR can be beneficial.  When practiced incorrectly, EMDR can be ineffective or worse, harmful.  It is very important to find a provider who is properly trained, I completed my Basic Training for EMDR in 2018 through HAP. 

Shapiro, F. , & Laliotis, D.  2017.  EMDR Institute Basic Training Course.  EMDR Institute Inc.

In traditional therapy, you meet with a therapist once a week, for about 53 minutes.  EMDR was not designed to follow the traditional therapy route, the recommendation is 90 minutes, though many providers will follow the 53 minute sessions so that it can be covered by insurance.   

With EMDR intensives, you meet multiple times a week, for multiple hours; in the hopes of completing treatment faster. 

My model of treatment is:

                     5 sessions a week for 3 hours a session

• Total treatment time is shorter.
• Less time clients are expected to follow the EMDR expectations.
• Less likely that clients will end services before treatment is completed.

• Insurance companies do not cover it - you will be expected to pay for services at the beginning of the session, I can provide you the information to submit for potential reimbursement.
• Expensive.
• Time - 15 hours of therapy a week is a commitment. 
• Intensive - we will take breaks, but 3 hours of trauma work is a lot.  I will pay very close attention to how you are tolerating the treatment.

                                                                       15 hours is $2,000

If you must do less than the 15 hours, such as for illness, we will shift over to my hourly rate, $150/hour, or $2000, whichever is less.

From my experience, EMDR works better in person.  EMDR requires that we keep the flow of the bilateral stimulation, this can be effected by technical issues.  A disruption in that flow could make treatment ineffective or harmful.

• Use coping skills - clients should have 3-5 coping skills, if you do not have this foundation, we will create it.  You will also be taught; Safe Place, Container, and the Butterfly Hug in preparation for EMDR.
• Rapport with therapist - it is important that the client can be direct with the therapist.  In EMDR, all requests to stop are honored, if a client is not able to tell the therapist that they wish to stop, EMDR will likely be harmful.  
• You must disclose ALL thoughts and behaviors around; suicide, self-injury, or thoughts related to harming others.  These will first need to be addressed, and once stable, EMDR treatment can resume.
• Setting aside time after the session.  I find that client's do best if after the session they can immediately; eat, drink water, and take a nap or go to bed.
• Disclose and update me regarding health conditions. 
• Avoid alcohol and benzodiazepines for 24 hours before and after processing sessions, EMDR has 8 stages so not all sessions will be processing, I will let you know beforehand.

Shapiro, F.  2018.  Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures (3rd ed.) The Guilford Press.

Shapiro, F. , & Laliotis, D.  2017.  EMDR Institute Basic Training Course.  EMDR Institute Inc.

Some conditions require specialization in order to treat with EMDR.  These are conditions I do not have specialization for, and will have to refer to another EMDR provider. 

• Children - although I work with children in traditional therapy, I am not trained to treat them with EMDR...yet. 
• Clients with  Dissociative Identity Disorder 
• Clients in current or recent abusive relationships. 
• Clients who have current or recent substance use disorder. 
• Neurological conditions - including Epilepsy.