Intensive EMDR

Your Intensive EMDR therapists

Best practice for Intensive EMDR is to involve at least 2 therapists. Therefore, when offering Intensive EMDR, I work with my colleague, Christine Habermehl, EMDR Europe Accredited Consultant and BACP Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist. Between us, we have over 60 years’ experience of working with adults who have experienced trauma, distress and loss! I offer the initial online assessment for Intensive EMDR and Christine offers a bespoke face to face programme with up to 6 hours of EMDR on each day.

Christine is a highly experienced trauma psychotherapist who worked with the police for many years offering trauma-focussed therapy to police officers and staff, and she has also worked in the NHS and with a range of other organisations. She now offers online and face to face EMDR, and EMDR Supervision, to trauma therapists in the NHS and in private practice. She has also worked with Trauma Aid UK, supervising EMDR therapists working in the Middle East.

What is Intensive EMDR?

Intensive EMDR works on the same evidence-based guidelines as weekly EMDR. However, it is characterised by longer sessions, or more frequent sessions, within a short time frame. If it is an approach which is right for you, it enables therapy which might otherwise take several months, to be completed within days or weeks. Thorough assessment is always conducted to make sure that Intensive EMDR is an appropriate way forward for you. We also ensure that sufficient support, resources and safety are in place before the start of work on trauma memories.

Photo credit: Lisa Baker

Individualised and ethical practice

Our Intensive EMDR puts you at the centre of the process and creates a responsive and bespoke package which is designed around you. We take time to fully understand your childhood, your earlier adult experiences, current symptoms and difficulties, and your strengths and relationships before any work on traumatic events is done.

Christine has commented that:

"Establishing safety and stability is a fundamental part of our work. Our aim is to provide a calm, contained, and compassionate therapeutic space in which EMDR is used effectively, ethically, and with great care."

Photo credit: Abyan Athif

Is Intensive EMDR Right for me?

Intensive EMDR is not right for everyone. It is therefore important that there is a thorough and careful assessment and discussion before we decide to go ahead. As the name suggests, Intensive EMDR means working through several trauma memories in a short period of time which can be quite physically and psychologically demanding. We need to be confident that you have the physical and emotional resources to handle this well. Some people report that they prefer weekly trauma therapy, because they need several days between EMDR sessions to process the material. However, Intensive EMDR may be a good fit for you if:

Weekly therapy is logistically difficult for you, for example if you work shifts or have a lot of regular family commitments or intensive work demands.

You would like to meet with an EMDR therapist face to face, but don’t live close enough to see someone locally.

You prefer to “keep your foot on the accelerator” and maintain strong momentum when you are processing difficult memories and don’t like several days between EMDR sessions.

You struggle with strong feelings of avoidance when tackling trauma memories and find the prospect of longer or more frequent sessions very supportive and containing and this helps you to feel safer.

You are intending to have weekly EMDR sessions in the future, but want to make substantial progress early on by having a block of Intensive EMDR at the beginning of your therapy.

You have been in weekly EMDR but need to complete EMDR therapy within a shorter period of time than weekly sessions would allow. For example if you have a demanding time on the horizon, such as increased work or home challenges.

You want to process some trauma in a short period of time, in advance of a specific event. For example you might want to process medical trauma before having further hospital treatment.

If progress in weekly therapy has plateaued, then Christine has noted that: a more immersive and contained approach can sometimes help unlock processing.

You have had EMDR in the past and like the approach, and want to make substantial progress in a short period of time.

You want to complete work a single-event trauma in a short time frame, such as an industrial accident or road traffic collision.

When is the right time for me to have Intensive EMDR?

Timing is important. Intensive EMDR may be a good approach for you, but it needs to be at the right time.

The time may not be right for Intensive EMDR:

If you are not well physically

If you have limited physical energy, such as a health condition which includes fatigue

If you are going through a time of change or transition, such as changing job or moving house

If you are experiencing a period of high stress

If the timing is not right for you to have Intensive EMDR just now, then we will discuss with you other ways of addressing your trauma and moving forward. Our aim is for you to leave the Assessment with a clear plan of next steps, whether that is Intensive EMDR or another clinical option.

Photo credit: Akshay Madivanan

What Can I expect?

The 2 Day Programme

One of the advantages of Intensive EMDR is that it is flexible and specifically designed to be a good fit for you and your needs. We will create a programme which is tailored for you. We can offer a programme which is over 1 day, 2 days or several half days. Here is an example of our most popular package:

the 2 Day Programme:

Initial contact with Christine and a brief online meeting.

Part 1 - Online Assessment with Jenny

Jenny will send you an online Intensive EMDR form to complete and questionnaires

You will meet with Jenny for a 1.5 hour online Assessment

Jenny will prepare a report summarising the Assessment for you and for Christine

Optional

A Stretch & Relax Yoga session and/or a relaxing back massage at the end of the day can also be helpful. We can put you in touch with local therapists (additional cost).

Part 2 - Daily programme for two days, Face to face with Christine Habermehl

Days 1 and 2

EMDR Session 1

Refreshment Break

EMDR Session 2

Lunch Break (lunch can be purchased locally)

EMDR Session 3

(This includes EMDR Walking when appropriate)

Refreshment Break

EMDR Session 4

For the 2-day Programme we recommend that you arrange to stay overnight locally. There is a hotel nearby and Airbnb cabins and a cottage B&B. Previous feedback from those who have taken part in Intensive EMDR has identified that this generates the feeling of being on a retreat which supports the focus on the trauma work and positive self-care.

How much does Intensive EMDR cost?

	Initial online contact with Christine	Free
Part 1	Online assessment with Jenny Arthern	£245
Part 2	A full two day Intensive EMDR program with Christine	£1,495
Follow up	With Christine	Free