EMDR Intensives in Florida: experience confidence & joy through expedited healing

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What is EMDR & How Can Intensives Help?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a proven therapy that helps the brain heal from trauma. Traumatic memories get stuck in the brain and are stored in a way that prevents healing. When these memories are triggered, the brain reacts with strong emotions like anxiety, fear, or distress, as if the threat is happening right now.

EMDR helps the brain reprocess these memories, allowing them to be "unstuck" and processed more effectively. By using specific techniques, like guided eye movements, EMDR helps reduce or eliminate the intensity of the emotional reaction to these memories, making it easier for you to heal and move forward without being overwhelmed by past trauma.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Intensives are extended therapy sessions, lasting up to 5 hours per day and often conducted over consecutive days. These intensive sessions provide clients with an opportunity to focus deeply on trauma recovery without the constraints of traditional weekly or bi-weekly hour-long sessions. This format allows for more focused progress, accelerating the healing process while providing the space needed to work through significant trauma.

A Shift in Therapy: EMDR Intensives for Your Needs

The traditional weekly therapy model is evolving to better meet your needs. Now more than ever, flexibility is key when it comes to getting the support you deserve. EMDR Intensives offer personalized treatment plans that provide faster access to care, helping you bypass waitlists and fit therapy into your preferred schedule and timeline.

With longer, focused sessions, EMDR Intensives allow you to make significant progress without the usual interruptions of weekly sessions. Traditional therapy often requires time to ease into reprocessing and concludes with a gradual wrap-up each session. In contrast, intensive sessions keep you in the healing mindset, enabling you to dive deeper and accomplish more without the constant start-and-stop of shorter sessions. This approach can help you reach your treatment goals more efficiently, moving you closer to lasting healing.

It’s time for a change

Ready to break through and experience hope & healing? EMDR can Help!

What does the research tell us?

𑁍Meta-Analysis Findings: A 2014 meta-analysis published in Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy reviewed 26 studies and found that EMDR is highly effective for treating PTSD. It concluded that approximately 77-90% of individuals experience significant reduction in PTSD symptoms after completing EMDR therapy.

Post-Treatment Results: A study by Van der Kolk et al. (2007) found that after EMDR treatment, 84-90% of PTSD patients no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

𑁍 Effectiveness Compared to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): EMDR has been shown to be as effective as, or in some cases more effective than, other treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for trauma and PTSD. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress reported that EMDR and CBT both significantly reduce PTSD symptoms, but EMDR required fewer sessions (mean of 6-12 sessions compared to CBT’s 12-24 sessions) to achieve comparable results.

𑁍 Long-Term Impact: Follow-up research shows that the effects of EMDR tend to be long-lasting. A 2018 study published in Psychiatry Research found that 80% of participants continued to show significant reductions in PTSD symptoms one year after completing EMDR treatment.

Sustained Improvement: In a 2015 study published in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders, participants who underwent EMDR treatment had a 40% reduction in PTSD symptoms immediately after treatment, and a further 15-20% improvement in symptoms after 6 months.

𑁍 Anxiety and Depression: EMDR has shown significant effectiveness not just for trauma, but also for other mental health conditions. A 2016 study published in Traumatology found that EMDR led to a 50-70% reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with co-occurring disorders, including those with PTSD.

Phobias and Grief: EMDR has also been used successfully for treating phobias and grief. A study in European Journal of Psychotraumatology (2017) found that 80-90% of patients with phobias had complete symptom resolution after 3-5 sessions of EMDR.

Cost of EMDR Intensives:

EMDR Intensives are scheduled in 3-6 hour blocks of time at the rate of $175 per an hour.

Sessions are typically scheduled in three or six hour time blocks. You can schedule them weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. In some instances, clients choose to engage in several EMDR Intensives multiple days in a row to complete treatment in a shorter timeframe.

3 hour session cost= $525
6 hour session cost= $1,050

A 25% deposit is required and will be held if a client cancels less than 48 hours in advance or if the client does not show up for the appointment. The session starts at the scheduled appointment time.

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Have questions about EMDR therapy or Intensives?

Q&A

While traditional therapy often involves talking through issues and gaining insight over time, EMDR uses specific bilateral stimulation (typically through eye movements) to help the brain process and reframe distressing memories more efficiently.
The key difference lies in how EMDR targets the brain's natural ability to heal itself. It's designed to reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional charge and allowing clients to integrate them in a healthier way. Traditional therapy, while effective in providing understanding and coping strategies, doesn't typically work as directly or rapidly to reduce the emotional intensity of past traumas. EMDR can often lead to quicker, more lasting results, particularly for those with PTSD, trauma, or anxiety.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is particularly effective for a wide range of emotional and psychological issues, including:
1. Trauma & PTSD: EMDR is widely recognized for its ability to help individuals process traumatic memories and reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

2. Anxiety: EMDR can help reduce the intensity of anxiety and related disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic attacks, and social anxiety.
3. Depression: EMDR can address underlying emotional wounds and negative beliefs, supporting healing from depression.
4. Phobias & Fears: Whether it’s fear of flying, heights, or social situations, EMDR can help reduce irrational fears by targeting the root cause of anxiety.
5. Grief & Loss: EMDR can help people process the pain of losing a loved one or significant life changes, leading to healthier emotional recovery.
6. Addiction: It can be used to address past trauma or emotional pain contributing to addictive behaviors.
7. Childhood Neglect or Abuse: EMDR is highly effective for those with unresolved childhood trauma, helping to heal deep emotional wounds.
8. Performance Anxiety: Athletes, performers, and professionals use EMDR to overcome blocks, perfectionism, and performance-related anxiety.
9. Relationship Issues: EMDR can help individuals work through past relational trauma, improving current relationships and fostering emotional intimacy.
10. Self-Esteem & Negative Beliefs: EMDR can help reframe negative beliefs about oneself, boosting self-esteem and confidence.
Its goal is to help individuals reprocess distressing memories, reduce their emotional charge, and integrate healthier coping mechanisms, leading to long-term emotional relief.
During EMDR therapy, you can expect a structured process that involves several key phases to help you address and heal emotional distress or trauma. Here’s an overview of what typically happens during a session:
1. History & Treatment Planning: In the first session, your therapist will gather information about your past experiences, current challenges, and specific areas you'd like to address. Together, you'll identify target memories or events to focus on during the treatment.
2. Preparation: Your therapist will explain the EMDR process and techniques, making sure you feel comfortable and safe. You'll learn relaxation and grounding techniques to help manage any emotional intensity that may arise during the session.
3. Desensitization: This is the core phase of EMDR, where you'll focus on a specific memory or issue while engaging in bilateral stimulation (usually through guided eye movements, taps, or sounds). As you recall the memory, the therapist will guide you to process the associated emotions and thoughts, helping to desensitize the distressing memory and reduce its emotional charge.
4. Installation: Once the emotional intensity decreases, your therapist will help you replace negative beliefs or feelings associated with the memory with more positive, adaptive ones. This phase aims to strengthen the positive beliefs and feelings you want to embrace moving forward.
5. Body Scan: You will be asked to tune into your body to identify and process any physical tension or discomfort related to the memory or issue. This helps integrate the changes on both a mental and somatic level.
6. Closure: Each session will conclude with a period of closure, ensuring you leave the session feeling stable and grounded. Your therapist may guide you in using relaxation techniques to regulate your emotions after intense processing.
7. Reevaluation: At the beginning of the next session, your therapist will check in on how you've been feeling since the last session, assess any remaining distress, and determine the next steps in treatment.
What to Expect Emotionally:
EMDR may bring up intense emotions or memories during sessions, but it’s common for clients to experience relief and clarity afterward. The process often leads to a reduction in anxiety, distress, and emotional reactivity to the trauma or memory.
Duration of Treatment:
The length of treatment varies depending on the complexity of the issues being addressed. Some people experience significant relief after just a few sessions, while others may need more time to process multiple layers of trauma.
Overall, EMDR is designed to be a collaborative, efficient, and healing approach to trauma and emotional distress, helping you process difficult memories in a safe and supportive environment.