15 Parkway, Katonah, NY 10536 | Tel: (781) 819-0304 | I provide telehealth services for traditional weekly therapy appointments, as well as in-person meetings for EMDR Intensives.
Carolyn D. Greene, Psy.D.
EMDR Intensives
What Is an EMDR Intensive?
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EMDR Intensives offer an accelerated path to meaningful, lasting change. Designed for individuals seeking faster results, this focused treatment format condenses the therapeutic process into a shorter, more concentrated timeframe. Instead of traditional weekly sessions, EMDR Intensive Therapy is delivered in 2 to 4 hour blocks per day. I currently offer intensives on Fridays.
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Many clients walk away from their intensive feeling lighter, clearer, and more empowered, with a fresh perspective on their lives. Others choose to complete multiple intensives to fully process their experiences and continue their healing journey. In some cases, working with a regular therapist between intensives is recommended to help maintain momentum and support ongoing growth.
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Intensives are typically held in person in Katonah, NY. The initial assessment and/or follow up may be done virtually.
Who is an EMDR Intensive right for?
Perhaps you’ve had a felt sense that something profound has yet to change, but you’re not quite sure how to shift all the way into a new experience of yourself with your current therapist. Maybe you now cognitively understand new things, yet your body is still confused, so you’re curious about how intensive EMDR therapy can help as you work with your primary talk therapist.
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Perhaps you’ve been meaning to get into weekly therapy for a while now, but your schedule has been so hectic and demanding that a weekly therapy appointment feels more overwhelming than supportive.
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Perhaps you’re needing help — and a lot of it — right now, and you don’t want to spend months in the traditional weekly model of therapy treatment to feel better.
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Perhaps you need more efficient support as the busy parent with kids and/or the working professional who has more on their plate than ever.
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Perhaps you are a current, weekly client who is needing extra, focused support quickly.
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Perhaps you are a new client who just prefers to work intensively. If you relate to any of these scenarios, you may benefit from an EMDR intensive.
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Why choose intensive EMDR work?
The traditional model of weekly psychotherapy is shifting to meet your needs. Now more than ever, we need flexibility in how we get support.
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EMDR intensives are personalized treatment plans that allow you to skip the waitlist by giving you faster access to select spots, and are designed to support your preferred schedule and timeline for your treatment goals.
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EMDR Intensives are highly effective and often require less time and overall cost than weekly therapy.
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You don’t have to live locally. Clients can travel from anywhere and stay near Cambridge, MA for a few days to complete treatment.
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You can feel better faster. Intensives are highly concentrated and focused so you can make faster progress and see lasting change.
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EMDR Intensives can be especially helpful if you have an opening in your schedule like a summer break, sabbatical, or medical leave, and you want to use some of your time to replenish and refresh.
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Is there research on EMDR Intensives?
Yes. See below to learn about research on EMDR Intensives:
Intensive application of trauma-focused therapy seems to be well tolerated in patients with PTSD, enabling faster symptom reduction with similar, or even better, results, while reducing the risk that patients drop out prematurely. Learn more here and here.
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Intensive EMDR treatment is feasible and is indicative of reliable improvement in PTSD symptoms in a very short time frame. Learn more here.
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An intensive program using EMDR therapy is a potentially safe and effective treatment alternative for complex PTSD. Learn more here.
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The economy is compelling: even compared to other trauma therapy, the intensive format may decrease treatment time, because of time not spent on a) checking in at the beginning of each session, b) addressing current crises and concerns, c) focusing on stabilizing and coping skills that the client won’t need after trauma healing, or d) assisting the client in regaining composure at the end of the session. Learn more here.
How do I prepare for an EMDR Intensive?
Treat the days surrounding intensive sessions like a personal retreat. This is a time for you to really focus on healing yourself. Schedule activities you enjoy around your sessions, such as massages, yoga, and hiking, and give yourself plenty of time to rest afterwards.
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Do you guarantee I will resolve my issues quickly or with one EMDR Intensives?
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I wish I could give you a precise timeline for your healing or how quickly you’ll reach your goals. The truth is that we can’t predict exactly where the brain will go during EMDR processing. While I can’t promise a specific number of hours or sessions, I can promise that your treatment will be focused, efficient, and intentional.
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Some clients find that a single intensive brings meaningful relief and enough progress for their needs. Others choose to return for additional intensives or continue working toward their goals with their primary therapist. In more complex situations—especially when multiple traumatic experiences are involved—further intensive work may be recommended.
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You deserve to find peace. If you would like to learn more about EMDR Intensives and how working with an EMDR therapist can help you, please visit my contact page.
[1] https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/emdr-therapy-ptsd
[2] https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/recent-research-about-emdr/
[3] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19315864.2022.2148791
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9811005/
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