I am on the heels of another powerful, game changing 2-day EMDR Intensive with an individual exhibiting symptoms of shame and codependency stemming from their experience of complex developmental trauma in childhood. The two days we spent together in this intensive resulted in a complete shift of the negative core beliefs they came in with.
Let’s be completely clear: the insights and transformations that this individual experienced during the intensive would have happened in therapy regardless—they’re highly motivated, they have a strong foundation in therapy priming them for the great work that they’re doing, they’re incredibly resourced. So what’s the difference? Why bother utilizing this longer, more intensive model if it was working already? It’s simple: the relief this individual experienced in two days would have taken months in the traditional hourly model of therapy. It is not a one-to-one calculation. The work that was done in 6 hours on the first day of this intensive alone is not equal to 6 hours of weekly therapy over the course of 6 weeks. Each hour of therapy in the hourly model must also make space for running five minutes late because of traffic, settling in, some current life stressor or frustration, and then containing and closing up at the end of each session. And what about when a protective part appears in the midst of the work? Reactivity, dissociation—rather than slowing the process down, the adaptive protective mechanisms that are an inherent part of the work become opportunities for lasting change in the intensive model, because now we have time to spend with that part. Now we can explore, now we can seek to understand, now we can find gratitude, now we can widen that window of tolerance simply because of the time that we have.
If you have been considering the idea of pursuing the intensive model as a step in your therapeutic journey, this is your sign to reach out. This can be intimidating, I get that. Inherent in the process is an increased level of intensity—it’s right there in the title, “Intensive”—but with this intensity comes the potential for significant insight and growth.
If you would like to hear more, let us know! We would be happy to discuss with you in detail what the process entails. Click here for more details.
