What is an EMDR Intensive?

Lauren Borkowski
Jun 21
3 min read

f you’ve heard of EMDR therapy and are curious about doing deep healing work in a shorter timeframe, you may be wondering what an EMDR intensive is—and whether it’s right for you. At Colorado Therapy Intensives, we specialize in trauma-informed, personalized intensive therapy programs using EMDR to help clients heal deeply and efficiently.

In this post, we’ll explain what an EMDR intensive involves, how it works, and why it may be a better fit than traditional weekly therapy for certain people and problems.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence based approach that helps people heal from trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and distressing life experiences. It works by stimulating the brain’s natural ability to reprocess unhealed memories and shift how they’re stored—so you no longer feel emotionally overwhelmed by the past.

EMDR has been proven effective for:

PTSD and trauma
Anxiety and panic attacks
Grief and loss
Attachment wounds
Performance anxiety
And many other unique symptoms of distress

What Is an EMDR Intensive?

An EMDR intensive is a specialized form of intensive therapy that condenses EMDR sessions into 1–4 focused days. Rather than attending weekly therapy over many months, you’ll spend extended time with a trained EMDR therapist in a supportive, distraction-free environment.

At Colorado Therapy Intensives, each EMDR intensive is tailored to your needs. You’ll receive a personalized treatment plan, intentional pacing, and plenty of integration support. EMDR intensives are ideal for those ready to create lasting change in a short amount of time.

What Happens During an EMDR Intensive?

Every EMDR intensive includes three key phases:

1. Pre-Intensive Planning

Complimentary consultation call
In-depth intake and goal setting
Optional coordination with your regular therapist, if applicable

2. Intensive Therapy Sessions

Multiple EMDR sessions per day
Breaks for regulation and reflection
Grounding practices to support nervous system safety
A calm, private office space in Longmont, Colorado

3. Post-Intensive Integration

Personalized tools and resources
Summary of progress
Option for follow-up care or referral

You’ll receive between 4 and 18 hours of focused EMDR therapy, depending on your intensive length. We pace sessions based on your unique needs, not a rigid protocol.

Why Choose an EMDR Intensive Over Weekly Therapy?

While weekly therapy can be effective, it often gets interrupted by daily stress, scheduling, and emotional reset between sessions. With an EMDR intensive, you stay immersed in the work and make meaningful progress more efficiently.

Benefits of EMDR intensives:

Faster symptom relief
Greater emotional breakthroughs
Improved nervous system regulation
Less overall therapy time
Flexible structure for busy professionals or caregivers

Whether you’ve already started EMDR therapy or are brand new to it, an intensive format can accelerate your healing in a safe, supported way.

Who Is a Good Fit for an EMDR Intensive?

You may be a great candidate for an EMDR intensive if:

You feel stuck
You’ve experienced trauma or anxiety that still impacts you
You’re motivated to heal but don’t have time for weekly sessions
You want a reset, breakthrough, or focused healing experience
You’re ready to address patterns that are holding you back

At Colorado Therapy Intensives, we work with high-functioning adults, professionals, and caregivers who want meaningful change—not just coping.

Ready to Experience the Power of Intensive Therapy?

If you're curious about how an EMDR intensive could help you feel better faster, we’d love to talk. Our goal is to offer a safe, customized path toward healing using the best of intensive therapy and EMDR therapy.

📍 Located in Longmont, Colorado, we serve clients across Boulder, Denver, and beyond. If you're located out of state, you can travel to Colorado for an EMDR intensive or our other intensive therapy options.