A Different Way to Do Trauma Therapy

Weekly therapy has been the default for a long time. 53 minutes. Once a week. Come back next week and try to pick it back up.

And for a lot of things, that works. But trauma-especially complex trauma-can benefit from more time. That’s where an EMDR Intensive or IFS-Informed EMDR Intensive can offer something different.

Not more pressure. Not more intensity in the way people think. More time to do uninterrupted work.

What Is An Intensive?

An intensive is a different structure for trauma therapy. Instead of weekly 53-minute sessions, we meet for extended blocks — often several hours at a time, and sometimes over a few consecutive days.

Same therapy. Same IFS/EMDR model. But a different format.

A typical IFS-Informed EMDR Intensive includes:

• preparation and planning beforehand
• longer sessions with breaks built in
• follow-up and integration after

We’re not changing the method. We’re changing the container. And that changes a lot.

How Weekly Therapy Can Feel Slow-Moving for Trauma

If you’ve done weekly therapy, you might know this feeling.

You finally get somewhere important. Your body starts to shift. Something opens.

And then the session ends. You leave mid-process. You try to come back next week and find it again.

But then life happens and it’s hard for your system to pick back up.

For some, it takes a while to feel settled in enough to work with a memory or the body.

So part of each weekly session becomes:

• getting back into it
• re-discovering the thread
• connecting with your system again

That stop-and-start can feel like we are chipping away slowly. Not because therapy isn’t working.

But because the format interrupts the work.

Why Trauma Intensives Work Differently

You don’t lose momentum

With an IFS-Informed EMDR Intensive, the biggest difference is continuity. We don’t have to stop right when something meaningful is happening. Instead we can:

• stay with it
• follow it
• let it shift
• use flexibility and choice

That continuity matters — especially for complex trauma.

Your nervous system sets the pace

Trauma isn’t just in your beliefs or feelings. It lives in the body.

Good trauma therapy isn’t about pushing through. It’s about working with your nervous system.

That means:

• slowing down
• noticing activation
• getting curious
• connecting to safety and regulation

In a trauma therapy intensive, there’s actually time for that.

Not rushed. Not forced.

Safety is something your body feels

Safety isn’t something we talk you into. Your system has to experience it.

And that takes:

• pacing
• repetition
• choice

In longer sessions, there’s room for that to develop.

Not just as an idea. But rather something real in your body.

Choice stays with you the whole time

A lot of trauma involves losing choice. So in therapy, choice matters.

In an intensive, you can:

• pause
• shift
• take a break
• say no
• try different things

At any point.

There’s no pressure to "use the time." We follow what feels right for your system.

It’s not overwhelming — it’s spacious

“Intensive” can sound like a lot.

It’s not about doing more. It’s about not rushing. We’re not pushing beyond where your system wants or is able to go.

We’re allowing the work to unfold with enough time.

How IFS-Informed EMDR Changes the Intensive Experience

Standard EMDR is powerful. But with complex trauma, there’s often more going on. Different parts of you may want different things:

• one part wants to move forward
• another part wants to slow it down
• yet another part doesn’t feel safe at all

This is where IFS-Informed EMDR comes in. Instead of pushing past those parts, we work with them. In an IFS-Informed EMDR Intensive:

• protective parts are respected, not overridden
• we go at a pace the system agrees to
• processing happens with more internal cooperation

This matters even more in an intensive. Because we have time to:

• notice those parts
• understand them
• include them in the process

Not rush past them.

What the Research Suggests

Research on EMDR Intensives is growing. Some studies show that condensed EMDR formats can produce similar outcomes to weekly therapy over time. There’s also evidence that for some people, less time between sessions, less opportunity for avoidance, and more continuity can support deeper processing.

It’s not that one is universally better. It’s that for some people, this format fits better.

What Does an IFS-Informed EMDR Intensive Cost?

A common question is: How much does an EMDR Intensive cost?

Intensives are typically private pay. Not because they’re “extra.” But because they’re structured differently than weekly therapy.

Here’s how I offer intensives in my practice in Chicago (and through telehealth in 41 other states):

Half-Day Intensive — $1200
Full-Day Intensive — $2200

Both include a 45-minute intake, therapist consultation, and extended processing time.

A helpful way to think about cost is that it isn’t more therapy. It’s a different timeline. Instead of spreading the work out over months, we're doing focused, uninterrupted work over a shorter period of time.

For some people, that feels more efficient. For others, weekly therapy is the better fit. There’s no right answer. Just what works best for you.

Common Questions About EMDR Intensives

Can I use my insurance?
EMDR Intensives are self-pay and are not billed to insurance.

Do I need to be in therapy before starting an intensive?
Yes. Intensives work best when you have ongoing therapeutic support in place. Because of the depth of this work, clients are required to be in individual therapy. I coordinate with your therapist before and after the intensive to support integration and continuity of care. This consultation is included in the intensive fee and helps support more lasting change. If you’re not currently in therapy, there may be an option to continue work individually with me, depending on availability.

Is it normal to feel uncertain about doing an EMDR Intensive?
Of course it is. It’s normal to feel unsure about doing deeper work in a more condensed format. An intensive isn’t about pushing or forcing breakthroughs. We move at a pace guided by your system, check in frequently, and make room for hesitation, protectiveness, and uncertainty. Most people are surprised by how grounded and supported the process feels.

Is an EMDR Intensive overwhelming?
Not in the way people expect. We’re not pushing faster. We’re not forcing anything forward. There are breaks. There’s pacing. You can stop at any time. The goal is not intensity — it’s giving the work enough space.

How are EMDR Intensives conducted?
Intensives can be done in my Chicago office or virtually. I offer virtual IFS-Informed EMDR Intensives to clients in New York and in states where I am licensed through PSYPACT.

How do I know if an intensive is a good fit for me?
If you’re wondering that, it’s worth a conversation. We can talk through your situation and decide what fits — without pressure.

Who Is a Good Fit for an EMDR Intensive?

A therapy intensive might be a good fit if:

• you feel stuck in weekly therapy
• you have something specific you want to work on more deeply
• you want to work more directly with your body and nervous system during an uninterrupted amount of time
• you’re able to stay engaged for longer periods

Who might prefer weekly therapy

Weekly therapy may be a better fit if:

• you need more time to build trust
• things feel very unstable right now
• a slower pace feels safer

There’s no “better.” Just what fits.

If you’re looking for IFS/EMDR Intensives in Chicago or virtual options, this model may be worth exploring. A consultation can help you decide what fits — without pressure.