Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Intensives

• Research shows that clients completing intensive treatment can make as much progress in the condensed format as in standard weekly sessions. This can remove weeks or months of living with trauma symptoms. The intensive treatment also helps with the toll trauma takes with work, relationships, marriages, parenting, and general well-being.

• Sessions are completed over two or three days, which greatly reduces work time. Typically, one of the days is also a Saturday.

• While a larger upfront cost, the shorter duration of treatment can result in saving money.

• Waiting lists in Bloomington are long for good trauma treatment providers. Intensives have much shorter wait times, as clients are through in the same week they start.

• Intensives are being studied as a state-of-the-art modality for trauma.

• Clients who are in Indiana or Illinois can take advantage of access to excellent treatment quickly by making only one trip to Bloomington.

• Local clients who have transportation issues or childcare concerns can also make arrangements for a single weekend. The weekend timeline removes the need to have ongoing help with children or rides to therapy. 

While many clients are good candidates for an intensive, some may do better with an ongoing therapeutic relationship. Clients with long-term childhood abuse or neglect, and/or years of traumatic events, are usually not advised to do an intensive treatment. In some cases, exceptions are made for those currently under the care of a trusted provider. Clients with this type of history can make progress on particular parts of events. In many cases, they need to continue with their regular therapist following the intensive treatment.

Ideal candidates are those who have had a single stressful or traumatic event, such as an assault, fire or car accident.  I can offer intensives to clients residing in Indiana or Illinois only.

Clinical Structure

Preparation Phase

• I do an assessment first.

• I may also provide you with written assessment materials (usually a list of several questions). Using this assessment will help define targets for EMDR and your goals, while gathering additional information about your background and history. Additionally, I will want to view relevant previous mental health records.

Treatment Phase

• The treatment phase of the intensive is usually three sessions per day over a weekend. There will be breaks in between for meals, rest, and self-care. 

• I will provide you with a list of suggested activities that help re-regulate your nervous system after sessions. These activities include massage therapists, yoga classes, nature hiking areas and other options. Other activities in Bloomington also include many good restaurants and events through the IU Auditorium, as well as many local events around town.

Intensives are $2100 self-pay. Insurance does not cover the costs, as intensives are not part of coverage plans and there are also no insurance codes for intensives for billing.

Consequently, clients cannot submit claims to insurance themselves. I can offer Intensives to clients residing in Indiana or Illinois only.