EMDR: Weekly Sessions vs. Intensives

(Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)

Choosing the Right Path for Your Healing

Both weekly EMDR sessions and EMDR Intensives are effective approaches to trauma healing. The right choice depends on your goals, schedule, and preferences.

Weekly EMDR Sessions

Overview:
Weekly EMDR therapy offers steady, gradual healing in regular 50–60 minute sessions.

Best suited for people who:

  • Prefer a slower, paced approach to healing

  • Want to integrate therapy into their weekly routine

  • Appreciate time between sessions to process and reflect

  • Benefit from ongoing, long-term support

  • Are addressing complex trauma or multiple goals over time

Benefits:

  • Gentle, steady progress

  • Lower time commitment per week

  • Provides ongoing therapeutic relationship and support

  • Flexibility to shift focus as life changes

EMDR Intensives

Overview:
EMDR Intensives condense therapy into extended sessions (2–4 hours) over a shorter period, such as a few consecutive days.

Best suited for people who:

  • Want faster progress or focused results

  • Have busy or unpredictable schedules

  • Live out of town and prefer concentrated support

  • Feel stuck in weekly therapy and want to move forward

  • Are preparing for a major life transition (e.g., marriage, parenthood, career change)

Benefits:

  • Faster results in less time

  • Reduced “stop-and-start” effect of weekly sessions

  • Immersive and focused work

  • Can be combined with ongoing therapy back home

Side-by-Side Comparison

 

Session Length

Timeline

Pacing

Ideal For

Flexibility

Integration Time

Weekly EMDR

50 minutes

Weeks or months

Gradual, ongoing

Ongoing support, complex trauma

Fits regular schedule

Built-in between sessions

EMDR intensives

4.5 hours, split into 2 hour sessions

1-5 days (short-term)

Accelerated, focused

Targeted work, quick progress

Suits busy/travel schedules

Integration built into breaks

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I combine weekly EMDR with an intensive?
Yes. Some clients do an intensive to make rapid progress, then continue with weekly therapy for integration and ongoing support.

Is one approach more effective than the other?
Both are highly effective. It depends on your goals, circumstances, and what feels most supportive for you.

How do I know which option is right for me?
During your consultation, we’ll explore your history, needs, and preferences, then decide together which format is best.

Ready To Take The Next Step?

Both weekly EMDR and EMDR Intensives offer powerful opportunities for healing. Whichever path you choose, you’ll be supported in a safe, compassionate, and structured way.

Phone: (778)715-0112

Email: info@willowbarkwellness.com

Or book a complimentary 15 minute consultation with any of our counsellors to see if they’re the right fit for you.

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