EMDR Intensives
Roots an Rays offers EMDR intensives in Chicago, offering a unique and effective option for those ready to make significant progress in their healing journey in a concentrated format. Whether you are looking to resolve past trauma, alleviate anxiety, or enhance your emotional well-being, an EMDR intensive may provide the focused, transformative experience you need.
EMDR Intensives are specialized, focused treatment sessions designed to accelerate the healing process for individuals dealing with trauma, anxiety, PTSD, or other mental health concerns. Unlike traditional EMDR therapy, which is typically spread out over weekly or bi-weekly sessions, EMDR intensives offer extended, concentrated timeframes—often several hours per day, over the course of a few days or a week. This immersive approach allows clients to make significant progress in a shorter period of time.
An EMDR intensive at our Chicago-based location or via telehealth follows the same core principles of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Clients work through traumatic memories or distressing emotions using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, which helps the brain process and integrate painful experiences. However, the intensive format allows for deeper exploration, uninterrupted focus, and the ability to target multiple layers of trauma or anxiety during a single intensive period.
"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it."
– Helen Keller
Who may benefit from EMDR intensives?
Survivors of trauma who are seeking rapid relief from symptoms and want to make significant strides in their healing journey in a condensed time.
Individuals who are managing complex PTSD or multiple traumas, as the intensive format provides more space to address and process these layers in a structured environment.
Those with busy schedules or those who are unable to commit to traditional weekly therapy appointments may find the intensive model more flexible and time-efficient.
Individuals seeking a jumpstart in healing—whether to manage acute symptoms or prepare for a life transition (such as returning to work, facing a major event, or preparing for other types of therapy).
What to expect from an EMDR intensive at Roots & Rays:
Comprehensive Assessment: Before the intensive, your therapist will conduct an in-depth assessment to understand your history, specific concerns, and treatment goals. This ensures that the intensive is tailored to your unique needs and provides a roadmap for focused healing.
Personalized Treatment Plan: EMDR intensives are custom-designed for each client, allowing you to work at your own pace. Sessions may range from half-day to full-day options, spread over a series of days. This flexibility allows the therapist to guide you through your emotional work without the constraints of traditional hourly sessions.
Focused Trauma Processing: Because EMDR intensives provide more time for uninterrupted work, clients can address multiple distressing memories, emotions, or trauma triggers in one sitting. This can accelerate the therapeutic process, reduce the time needed to achieve relief, and lead to deeper insights.
Supportive, Healing Environment: Throughout the intensive, the therapist maintains a supportive, compassionate space, guiding clients through their emotional experiences while ensuring they feel grounded and safe. The goal is not to overwhelm but to provide a structured opportunity for deep healing.
FAQs
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Accelerated Healing: By dedicating focused time and energy to processing trauma, EMDR intensives can offer quicker relief from symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and emotional distress.
Deeper Focus: The immersive nature of intensives allows clients to fully engage in the therapeutic process without the interruption of daily life or the limitations of traditional therapy schedules.
Flexible Timing: Intensives can be structured to meet your schedule, making it an ideal option for those who may be traveling, have limited availability, or need to prioritize their mental health in a short period of time.
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Our EMDR Intensives stand out because we take a highly integrative and customized approach, tailoring the experience to meet your specific needs and healing goals. In addition to the traditional EMDR framework, we incorporate art therapy into the process, offering clients an even deeper, more creative way to access and process emotions.
Here’s what makes our EMDR Intensives unique:
Integration of Art Therapy: By weaving in art therapy—a proven method for non-verbal expression—we provide an additional layer of healing. Art-making allows clients to process trauma in ways that words alone cannot. This creative component helps deepen self-awareness, reduce anxiety, and offer new perspectives on difficult emotions. The combination of EMDR and art therapy creates a powerful, dual approach that enhances emotional release and trauma processing.
Fully Customized to Your Needs: We understand that each person's experience with trauma is unique, and so are their healing paths. Our EMDR Intensives are highly customized to your specific concerns, whether you're dealing with trauma, anxiety, or other life challenges. We begin with a thorough assessment to develop a plan that addresses your personal goals and pacing, ensuring that each session feels aligned with where you are in your healing journey.
Holistic Healing Environment: Our approach is grounded in creating a safe, compassionate space where you can engage fully in the therapeutic process. The combination of EMDR and expressive arts fosters a trauma-informed environment that supports both emotional and creative expression, allowing for deep healing in a contained and nurturing setting.
By integrating art therapy and personalizing the experience, we offer a more holistic and immersive approach to healing, helping you make lasting emotional progress in a shorter period of time.
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You might be a good fit for an EMDR intensive if you’re seeking a focused, accelerated approach to healing from trauma, anxiety, PTSD, or other distressing emotions. Here are a few key indicators that EMDR intensives could be a good option for you:
You want quicker progress: If you’re looking to make significant strides in a shorter amount of time or are feeling stuck in traditional talk therapy, an EMDR intensive might offer the jumpstart you need. The extended sessions allow you to dive deeper into processing traumatic memories without having to spread treatment out over weeks or months.
You have a busy schedule: EMDR intensives are ideal for those with limited availability, such as people with demanding work schedules, caregivers, or individuals who are traveling. Instead of committing to weekly sessions, intensives allow for healing to take place in a condensed time frame, often over a few days.
You’ve experienced multiple traumas or complex PTSD: If you’re dealing with multiple layers of trauma or longstanding emotional pain, the immersive nature of an intensive provides space to work through several issues at once. This concentrated attention can help you process complex emotions more effectively.
You’re in a life transition or facing an urgent need for relief: If you’re preparing for a major life event (e.g., returning to work, surgery, relationship change) or feeling an urgent need for emotional relief, an EMDR intensive can help you stabilize and reduce distress before taking the next step.
You’re ready and able to fully engage in the process: An EMDR intensive requires mental and emotional focus, as you will be engaging in deeper therapeutic work over extended sessions. If you’re committed to actively participating and feel prepared for this level of emotional exploration, you could be a good candidate.
However, if you’re currently in crisis or feeling emotionally overwhelmed, your therapist may recommend building up coping skills and emotional stability before beginning an intensive. It’s essential to have a conversation with your therapist to discuss your goals, readiness, and the best approach for your healing journey.
Ultimately, the best way to determine if you’re a good fit for an EMDR intensive is through a thorough consultation with a qualified EMDR therapist who can assess your needs and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan.
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An investment in EMDR intensive therapy can accelerate your healing process, offering significant relief in a shorter amount of time.
EMDR intensives are priced based on the total number of hours dedicated to your treatment, including both the direct therapeutic work, pre-session assessments, and post-session follow-ups.
EMDR intensives are offered in packages:
Half-day intensives: $1500
(90-minute intake + 3 hour EMDR Intensive + 90 minute post-session follow up)
6 total hours of therapy
Full-day intensives: $3000
(90-minute intake +6 hour EMDR Intensive + 90 minute post-session follow up)
total hours of therapy
Multi-day intensives:
For intensives spanning several days, prices can range from $2,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the structure of the program.
We can collaborate on the customization of a program specific to your needs.
It’s important to note that while the upfront cost of an EMDR intensive may seem higher than traditional weekly therapy, many clients find that the accelerated healing process can reduce the total number of sessions needed, ultimately saving time and money in the long run.
At this time, Insurance does not cover the cost of EMDR intensives. Cash pay or FSA cards may be used.
50% of the cost of the intensive is required to book your appointment, and 50% is due at the time of the first session.
Book a free consultation with us before booking an intensive to discuss pricing, payment options, and sliding scale fees, as applicable.