EMDR Intensives in California & Florida
Focused trauma therapy designed around you
You’re Ready for More Than Weekly Trauma Therapy
You’ve done therapy before and gotten a lot out of it. You understand your patterns. You can connect the dots. You know where some of your anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, relationship issues, or body-based reactivity comes from.
But you need results now.
You’re tired of spending months circling the same themes in weekly therapy when what you really want is focused, immersive support that helps something actually shift. You may have a demanding career, limited time off, or a very specific goal in mind; a traumatic event you want to process, a trigger you want to reduce, or a season of life where you need concentrated care.
This is where EMDR intensives can be incredibly helpful.
We offer online EMDR intensives for adults who want a more focused form of trauma therapy than the traditional weekly session model. Intensives allow you to step out of your daily life, work with an experienced EMDR therapist, and give your healing the kind of sustained attention it often needs.
What Is an EMDR Intensive?
An EMDR intensive is an extended therapy format that gives you more uninterrupted time for EMDR therapy. Instead of meeting for one short session per week, you work with a trauma therapist for a longer block of time, usually over a half day, full day, or multiple sessions scheduled close together.
This format can be especially effective for people who:
feel ready to focus deeply on one or more trauma targets
have busy schedules and want meaningful work in a shorter overall timeline
are trying to move through a specific stuck point
do not want to spend months building momentum in weekly therapy
want to pair insight with actual nervous system change
EMDR intensives are not about rushing you. They are about creating enough space for the work to unfold with continuity, preparation, and depth.
The goal is not intensity for its own sake. The goal is more focused healing.
Why Choose EMDR Intensives Instead of Weekly Therapy?
Some people choose an EMDR intensive because they are deeply motivated and ready to focus. Others choose it because life is full, their schedule is packed, and they do not want to spend six months building momentum in 50-minute sessions.
An intensive can be a strong fit if you:
feel ready to work on one or more specific trauma targets
want more continuity than weekly therapy allows
have a demanding job or limited availability
are trying to move through a particular stuck point
want your nervous system to stay engaged in the work rather than restarting every week
EMDR intensives are not about forcing a breakthrough. They are about creating enough protected time for the work to unfold with more depth, steadiness, and momentum.
The goal is not to rush you. The goal is to create enough protected space for the work to actually move.
What EMDR Intensives Can Help With
EMDR intensives are designed for people who feel ready to do focused trauma work with more momentum than weekly therapy allows.
They can be especially helpful for:
preventing PTSD from a recent traumatic event
childhood trauma or complex trauma that still affects your present life and relationships
fear of flying, medical trauma, performance anxiety, or specific phobias
attachment wounds, rejection sensitivity, and relationship triggers
burnout that is tied to older survival patterns
feeling like you’re functioning well on the outside but still carrying too much on the inside
This article on rejection sensitivity vs. trauma triggers can help you understand which pattern is driving your reactivity before the intensive begins.
This is why we offer online EMDR intensive options with therapists who understand both trauma and the lives of high-achieving adults.
Our Clients Are Ready for More Than Insight
Our clients are smart, reflective, and highly motivated.
They do not need therapy to explain what happened.
They need therapy that helps their nervous system finally catch up with what their mind already knows.
Our Approach to EMDR Intensives
Not everyone is a good fit for an intensive, and we take that seriously.
We do not treat intensives like an emotional boot camp. We do not throw people into trauma processing without preparation. We assess readiness, build structure, and make sure the format fits both your nervous system and your goals.
Our process includes:
a consultation
an assessment session
planning before the intensive
preparation and resourcing, especially if you have complex trauma
a customized intensive plan based on your history and goals
integration support so you are not left hanging after the work
One of the biggest questions people ask is whether EMDR can make symptoms worse. Sometimes trauma processing can temporarily stir things up, especially when the work is meaningful. That is exactly why pacing, preparation, and therapist skill matter so much. A well-run intensive should feel focused and emotionally significant, but still grounded, collaborative, and safe.
Our team includes experienced EMDR therapists offering EMDR therapy in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, and online throughout California and Florida for clients who want care that is warm, relational, and clinically solid.
We want the work to be deep, not chaotic.
Already Have a Talk Therapist?
If you are already doing weekly therapy, an intensive may still be an option.
In communication with your primary therapist, we can structure an EMDR intensive as an adjunct service when clinically useful. This can be a strong fit for clients who want more concentrated trauma processing without ending an existing therapy relationship with a primary therapist who is not trained in EMDR.
Our California & Florida EMDR Therapists
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Alexis Harney, LMFT
California & Florida
Alexis is an EMDR therapist who supports clients with complex trauma, anxiety, and fear-based responses in a calm, grounded way. She thoroughly helps clients build stability and internal resources before moving into deeper processing, so the work feels thoughtful and safe rather than overwhelming.
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Daniella Mohazab, AMFT
California
Daniella is an EMDR therapist who works with anxiety, trauma, phobias, sexuality, and identity-related concerns. She brings a steady, creative approach to EMDR therapy and helps clients feel prepared, supported, and emotionally resourced before deeper work begins.
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Laurel van der Toorn, LMFT
California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Texas & Washington
Laurel specializes in trauma therapy, burnout therapy, and EMDR for high-achieving adults, including lawyers, executives, and professionals who are ready for deeper, more focused healing. Her style is warm and direct.
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Tatevik Sarkisian, AMFT
California
Tatevik offers EMDR therapy with warmth, care, and close attention to the therapeutic relationship. She works with trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, self-criticism, and life transitions, helping clients move through difficult material with more support and steadiness.
Who EMDR Intensives Are Best For
EMDR intensives tend to be a strong fit for:
motivated, reflective clients
people with a specific stuck memory or pattern they want to address
professionals with limited time for weekly therapy
people who want more continuity and momentum
people who already have some emotion regulation skills and support in place
When Weekly Therapy May Be Better
Weekly therapy may be the better fit right now if you are in:
active crisis
a period of very limited resourcing
high instability in daily life
a stage of uncertain goals or low readiness
a situation where you do not have enough recovery bandwidth afterward
What Happens During an EMDR Intensive?
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1. Preparation and Stabilization
We help you build resourcing skills so that you feel safe and grounded throughout the process.
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2. Target Selection and Processing
Together we identify the key memories, triggers, beliefs, or patterns you want to address. Then we use bilateral stimulation to help your brain reprocess those experiences so they become less activating and more integrated.
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3. Integration Support
Because this is focused work, we also create space to reflect, rest, and stabilize so gains can anchor in your nervous system.
What Kind of Progress to Expect
Many clients notice meaningful shifts in an intensive format, not because the work is rushed, but because there is less time spent rebuilding momentum between sessions.
People often report:
reduced reactivity to triggers
less distressing recall of traumatic memories
faster relief from anxiety and PTSD symptoms
greater emotional regulation
renewed clarity about next steps in healing
An intensive is not a magic fix, and it is not the right fit for everyone. But it can be a powerful accelerator in the healing process.
Some clients experience a major shift in a short period of time. Others use an intensive as one meaningful part of a longer therapy journey.
More speed is not the point. More momentum is.
How Intensives Are Structured
Intensives vary based on your goals and availability. Common formats include:
3-Day Intensive: Multiple extended sessions over 3 days
5-Hour Block: A sprint on a single day (after assessment only)
Customized Format: Tailored to your energy, goals, and schedule
Each intensive includes an initial assessment, pre-session planning, live EMDR sessions, and post-intensive integration support.
What You’ll Need For An EMDR Intensive
A laptop or large tablet
Stable internet connection
Headphones
Privacy
Protected time to focus solely on yourself and your healing
Online EMDR Intensives for Deep Healing of Trauma, Anxiety, Burnout & PTSD
Traditional weekly therapy works well for many people, but some clients are ready to move through hard targets in a structured, concentrated format. EMDR intensives offer a supportive way to engage your nervous system in healing without spacing that process out over months or years.
Whether you’re coping with trauma memories, anxiety loops, burnout patterns, medical trauma, or life transitions, our EMDR intensives provide a powerful, compassionate space to reduce the hold of old pain and build greater ease in your life.
EMDR Intensive vs Weekly EMDR
Both formats can be effective. The question is not which one is better in the abstract; it is which one fits your nervous system, your goals, and your life right now.
Weekly EMDR works well for people who want a steady pace, need more time between sessions to integrate, or are still building stability and trust in the therapy process. It can be a good fit if your schedule allows for regular appointments and you prefer to do deeper work gradually.
EMDR intensives are often a better fit for people who feel ready for a more focused format, have a specific issue they want to target, or do not want to spend months building momentum in short sessions. Because intensives offer longer, uninterrupted time, they can help reduce the stop-and-start feeling that sometimes happens in weekly therapy. Many high-achieving professionals also prefer intensives because they can dedicate real time to healing instead of trying to squeeze trauma work into an already packed week.
Weekly EMDR
slower pace
more time between sessions
better for building readiness gradually
easier for ongoing long-term work
EMDR Intensive
concentrated format
more continuity
ideal for specific targets or limited schedules
requires more recovery bandwidth
Which Pace Of EMDR Should You Pick?
Neither option is inherently better. What matters is readiness, pacing, and fit. A skilled EMDR therapist will help you determine whether weekly EMDR therapy or an EMDR intensive makes more sense based on your trauma history, current stress level, and goals. In some cases, clients even use both; starting with weekly sessions for preparation and moving into an intensive once they feel ready.
How To Get Started With Our EMDR Intensives
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1. Free Consultation
Use our easy scheduler to find a good time. You’ll chat directly with one of our EMDR therapists to determine whether an intensive feels like the right fit.
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2. Assessment For EMDR Intensive
During your first formal session or two, your EMDR therapist will assess your readiness and make a recommendation for format and pacing.
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3. EMDR Intensive
You and your therapist will carry out the plan you’ve built together to help you move toward the relief, clarity, and freedom you deserve.
You can reclaim your life and thrive after trauma.
FAQs: EMDR Intensives
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It depends on the complexity of what you are bringing in, your readiness for trauma work, and the goals of the intensive. Some people notice meaningful shifts very quickly, especially when they are targeting something specific. Others need a longer arc of work. An intensive can shorten the overall timeline for some clients because it allows for continuity and momentum.
This article on EMDR timelines goes deeper on what affects pacing and what to realistically expect.
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Not necessarily better; just different. For some people, weekly therapy is the right pace. For others, especially those who are motivated, prepared, and constrained by time, an intensive offers a more effective format. We help determine that with you rather than assuming one model fits everyone.
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Sometimes trauma work can temporarily increase emotional intensity, especially if your nervous system is touching something important. That does not automatically mean something is wrong. But it does mean the work should be paced carefully. We take preparation seriously so that your intensive feels contained, thoughtful, and supportive rather than destabilizing.
Here's a deeper look at what that process typically looks like, and how to tell the difference between normal processing and something worth flagging.
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People who tend to do well with intensives are often motivated, reflective, and ready to focus. They may have done therapy before, or they may have a very clear goal. Good fit also depends on nervous system stability, not just interest. We assess that together before scheduling.
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Yes. Virtual intensives can be very effective when done with the right structure and support. We offer online options for clients throughout California and Florida, including those seeking trauma therapy in San Francisco, EMDR therapy in Los Angeles, and EMDR therapy in Santa Cruz but who prefer or need remote care.
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EMDR intensives can help with many of the same concerns addressed in weekly EMDR, including trauma, burnout, panic, phobias, attachment wounds, grief, performance stress, and certain stuck patterns that are rooted in unprocessed experiences.
Begin EMDR Intensives Online In California & Florida
If you’re curious whether an EMDR intensive makes sense for you, contact us for a free consultation. We’ll help you weigh the benefits, structure a plan, and take the next step toward relief, clarity, and stronger emotional regulation.
Other Trauma Therapy Services in California & Florida
In addition to EMDR intensives, we offer weekly EMDR therapy, trauma therapy, burnout therapy, couples therapy, teen therapy, LGBTQ therapy, and therapy for lawyers and other high-achieving professionals. If you are not sure whether an intensive is the right format, we can help you find an approach that fits your nervous system, goals, and real life.