EMDR Therapy Intensives
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy Intensives
EMDR Intensives
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
The Therapy Hub is dedicated to proactively and creatively delivering therapy services to meet the needs of our community. We’re excited to be delivering EMDR Therapy in an intensive format. In-person and online.
Our commitment to offering EMDR in an intensive format is aimed at providing an efficient and effective way to address trauma-related symptoms. EMDR therapy intensives offer a brief approach for those who do not need, or already have, the support of a separate ongoing therapist.
Research supports the notion that this approach can lead to rapid and significant improvements compared to traditional therapy methods. We have a strong belief in the effectiveness of EMDR for treating trauma symptoms, and our Intensive Program provides extended and frequent EMDR treatment sessions, offering options for both one-week (Program One) and two-week (Program Two) formats.
What is an EMDR Therapy Intensive?
In an EMDR therapy intensive with The Therapy Hub you work in extended sessions of 100 minutes, rather than the standard 50. The Mini package is three of those sessions in one week, the Standard is six over two weeks, and the Extended is nine over three weeks.
Intensives are more time efficient than standard therapy because the time isn’t spent checking in at the start of each session, managing new concerns as they come up, or closing down at the end of every appointment.
Time is not needed for
a) checking in at the beginning of each session
b) addressing new crises and concerns
c) closure processes at the end of each session.
What is an EMDR Therapy Intensive?
In an EMDR therapy intensive with The Therapy Hub you work in extended sessions of 100 minutes, rather than the standard 50. The Mini package is three of those sessions in one week, the Standard is six over two weeks, and the Extended is nine over three weeks.
Intensives are more time efficient than standard therapy because the time isn’t spent checking in at the start of each session, managing new concerns as they come up, or closing down at the end of every appointment.
Time is not needed for
a) checking in at the beginning of each session
b) addressing new crises and concerns
c) closure processes at the end of each session.
Who Can Benefit from an EMDR Therapy Intensive?
- Individuals of ANY age [EMDR therapy is effective for children too]
- Individuals who feel ready to intensively address a specific treatment goal
- Individuals seeking accelerated healing from trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, phobias, and other emotional challenges.
- Individuals who prefer an immersive and concentrated approach to therapy.
- Individuals who feel highly motivated to do this work
- Individuals who do not require, or already have, other regular therapy sessions (e.g. weekly/fortnightly/ monthly therapy)
- Individuals who have previously experienced the benefits of standard EMDR therapy and wish to delve deeper.
This model is may not best for you if you
- Are looking for supportive counselling/’ talk-therapy (rather than structured change therapy)
- Need an ongoing therapy relationship and do not have one yet
- Have difficulties that need stabilising first, such as a suicidality, self-harm, substance abuse, significant dissociative difficulties, or current life crises
- Are not ready for change
What happens before your intensive
Every intensive starts with a thorough assessment. Before any processing work begins, you’ll meet with your therapist to talk through your history, what you want to work on, the supports you have around you, and whether an intensive is the right fit for you at this point.
This part matters. Intensive work asks a lot of you, and we want to be confident you’re set up well before you start. The assessment covers your current circumstances, identifies the specific memories or difficulties you want to target, and gives you a clear picture of what the days will involve.
You’ll also complete a questionnaire before and after the program. This gives both of you a way to see what has shifted, rather than relying on memory alone.
If the assessment suggests an intensive isn’t the right option right now, we’ll say so, and talk through what would suit you better. That’s a good outcome, not a failed one.
Intensives run at our Footscray rooms, and people travel in from across Melbourne for them. Some of the assessment and the follow up can be done online if that’s easier.
If you’re still working out whether an intensive suits you, it’s worth reading how to know when you’re ready for EMDR therapy first.
What happens during the sessions
Intensive sessions follow the same eight phases as standard EMDR therapy. What changes is the length of each appointment and how closely they’re scheduled.
In a standard 50 minute session, a significant part of the time goes to settling in at the start and closing down the material safely at the end. That leaves a relatively short window for actual processing. Extended sessions change that ratio. There’s enough time to open trauma material, work with it properly, and close it down without rushing.
Scheduling the sessions close together also means you’re not starting from a standstill each time. You keep the momentum rather than spending the first part of each appointment catching up to where you left off.
This isn’t about pushing through faster than is comfortable. Your therapist paces the work with you throughout, and you can slow down or pause at any point.
What happens after
The work doesn’t stop when the intensive block ends. Your brain continues processing in the days and weeks afterwards, and many people notice changes settling in during that period rather than immediately.
Before you finish, your therapist will go through strategies for the weeks ahead, including what to do if difficult feelings surface and how to look after yourself while things settle.
You’ll also have a follow up call scheduled within about a month, to check how the integration is going and decide together whether anything further would help.
Some people go back to their regular therapist afterwards. Some do a second block later on. Some find they don’t need anything further for a while. All of those are normal.
The days afterwards catch people out more than the sessions themselves. We’ve written separately about what to expect after an EMDR therapy session.
How effective is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR Therapy is one of the most well researched trauma treatment models and has been shown to be effective in over 25 scientific studies and numerous independent reviews.
It is endorsed by:
The World Health Organisation (2013)
The Australian Psychological Society (2010)
The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2009)
American Psychiatric Association (2004)
Want to learn more?
What is EMDR? Learn the basics
What is an actual EMDR session like? Learn the 8 phases of treatment
Introductory video about EMDR
What EMDR can help with
EMDR has been successfully used as a treatment component in the management of a range of things such as:
Depression
Anxiety
Panic Attacks
Performance Anxiety
Phobias
PTSD
Sexual or Physical Abuse
Stress Reduction
EMDR Therapy Intensive Program Options
We offer EMDR Therapy Intensives in person in Footscray, Victoria.
Online EMDR Therapy Intensives are available Australia-wide from the comfort of your own space, without travel and accommodation costs.
Mini Package
Program One condenses three months of fortnightly EMDR Therapy into one week and includes the following;- Pre and post-assessment questionnaire
- 1 x 50-minute assessment / history-taking session
- 3 x 100-minute (equivalent of 6 x 50-minute sessions) booked in one week.
- Handouts and resources
- 1 x 30-minute follow-up call scheduled within a month of the intensive block.
- Payment Plans available
Standard Package
Program two condenses six months of fortnightly EMDR Therapy into two week and includes the following;- Pre and post-assessment questionnaire
- 1 x 50-minute assessment / history-taking session
- 6 x 100 minute sessions booked over two weeks.
- Handouts and resources
- 1 x 30-minute follow-up call scheduled within a month of the intensive block.
- Payment Plans available
Extended Package
Program Three condenses 9 months of fortnightly EMDR Therapy into three weeks and includes the following;- Pre- and post-assessment questionnaire
- 1 x 50-minute assessment / history-taking session
- 9 x 100-minute (equivalent of 18 x 50-minute sessions) booked in over 3 weeks.
- Handouts and resources
- 1 x 30-minute follow-up call scheduled within a month of the intensive block.
- Payment Plans available
Frequently asked questions about EMDR Therapy
Are EMDR intensives worth it?
For the right person, yes. Research on intensive EMDR therapy suggests it can produce meaningful improvement in trauma symptoms, and for people who can’t sustain weekly appointments, it’s often what makes therapy possible at all. Whether it’s worth it for you specifically depends on what you’re working on, whether you’re ready for processing work, and what supports you have in place. That’s exactly what the initial consultation is for, and we’d rather tell you honestly that it isn’t the right fit than have you invest in something that won’t help.
Are EMDR intensives safe?
EMDR therapy is a well researched treatment endorsed by the World Health Organisation and the Australian Psychological Society, and the intensive format uses the same clinical protocol delivered over a shorter period. Safety comes down to appropriate assessment and pacing, which is why we assess suitability before anyone begins. Intensives are not suitable for everyone, including people who currently need stabilisation for issues such as suicidality, self harm, substance use or significant dissociation. If that’s where you are, ongoing weekly therapy is likely the safer starting point, and we can talk about that.
Why do I feel tired or unsettled after EMDR therapy?
This is really common and it doesn’t mean something has gone wrong. Processing distressing memories is demanding work, and it’s normal to feel tired, emotionally raw or a bit unsettled for a day or two afterwards. Some people notice vivid dreams or memories surfacing as the brain continues processing. Your therapist will go through what to expect and what helps, and after an intensive you’ll have a follow up call scheduled. If anything feels unmanageable at any point, contact us rather than waiting for that call.
What is the controversy around EMDR therapy?
The debate among researchers isn’t about whether EMDR therapy works. It’s about why it works. EMDR therapy is well established as an effective treatment for post traumatic stress, and is recommended in treatment guidelines internationally. What remains debated is how much the bilateral stimulation, such as the eye movements, contributes on its own, compared with the other components of the protocol such as structured attention to the memory. Some researchers argue the eye movements add a distinct benefit, others argue the results come mainly from the rest of the process. Either way, the treatment itself has a strong evidence base, and it’s a fair question to ask your therapist about.
How is an intensive different from weekly EMDR therapy?
The clinical approach is the same. What changes is the format. Weekly EMDR therapy delivers 50 to 90 minute sessions spread over months. An intensive delivers longer sessions scheduled close together, so the same therapeutic hours are concentrated into a shorter period. That means less time spent settling in and closing down each session, and less loss of momentum between appointments.
Do I need to already be seeing a therapist?
No, though it can help. Intensives suit people who don’t need ongoing therapy as well as people who already have a regular therapist and want a focused block of trauma work alongside that. If you do have a regular therapist, we’ll talk with you about how the intensive fits with the work you’re already doing.
How much does an EMDR therapy intensive cost?
Our intensive programs are fixed price, and the full cost is set out on this page so you know before you enquire. Payment plans are available.
The program that suits you depends on how much work you want to do and over what period, and we’ll talk that through at your free 15 minute consult before anything is booked.
Medicare rebates may apply to some sessions depending on who you see and whether you have a referral.
Can I use a Mental Health Care Plan for an intensive?
EMDR therapy has been on the list of Focussed Psychological Strategies under the Better Access scheme since 2020, so sessions may attract a Medicare rebate. To access one you’ll need to see your GP first, talk through what’s going on, and be given a Mental Health Care Plan and a referral.
Whether a rebate applies also depends on who you see, because not every practitioner is eligible to provide rebated sessions. We’ll be clear with you about this before you book anything.
If you have Extras cover that includes psychology, you may be able to claim part of the fee through private health insurance instead. You can’t claim both Medicare and private health for the same appointment.
How many sessions is an intensive, and over how long?
It depends which program suits you. All three use extended sessions of 100 minutes rather than the standard 50.
The Mini package is three sessions over one week, which is roughly the equivalent of three months of fortnightly therapy. The Standard package is six sessions over two weeks, about six months’ worth. The Extended package is nine sessions over three weeks, about nine months’ worth.
Every program also includes a 50 minute assessment beforehand, a questionnaire before and after, and a 30 minute follow up call within a month of finishing.
Which one is right depends on what you want to work on and how much time you can give it, and that’s what the free 15 minute consult is for.
Please contact our friendly Admin Team on (03) 9958 8772 who can book you in with one of our clinicians for an obligation free 15min consult to ensure that an intensive program is the right therapy option for you at this time, they will help determine your suitability for the program.
While intensive programs are a popular and effective treatment option, they may not be suitable for everyone. If you are currently a client with The Therapy Hub please consult with your therapist for more information.
Keen to get started?
Book a discovery call with one of our clinicians. We can have a 15-minute discovery call. In this call, we decide if EMDR Therapy Intensives are likely to be a good fit for you.
Related reading
Articles and Blogs related to EMDR
How to know when you are ready for EMDR Therapy
If you’re considering EMDR therapy, there’s a good chance you’ve already done a lot of thinking about it. Maybe you’ve read about how it works, or you’ve noticed that your nervous system feels stuck in overdrive or shut down more often than you’d like.
What to expect after an EMDR therapy session
If you’re considering EMDR Therapy or have just completed your first session, it’s natural to wonder what comes next and how you might feel.
Trauma and complex PTSD, when to refer for EMDR therapy
EMDR therapy is one of the most extensively evidenced treatments available for trauma-related presentations.
