What are EMDR intensives?

EMDR intensives are extended sessions (100+ minutes) designed to provide deeper or more concentrated work, often reducing symptoms and moving healing forward more quickly.

Who might benefit from an EMDR intensive instead of regular weekly sessions?

People with busy schedules, those wanting faster progress, or those who have been doing talk therapy but still feel disconnected in their body may benefit.

Are EMDR intensives safe for trauma?

Yes — when led by trauma-trained therapists, intensives are well tolerated and can reduce triggers and symptoms more efficiently, while maintaining safety.

How are intensives different from regular therapy sessions?

They are longer, more focused, often scheduled outside of standard hours, and allow for deeper work in fewer sessions compared to weekly shorter appointments.

EMDR Intensives

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What Is an EMDR Intensive?

An EMDR intensive is an extended therapy session that gives you more time to focus on your goals without the usual one-hour session structure.

At Fika, EMDR intensives are 100 minutes or longer, depending on the clinician and the service you are receiving. Longer sessions can create more dedicated time for preparation, EMDR processing, reflection, and closing the session with appropriate support.

Who Might Consider an Intensive?

An EMDR intensive may be worth exploring if:

You prefer longer sessions rather than a traditional one-hour appointment
Your schedule makes weekly appointments difficult
You want dedicated time to focus on a specific area of therapy
You are already working with a therapist and want to explore EMDR as part of your broader therapy work
You would like more focused time for your therapy goals

You do not need to know whether an intensive is the right fit before reaching out. A consultation can help you talk through what you are looking for and what type of support may make sense.

What EMDR Intensives Can Look Like

An intensive is still collaborative therapy. Your therapist will work with you to determine what you want to focus on and how to pace the session.

Depending on your needs and where you are in the EMDR process, an extended session may include preparation, grounding and stabilization, identifying what you want to work on, EMDR processing, reflection, and time to close the session.

You do not have to use the entire session for EMDR processing. The structure and pacing will depend on your needs and your therapist's clinical judgment.

EMDR Intensives and Ongoing Therapy

An EMDR intensive does not necessarily replace regular therapy. For some people, it may be used as part of ongoing EMDR or counselling, while others may prefer longer sessions because they fit their schedule better.

If you already have a therapist, you can also ask about whether an EMDR intensive could complement the work you are already doing. Your Fika clinician can help you determine what is appropriate for your situation.

Regular-length EMDR sessions are also available.

Ready to Explore an EMDR Intensive?

If you're curious about whether an EMDR intensive could be a good fit, reach out to our team. We can help you understand the options available and connect you with a clinician based on your needs and location.