How to Structure Your First EMDR Intensive

 

 

 

Transcript

[INTRO]

Hi friends, and welcome back to Scaling Up Your Impact, the podcast for trauma-informed therapists who want to grow their skills, serve more clients, and do it all without burning out. I’m Kelly Smyth-Dent, and today we’re talking about something that’s exploding in popularity—EMDR Intensives.

If you’ve been curious about offering intensives but aren’t sure how to actually structure one—clinically, logistically, and financially—this episode is for you. I’ll walk you through some important things to think about so you can launch your first intensive with confidence.

Segment 1 – Why Intensives Are Worth Considering

Before we get into the “how,” let’s talk about why intensives can be such a game-changer.

An EMDR Intensive is a condensed, focused block of therapy—often a half-day, full-day, or multi-day format—designed to accelerate progress.

For clients, this can mean:

• Relief from symptoms faster than with weekly 50-minute sessions
• A deeper dive into processing without the interruption of “time’s up” every hour
• Flexible scheduling for people who can’t attend weekly therapy due to work, travel, or life circumstances

For therapists, intensives can:

• Allow you to do deep, uninterrupted work with a client
• Create more schedule flexibility and reduce weekly burnout
• Open up a premium pricing option for your practice

Segment 2 – Clinical Structure: Laying the Foundation

Structuring an intensive starts with clear clinical intention. This isn’t just “a long session.” It’s a focused treatment plan designed for a specific goal or cluster of goals. There are many ways to structure an EMDR Intensive.

Step 1: Client Selection

Not every client is a good fit for an intensive. Good candidates are those who:

• Have knowledge of what they want to work on (e.g., a recent traumatic event, a particular phobia, performance anxiety)
• Have strong enough stabilization and coping skills to engage in extended processing
• Can dedicate uninterrupted time for the work and recovery afterward

Step 2: Preparation Phase

Don’t skip this. Even for a one-day intensive, you may want to schedule at least one prep session beforehand to:

• Take a detailed history and identify targets
• Ensure the client understands EMDR and consents to the intensive format
• Practice and strengthen resourcing and regulation skills. Some therapists choose to build this into the beginning of their intensives, so explore what works best for your clinical style and your clients’ needs.

Step 3: The Day-of Flow

A typical full-day intensive might include:

• 30–45 minutes of check-in, resourcing, and warm-up
• 2–3 hours of reprocessing (with breaks as needed)
• A longer mid-day break for rest and integration
• An afternoon block for additional reprocessing or closure work
• A final debrief, grounding, and planning next steps

Think of the day as phased—starting with safety and connection, moving into the core processing work, and ending with integration and closure.

You can choose to weave other techniques like yoga, reiki or art therapy (if trained in them), but it’s not required. Many therapists that do EMDR intensives with kids use play therapy techniques throughout. Make the intensives your own while keeping your client population in mind.

Segment 3 – Why Getting Trained in Intensives Matters

Before we talk about pricing, I want to pause and address something important: just because you know EMDR doesn’t mean you’re automatically prepared to run intensives safely.

Intensives aren’t just “longer sessions.” They’re a different clinical framework with unique challenges:

• Clients are in processing for longer stretches, so you need to know how to pace and titrate activation
• There’s less time between sessions for integration, so you must be skilled in recognizing signs of dysregulation and knowing when to pause
• The emotional and physical demands on you as the therapist are different—so self-care, boundaries, and structure become essential
• You need to ensure you have the clinical competency to navigate a client through multiple hours of processing – there is less time and space to reach out to someone for consultation

Getting trained in EMDR Intensives teaches you how to:

• Identify who is and isn’t an appropriate candidate
• Structure multi-hour or multi-day sessions for safety and efficiency
• Manage your own energy and capacity
• Handle unexpected situations when you don’t have “a week until the next session” to regroup

And here’s the bigger picture: offering intensives without specific training can put both you and your clients at risk.

Specialized training gives you the confidence to navigate the complexities, the clinical judgment to adapt in the moment, and the systems to make your intensives ethical, effective, and sustainable.

At Scaling Up, we offer an EMDR Intensives Training that walks you through every piece—clinical, logistical, and business—so you can launch with confidence instead of trial and error. Details will be in the show notes!

If structured training is not up your alley, get 1:1 guidance from an EMDR consultant with experience conducting intensives.

Segment 4 – Logistics: Making It Work Smoothly

A great clinical plan can be ruined by poor logistics. Here are key considerations:

Environment: Choose a private, comfortable space—ideally one that’s quiet and free of interruptions, like your office or private retreat center if that’s your jam.

If virtual, confirm your client has a private setting, stable internet, and the necessary tech setup for bilateral stimulation.

Breaks: Build in real breaks. Processing for hours can be intense, and breaks aren’t just physical—they’re psychological decompression points.

Materials: Have water, tissues, and grounding tools handy.

For virtual sessions, make sure the client has self-soothing tools in their environment.

Follow-Up: Schedule a follow up session after the intensive to assess changes, address any emerging material, and plan future care.

Paperwork: Use a specific consent form for intensives outlining the format, risks, benefits, and what to expect.

Insurance doesn’t cover EMDR intensives, so ensure you have the proper billing notices/waiver.

Consult with your state board and/or lawyer to address any grey areas you need clarity on.

Segment 5 – Pricing Your Intensive

Pricing is where many therapists get stuck. Remember: you’re not selling “time,” you’re selling a transformational service that condenses months of work into a short period.

Consider:

• Your standard hourly rate—then factor in prep time, integration follow-up, and the premium nature of the service
• Market rates in your area (but don’t undervalue yourself—intensives are specialized work)
• The value of the outcome to the client (e.g., resolving symptoms that have been interfering with life for years)

A simple pricing model is:

(Hourly rate × number of hours in the intensive) + prep/integration time × hourly rate
Then round up slightly for the premium service.

Example:

If you charge $150/hr and offer a 6-hour day (including prep and follow-up), your base is $900. You might price that at $1,000–$1,200 to reflect the intensity, specialization, and transformation potential.

Payment & Policies:

Requiring a deposit to reserve the day(s) is common practice

Have a clear cancellation policy (with longer notice required than for regular sessions)

Consider offering payment plans if you want to make it more accessible. You can set them up manually or use a service like Affirm.

Segment 6 – Selling Without Feeling “Salesy”

Selling an intensive is really about education + invitation.

Educate: Help clients understand why intensives can be more effective for certain issues. Use clear, client-friendly language and examples.

Invite: Let them know they have the option—and that it’s tailored for their needs.

Show, Don’t Tell: Share research and case studies that demonstrate the process and effectiveness of EMDR intensives.

You don’t have to “push” intensives. The format often sells itself once clients understand the benefits.

Segment 7 – Final Encouragement

Offering your first EMDR Intensive can feel intimidating—but remember, you already have the clinical skills. This is just a different container for them.

Start small—maybe with a half-day format for a current client who’s a good fit. Refine your structure and logistics as you go. With each intensive, you’ll get clearer on your process, your pricing, and your ideal client match.

And if you want deeper training on EMDR Intensives, including safety considerations and advanced strategies, check out our EMDR Intensives Training at scalingupemdr.com.