EMDR Intensives in Maryland

What is an EMDR intensive?

An EMDR intensive is a focused, multi-day format of EMDR therapy that compresses weeks of standard weekly sessions into a few concentrated days. Where ordinary EMDR is delivered in 50-minute weekly appointments over an extended period, an intensive runs in extended sessions over two or three consecutive days, allowing each piece of trauma processing to reach a natural stopping point rather than being interrupted by the clock.

Intensives are not a separate therapy. They are EMDR therapy delivered in a different rhythm. The clinical work, the eight phases, the role of dual attention stimulation, and the underlying Adaptive Information Processing model are the same. The difference is in the time structure.

Research on intensive trauma therapy has grown considerably over the past decade. Studies on multi-day EMDR formats have shown meaningful PTSD reduction over short windows of treatment, and the model has been used effectively for first responders, military populations, and clients with time constraints that make weekly therapy difficult. Intensives are not the right format for everyone, but for the right person they can be a powerful option.

Who's a good fit for an EMDR intensive

Intensives ask a lot of the nervous system in a short window. They work best for people who come in already resourced and ready for focused work. Some signals that suggest an intensive may be worth exploring:

You have time constraints that make weekly therapy difficult to sustain
You have already done some therapy and have a sense of how the work feels for you
You have good coping skills and a stable self-care routine
You are not currently in active crisis
Dissociation is minimal or well-managed
You have done EMDR before, or you have a clear-enough sense of what you would be working on
You are 15 years of age or older

The intensive clinician will do additional screening during the intake conversation to confirm whether an intensive is the right format for what you're working on.

When an intensive is not the right fit

Intensives are not appropriate for every client or every presentation. Some situations where standard weekly EMDR (or therapy in another modality) is the better starting point:

You have a dissociative disorder or significant dissociation that has not been treated and stabilized
You are currently in active crisis or experiencing significant suicidal thinking
You have not yet built coping skills or stabilization that the intensive process relies on
You have never done therapy before and are looking for trauma work as a starting point
The presenting concern is something other than discrete trauma processing
You are under 15 years of age

"Not the right fit for an intensive" does not mean "not a candidate for therapy." It means standard weekly EMDR or another approach is likely a better starting point, possibly leading toward an intensive later if the work calls for it.

Format and process

Intensives are structured to give the clinical work room to breathe and the client room to integrate. Here is what to expect.

The intensive itself

An intensive runs as either:

Two days of three hours each (with breaks built in), or
Three days of two hours each (with breaks built in)

The total intensive time is six hours of focused EMDR work. The choice of format depends on what fits your nervous system and your schedule. Some people do better in slightly longer sessions over fewer days; others need more days with shorter sessions in between to integrate.

Before the intensive

The process begins with an intake session, typically 50 minutes, to gather history, identify what you'd be working on, and confirm that an intensive is clinically appropriate. This intake session can usually be billed through insurance if you have CareFirst BCBS.

If you and the clinician agree that an intensive fits, you'll typically schedule one or two preparation sessions in the week or two before the intensive. These sessions confirm coping skills, introduce or refresh the EMDR protocol, and set the targets for the intensive itself. If extended preparation isn't possible, some preparation can be rolled into the start of the intensive, adding time to the total.

After the intensive

The work doesn't fully end when the last session does. Your nervous system continues processing for days and sometimes weeks afterward. We recommend not scheduling anything demanding for the rest of each intensive day, giving yourself quiet time in the days following, and being gentle with yourself as integration happens. Your therapist will help you plan for this during the preparation phase.

Some clients return to weekly therapy with their existing therapist after the intensive. Others schedule a follow-up session with the intensive clinician. The right post-intensive plan depends on your situation.

Cost and insurance

Honest framing on the financial side, since this matters and people deserve to know it up front.

The intensive itself is not covered by insurance. It is paid out of pocket.
The intake session can typically be billed through CareFirst BCBS if you have it.
Prepayment is required in advance of scheduling the intensive. This is because the clinician sets aside a substantial block of time and prepares specifically for your work.
We do not offer a payment plan for intensives.

For exact pricing, please contact the intake team. We're happy to talk through the cost as part of figuring out whether an intensive is the right fit.

How to schedule an intensive

Many of our clinicians offer EMDR intensives, though not all do. Because intensives require extended scheduling for both you and the clinician, the path looks slightly different than scheduling a regular weekly appointment.

If you are an existing client

Talk with your current therapist. They can let you know whether they offer intensives or refer you to a colleague on our team who does. Either way, they're often the right place to start because they already know your history and goals.

If you are new to our practice

Reach out to our intake team to start the conversation:

Online: request an appointment through our contact page
Email: info@traumaspecialistsofmd.com
Phone: 301-304-7108 extension 828

From there, we'll schedule an intake conversation to talk through what you're working on, whether an intensive fits, and what the next steps would look like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are EMDR intensives covered by insurance?

The intensive itself is not covered by insurance and is paid out of pocket. The intake session that determines whether an intensive is right for you can typically be billed through CareFirst BCBS if you have it. Prepayment for the intensive is required in advance of scheduling, and we do not offer a payment plan due to the time involved for the clinician.

What's the format of an EMDR intensive?

Intensives are scheduled either as two days of three hours each (with breaks) or three days of two hours each. The total intensive time is six hours, with one or two preparation sessions added in advance, typically the week before.

How is an intensive different from weekly EMDR?

Standard EMDR is delivered in 50-minute weekly sessions over a longer period. An intensive compresses focused trauma processing into a much shorter window, with extended session lengths that allow each piece of work to reach a natural stopping point rather than being interrupted by the clock. Intensives suit clients who are prepared, who have time constraints, or who want concentrated work on a specific target.

Do I need to have done EMDR before?

Not strictly, but most people who do intensives have done some therapy and many have done EMDR before. The screening process includes asking about previous therapy and EMDR experience, and the preparation session is calibrated to where you're starting from. People without prior therapy at all are usually a better fit for standard weekly EMDR before considering an intensive.

What if I have dissociation or a dissociative disorder?

Significant dissociation is generally a reason to do EMDR in standard weekly format rather than as an intensive. Intensives ask the nervous system to do a lot of work in a short window, which can be hard for people whose primary survival response is dissociation. If you have been treated for a dissociative disorder, the screening process pays particular attention to whether your stabilization is in a place where intensive work fits.

What's the age requirement?

EMDR intensives are available for clients aged 15 and older. For younger children, EMDR is offered in standard weekly format with developmentally appropriate adaptations.

Will I be exhausted after?

Often yes, in the way that focused trauma work is tiring. We recommend not scheduling anything demanding for the rest of the day after each intensive session, and giving yourself a few quiet days afterward if you can. Your therapist will talk through self-care planning during the preparation session.

How do I schedule an intensive?

Existing clients can ask their current therapist whether an intensive fits. New clients should contact our intake team by emailing info@traumaspecialistsofmd.com, or by calling 301-304-7108 extension 828. Because intensives require extended scheduling, please allow time for the intake conversation and preparation sessions before the intensive itself.

Clinically reviewed by

Sarah Martin, LCPC, NCC

Clinical Director, Trauma Specialists of Maryland

Sarah is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Board Certified Counselor with over 8 years in the mental health field. She is trained in EMDR, and works with clients in both standard weekly and intensive formats.

Read full bio

If an intensive sounds like a fit

Reach out to our intake team to start the conversation. We'll talk through what you're working on, whether an intensive fits, and what comes next. There's no pressure to decide today.

Contact intake Call 301-304-7108 ext. 828

If a form doesn't feel right, you can also email us at info@traumaspecialistsofmd.com.