Online EMDR Intensive Therapy for California
EMDR Therapy Intensive Treatment Accelerates Trauma Recovery and Growth
Focused compassionate help when weekly therapy isn’t enough
EMDR intensive therapy might be the breakthrough you’ve been looking for. f you’ve tried to talk it out, power through, or “be fine,” and the triggers still show up—you’re not failing. Your nervous system has been protecting you. Together, we’ll move at a pace that feels safe, honor what you’ve survived, and help your system soften its guard. You’re not alone, and you won’t be asked to do this without support.
Lynn Aguilar, LMFT
What is an EMDR Therapy Intensive and How Do They Work?
EMDR Intensives are extended sessions over a longer period of time - a half day to 3 days. They are designed to help clients achieve significant progress in specific areas in a short amount of time. They are especially useful for those feeling stuck in traditional therapy. Instead of going to therapy every week for months or years, you'll spend about 4-6 hours each day for 1-4 days focusing completely on your recovery. Think of it like taking a summer crash course instead of a semester-long class. You're learning and healing the same things, just in a more concentrated way.
This concentrated time helps you:
stay in the healing “flow” without losing traction between sessions
go deeper at a pace that respects your nervous system
create meaningful change in days instead of months
. The research shows this approach works especially well for people dealing with trauma or PTSD. Your body and mind get the chance to process multiple difficult memories while staying focused on healing. Since there aren't week-long breaks between sessions, you can keep your momentum going and work through things when you feel ready.
Before we start, we'll make sure you're ready for this deep healing work. Many people find that doing this work in a shorter, more focused time helps them make big improvements quickly. Some notice they feel better even after one long session, and the improvements often continue as they process more memories. This focused approach helps people feel more balanced in their bodies and emotions, giving them better control over how they feel.
An Introduction to EMDR Therapy
If you’re new to EMDR, watch the video below to learn about how EMDR works.
Why an intensive (vs. weekly therapy)?
Short, weekly sessions can feel like stopping mid-chapter—especially for caregivers with limited bandwidth. A half-day or multi-day intensive lets us:
Build strong preparation and nervous-system tools up front
Stay with the work long enough to complete key targets
Reduce the “open/close” fatigue of week-to-week therapy
Clients often report months of movement in days: fewer triggers, steadier boundaries, and a kinder inner voice.
About My Approach to EMDR Intensive Therapy
Many of the clients I serve are mothers who carry a quiet load—guilt about their kids’ struggles, pressure to hold everything together, and shame about coping with food or perfectionism. Others are caregivers in different roles (supporting a partner, aging parents, or in helping professions) who rarely make space for their own healing. EMDR intensives offer focused time to move what’s been stuck—without months of weekly sessions—inside a relationship that is warm, paced, and deeply respectful.
Relational, attachment-focused, and shame-sensitive
We go at the speed of trust. I blend EMDR with parts/ego-state work so every part of you is welcomed and no one is pushed. My lens is anti-diet and weight-inclusive: we never moralize food or bodies. While I don’t treat eating disorders per se, many clients with complex trauma have painful body stories or disordered eating patterns—we address roots, not symptoms, and we do it without blame.
Safety and pacing first
Before any reprocessing, we co-create a plan that fits your nervous system and your life:
Thorough consult and screening
Personalized preparation (resourcing, containment, stabilization)
Clear consent, stop/slow signals, frequent breaks, hydration, and movement
Culturally sensitive, non-stigmatizing language throughout
Is EMDR Intensive Therapy Right for You?
While regular weekly therapy works well for many people, sometimes you need something faster. EMDR intensives could be a good choice if you want to work through trauma, PTSD, or other tough experiences more quickly.
Think of it like cleaning out a closet - you could spend an hour each weekend for months, or set aside a full weekend to get it done. The intensive format gives you focused time to work through difficult memories in a safe, supportive space.
EMDR intensive therapy can be particularly helpful for:
Individuals experiencing persistent feelings of being stuck in life, work, and in relationships.
Those with PTSD or complex trauma
Those struggling with trauma, anxiety, or recurring negative patterns
People who have limited access to ongoing EMDR therapy (e.g., due to travel or availability)
People with unresolved trauma
Individuals preparing for major life transitions or dealing with high-stress situations
Those feeling a lack of progress in traditional therapy
Making Healing More Accessible for Busy Schedules
EMDR intensives support the busy parent with kids doing virtual learning, the working professional who has even more on their plate since COVID, or the client who needs help now.
Whatever the reason that weekly sessions just won’t work for you, EMDR intensives are available to support you during times you need help the most.
I offer EMDR intensives for my current clients who may need extra support, as well as new clients who prefer to work intensively.
EMDR intensives are personalized treatment plans that allow you to skip the waitlist by giving you faster access to select spots, and are designed to support your preferred schedule and timeline for your treatment goals. This format proves particularly valuable for:
Busy professionals seeking trauma resolution
Parents with demanding schedules
Those traveling for intensive trauma treatment
Individuals seeking rapid breakthrough
People with acute healing needs
Cost-Effective in the Long Run
Yes, EMDR intensives might cost more upfront than regular therapy. But think of it this way - you might get the same results in a few days that could take months of weekly sessions to achieve. This could actually save you money in the long run.
It's important to work with someone who really knows what they're doing with EMDR intensives. Having an experienced therapist guide you through this focused work helps make sure you get the most out of your time and money.
Taking the Next Step
Ready to explore how EMDR intensive therapy can support your healing journey?
Whether you're dealing with PTSD, processing trauma, seeking nervous system regulation, or working through traumatic memories, EMDR intensives offer a powerful path forward.
The first step is meeting together to talk about whether intensive EMDR therapy is right for you. During this meeting, we'll discuss your past difficult experiences, see how your body and mind are currently coping, and make a plan that fits your needs. We'll work together to identify which memories are causing you the most trouble and what you hope to achieve through therapy.
[Contact us today to schedule your consultation and learn more about how EMDR intensive therapy can help you achieve lasting healing and peace.]
Your EMDR Intensive Therapy Process:
Pre-Consultation Interview
to assess for candidacy, as well as target core negativ beliefs, body sensations, past trauma, emotions, or images from which you are seeking relief.
Personalized Treatment Workbook
which allows you to work on your treatment goals before, during, and after our EMDR intensive sessions.
A Customized Treatment Program
with targeted treatment goals.
Post-Treatment Interview
to assess and support your adaptation to positive changes from treatment.
I offer EMDR intensives in three adaptable formats
These personalized treatment plans are designed to support your preferred schedule and timeline for accomplishing your treatment goals.
Mini EMDR Intensive
1/2 day or a full day
Tackle that first hill
Moderate EMDR Intensive
2 or 3 days
Your path to healing
Comprehensive EMDR Intensive
3-4 days
Conquer that mountain
Frequently Asked Questions
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EMDR intensives allow the opportunity to progress through your symptoms in a more succinct and focused way without the interruption of the 50-minute session. An intensive format may decrease overall treatment time because the of time not spent on: a) checking in at the beginning of each session, b) addressing current crises and concerns, c) focusing on stabilizing and coping skills that the client won't need after healing or d) assisting the client in regaining composure at the end of the session.
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Yes. Perhaps you have a felt sense that something profound has yet to change, but you're not quite sure how to shift all the way into a new experience of yourself with your current therapist. Maybe you now cognitively understand new things, yet your body is still confused, so you're curious about how adjunct EMDR intensive therapy can help. We will identify what format is best for you during your initial consultation.
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An EMDR intensive offers a multitude of resources and can help to either increase performance and confidence, or significantly decrease the devastating effects of trauma (e.g. negative cognitions, disturbing emotions and body sensations). While significant healing can occur in any length intensive, complex PTSD deserves more treatment time than a single incident trauma may require. Each client is different and the length of the intensive will be discussed during your initial consultation.
Get quick relief
Schedule your EMDR Intensive today
How Can I help?
Still have questions? Feel free to reach out!