EMDR Intensive | Eve McIntyre EMDR Therapy & CBT Therapy

EMDR Intensives Arriving January 2026

EMDR INTENSIVES

Fast track and accelerate your EMDR therapy journey

EMDR INTENSIVE THERAPY | ONLINE & SOMERSET BASED TRAUMA TREATMENT

WHAT EMDR IS

EMDR is an evidence based and NICE recommend therapy, it aims to support the processing of blocked and unprocessed experiences through bilateral stimulation which are causing disturbance in the here and now. Through this process the vividness of the memory and associated distress and disturbance reduces.

WHAT EMDR CAN HELP WITH

EMDR is highly effective in healing:

PTSD and Complex Trauma
Flashbacks and Nightmares
Panic, fear and hyper-vigilance
Childhood or developmental trauma
Medical and accident trauma

In addition to the above, EMDR is also proving to be effective for Depression, OCD and Anxiety. EMDR is effective in reducing the vividness of traumatic experiences and the associated distress. I can support you and go at your pace.

WHAT MAKES AN EMDR INTENSIVE DIFFERENT TO WEEKLY EMDR?

EMDR whether delivered weekly or as an intensive will follow the same phases (history taking, preparation, processing). And the time spent in each phase will still be guided by the same individual and therapeutic factors (nature of the trauma, history, resources and if dissociation is present or not).

What makes EMDR intensives different is the amount of time spent in a session, intensives are a concentrated approach to EMDR therapy. This can fast track and accelerate your EMDR therapy journey for example you will have a total of 7.5 hours of therapy over 3 days (2.5 hours a day). This is a big reduction in time compared to weekly therapy where the same results would take 7 weeks.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EMDR INTENSIVES?

There are a number of benefits to EMDR Intensives including:

Speed
Depth
Fewer sessions
More flexibility with time
A personalised plan which is designed to allow you to fast track to reach your goals

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM EMDR INTENSIVES?

The EMDR Intensives are particularly suited to those who have been meaning to begin therapy but life has been getting in the way and there has not been enough space and time to make a start. The EMDR Intensive is much more accessible than weekly appointments.

EMDR Intensives are beneficial for those who:

Find it difficult to commit to weekly appointments due to time limitations/ other commitments
Have a pressing impact e.g. loss of job if therapy is not accessed soon.
Would like to fit therapy into a time limited period e.g. during annual leave.

WHEN IS AN EMDR INTENSIVE NOT RECOMMENDED OR SUITED?

EMDR and EMDR Intensives are change therapies, they are not about supporting through/ talking through a difficult transition. It is a focused therapy around processing disturbing memories and building resources. If you are seeking support around talking through a life transition, a different approach may be better suited. If in crisis and certain presentations an EMDR Intensive may not be recommended. If you are unsure if an EMDR Intensive would be a good fit for you please feel free to book a free introductory consultation where we can discuss this together.

HOW IS THE EMDR INTENSIVE DELIVERED? ONLINE VS. IN PERSON

The EMDR Intensive can be delivered either online or in person. If we are meeting online we will use a secure platform called Bilateral Base. Whether you are local to Somerset or even looking to visit the rural South West we can meet in person from my peaceful therapy room in Wellington Somerset.

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EMDR THEORY

The Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Model is the foundation of EMDR. The AIP model proposes adverse memories with the original emotion, belief and bodily sensations are not processed fully or processing is blocked which leads to psychological disturbance and distress. When processing is blocked the memory can be triggered in the present day and lead to the following symptoms: Intrusive memories; nightmares; flashbacks, intense emotional reactions and negative self beliefs.

Example of adaptive processing:

Daily stress - memory of a minor argument or setback without intense emotional distress because the brain has integrated other information from other experiences and learning that you have got through it.

Example of blocked processing where adaptive information processing has not happened:

Being in a road traffic accident - continuing to feel the physical sensations, emotions and cognitions as if the accident were still happening. This gives the sense of reliving and continuing to feel in danger even though the danger has passed.

Processing being blocked or information not being adaptively processed is not your fault or anything you have done wrong. It is likely the nature of what you have lived through was experienced at such an intensity that regions of the brain automatically respond in a different way. EMDR can support processing to reduce the vividness and associated disturbance being experienced.

HOW EMDR WORKS

Neuroplasticity is a beacon of hope that reminds us of our brain's ability to change and restructure. Just because an experience has not been processed or integrated and has become stuck does not mean it has to stay like this.

EMDR works through

Reactivating the traumatic memory, through reactivating the memory is temporarily liable for change
Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) is introduced, BLS taxes working memory to reduce the vividness and emotionality to support adaptive information processing and enhances communication between the left and right hemisphere in the brain.
New and adaptive information is integrated.
The memory is re-stored adaptively, when the memory is brought to mind less disturbance is experienced.

EMDR is not seeking to rewrite an experience or invalidate what happened, the aim is to integrate information which then impacts on reducing the disturbance experienced when it is brought to mind and the impact it has on you in the here and now.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

EMDR is characterised by distinct phases:

History Taking Phase - exploration of presenting problem, trauma history, past memories linked to current problem, present triggers. The purpose of this phase is to develop a shared understanding and form a therapy plan.

Preparation Phase - this includes psychoeducation, establish safety and trust, develop resources (e.g. calm space, container, attachment figures). Purpose of this phase is to develop emotional stability and readiness for processing. Emotional regulation and the ability to access and be alongside distressing experiences is needed at this stage before proceeding to the processing phase. If dissociation is experienced a longer period of time is often needed to spent here in the preparation phase before moving into processing. This is to ensure safe and ethical EMDR.

Processing Phase (Assessment, Desensitisation, Installation, Body Scan, Closure) - Purpose is to support adaptive information processing. EMDR uses a three pronged approach, targets processed in this phase may be past experiences that led to the current problem, present triggers that activate distress or future templates to support adaptive resources.