What is an EMDR Somatic Experiencing Intensive?

An EMDR Somatic Experiencing intensive is a way to deliver treatment in an intensive but short period of time, where multiple EMDR/Somatic Experiencing sessions per day are completed. New research shows that intensive therapy for trauma, stress, and adverse life events can be extremely effective on symptom reduction. If you are motivated to do the work and make impactful changes in your life, this would be a great option for you!

Benefits

• This is a more flexible way of working that can suit some people’s goals better than the traditional method of meeting once a week.

• Research shows that clients completing intensive treatment can make as much progress in the condensed format as in standard weekly sessions.

• This can eliminate weeks or months of living with trauma-related or adverse event-related symptoms, and with the toll this takes on a person’s wellbeing.

• Since sessions are completed over 1-3 days, it greatly reduces lost work time. It is convenient for out of town clients.

• While there is a larger upfront cost, the shorter duration of treatment over all can save money. 

• Often in weekly sessions, we do a check-in and sometimes events have arisen in the week which need our attention but can draw us away from your goals around trauma treatment.  But when we work intensively we can stay focused on the trauma, stress patterns, or adverse life events that brought you to therapy in the first place.

Structure of the EMDR Somatic Experiencing Intensive

I provide a few different options for intensive length of treatment depending on your needs as a client. The standard treatment intensive consists of:

• Preparation Phase-an Initial assessment to gather background history information and get to know your goals for the intensive. I will also discuss nervous system health in a psychoeducational format.

• Treatment Phase-There’s a few options depending on your treatment needs/goals and if we have been working together prior to the intensive. The average EMDR treatment phase for optimal results is 6-12 sessions/hours, however some research indicates positive results in as little as 3 sessions.

  • ​Option 1: One 3-5-hour intensive (1 day or 2 split days)

  • Option 2: Two 3-5-hour intensives (2 days or 3 split days)

At the end of each session, we will discuss ways to continue down regulation of your nervous system over the rest of the day and evening. The sessions will consist of EMDR and Somatic Experiencing in between EMDR sessions to help integrate the work you are doing during EMDR’s bilateral stimulation.

• Follow Up Session-After the intensive, a follow up session will be scheduled in 3-4 weeks to discuss integration of the work and continued nervous system health.

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a treatment for trauma that uses knowledge from neuroscience to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories, stress patterns, negative beliefs, and cognitive distortions.

Sometimes memories can get “stuck” in the nervous system. The individual continues to react with high levels of anxiety, fear, distress, and maladaptive thought and behavioral patterns when the memory is triggered. Trauma related symptoms could include: anxiety, insomnia, flashbacks, intrusive recollections of the event, mistrust, irritability or rage, depression, detachment from loved ones, relationship and social issues, to name a few. 

“Big T” trauma can be singular events such as a car accident, assault, death of a loved one, etc. or multiple events over time. “Little t” trauma is something that many more people may experience over time. This could include bullying, neglect of emotional needs, etc . What occurs is a dysregulaton of the nervous system. 

EMDR helps remove those stuck memories and blocks and have little or no effective any longer in day to day life through a process called bilateral stimulation. EMDR is even effective for people not diagnosed with PTSD whom are still impacted by painful memories.

• Some studies show that 84%-90% of single-trauma victims no longer have post-traumatic stress disorder after only three sessions.

• Another study, funded by the HMO Kaiser Permanente, found that 100% of the single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims no longer were diagnosed with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) after only six sessions.

• EMDR is now recognized as an effective form of treatment for trauma and other disturbing experiences by organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization and the Department of Defense.

What is Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a cutting edge treatment to heal from stress and trauma. Research suggests we hold memories of how our body felt during traumatic or stressful events, and these physical or somatic sensations. SE helps to regulate the nervous system and complete stuck trauma/activation cycles in the body in a gentle approach that builds the capacity that you already have within you to cope and heal.

Sometimes the system is either overwhelmed by a stressor, resulting in a chronic activation of the nervous system. Somatic Experiencing is based on polyvagal theory, and helps resolve the physical part of trauma, stress patterns, and/or adverse events  while teaching the person how to deactivate this part of the nervous system. 

SE resolves symptoms of stress, shock, and trauma that accumulate in our bodies. When we are stuck in patterns of fight, flight, or freeze, SE helps us release, recover, and become more resilient. 

My Training

I have completed EMDR Levels I and II training as well as over 30 hours of individual/group consultations, continued education, and 8 years of practice. 

I am currently in the process of completing the 3-year Somatic Experiencing certification program (to be completed in Spring 2025) that consists of 3 or 4 4-day intensive trainings per year as well individual and group consultations. Somatic Experiencing is a modality that I weave into my practice in most weekly sessions.

I specialized in trauma treatment as I completed my Master’s of Clinical Social Work and continue to focus on trainings and education of trauma-related, holistic approaches to healing.

Investment

EMDR Somatic Experiencing Intensives are self-pay. Insurance does not cover the costs, as intensives are not part of coverage plans. There are also no insurance codes for intensives for billing, so unfortunately, you cannot submit claims to insurance themselves.

• Option 1 (Prep Session, One or 2 3-hour intensive, Follow Up session):  $725-1,150 investment

• Option 2 (Prep Session, One or Two 5-hour intensives, Follow Up session): $1000-1800 investment

• Add ons: Reiki session during breaks or after intensive: $145 per session.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me and set up a time for a phone consultation. 732-630-9642 or sara@heartmindwellnesscenter.com.