EMDR Intensive Therapy Manchester

We can start with a Structured EMDR Intensive Programme. In many cases, this is enough therapy to fully process problems that stem from a one-off event as an adult such as a car accident.

Stressful and traumatic events that lasted many hours, days or even months are usually more complex to treat. Examples are complex physical injuries that needed further surgeries, birth trauma or cancer diagnosis and treatment.

How much therapy a person needs will depend on the severity of their symptoms, how much their life has been impacted, and how many disturbing memories need to be processed.

We will prioritise a discrete event or issue to work through with EMDR therapy, and we can discuss any constraints like time and financial considerations.

In any session, we spend time at the start checking in on changes and reviewing what’s been difficult, and we end with time to wind down so you’re not leaving feeling unsettled. In intensives, we still do this, but only once in a 3-hour session. This means we spend more time on active processing than we would in three separate sessions.

Compressing treatment into a shorter time frame means we can stay with the traumatic material and work through it, building momentum so progress can happen more quickly. With fewer gaps between sessions, there is also less time for life’s distractions to get in the way.

Yes, EMDR is safe when delivered by therapists whose training has been accredited by EMDR Europe and who are an EMDR Europe Accredited Practitioner.

Intensive EMDR means we’re working with difficult material for longer stretches, which can feel emotionally demanding. I pace the work carefully, and we’ll build in time to settle at the end of each session so you’re not leaving overwhelmed.

If you’ve experienced complex trauma or dissociation, we’ll take time to prepare before starting the intensive work. I’ll always let you know if I think we need to spend more time in the preparation phase.

Yes, I offer EMDR Intensive Therapy online via a secure video platform. This can work well for some clients when privacy and comfort at home are in place.

When someone has a history of complex trauma or needs more support regulating their nervous system, I usually recommend working in person. This allows us to manage the intensity of the process more safely and effectively.

Being in the same space can help some clients feel more supported. Connection can feel easier as there are more non-verbal cues and more chance to adjust in the moment. That can make a real difference when the work gets emotionally intense.

People often feel tired after EMDR, especially after a longer session. The work often continues in the days that follow, as your brain processes what we’ve focused on. You might find that things feel stirred up, or that unexpected memories, dreams, or emotional shifts come to the surface.

This happens because EMDR activates your brain’s natural way of making links between past and present. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s a sign that the therapy is doing what it’s meant to. These effects usually settle quickly, and it happens less as therapy progresses.

With intensive EMDR, this can feel more manageable, as there are fewer gaps between sessions and we can keep momentum going in the work.

We’ll talk about what to expect and how to take care of yourself after sessions, and you’re always welcome to check in between sessions if something feels difficult.

If we reach the end of the EMDR work before the end of an intensive session, we’ll use the remaining time for something clinically useful. This might include planning for future challenges or using ACT-based coaching to explore what matters to you, so you can move towards the life you want to be living.

Intensive sessions are booked in fixed time blocks, and the day is dedicated to you as part of this specialist service. I’m not able to refund unused time within a session, but we’ll use the full time in a way that continues to support your therapeutic goals.

We can cancel any remaining unused intensive sessions if they are no longer needed to meet your goals. If a shorter session would help to complete the work or plan next steps, it may be possible to book a single therapy appointment in my routine clinic (subject to availability).

We’ll make these decisions together, based on your progress and what still feels important to cover, so you don’t have to commit to everything up front.