EMDR Intensives vs Weekly EMDR Therapy: How to Know What’s Right for You
Author: Angela Holmes-Cruz, LMHC
If you’ve been exploring EMDR therapy, you may have come across the term EMDR intensive and wondered how it differs from weekly EMDR sessions. You might also be trying to figure out which option would actually feel more supportive for you.
The truth is that neither approach is better across the board. They simply offer different structures, and the right fit depends on your goals, your nervous system, and how much support feels sustainable right now.
What Is Weekly EMDR Therapy?
Weekly EMDR therapy follows a traditional therapy structure, with sessions typically lasting around 50 to minutes and occurring once per week.
This format allows time to:
Build trust and safety in the therapeutic relationship
Develop grounding and regulation skills
Process experiences gradually
Integrate emotions and insights between sessions
For many people, weekly EMDR provides a steady and supportive rhythm. It can feel especially helpful if you are newer to trauma work, navigating ongoing stress, or wanting space between sessions to reflect and stabilize.
What Is an EMDR Intensive?
An EMDR intensive involves longer sessions or multiple sessions scheduled close together, often over one or several days. Instead of meeting weekly, the work is more focused and immersive within a shorter period of time.
People are often drawn to EMDR intensives because they:
Want to focus on a specific issue or memory
Feel stuck in traditional weekly therapy
Have limited availability for ongoing sessions
Want to create momentum in a shorter timeframe
An intensive can allow for deeper focus without the interruption of a full week between sessions.
How EMDR Intensives Can Differ
Not all EMDR intensives are structured the same way, and this matters.
Some models emphasize moving quickly through material or addressing as many targets as possible in a short amount of time. While this can be appropriate for certain people, it is not always the best fit for every nervous system.
A trauma-informed EMDR intensive prioritizes preparation, pacing, and integration. This includes time spent assessing readiness, building regulation skills, and allowing space for breaks and reflection during the process.
In my work, people often come in expecting that an intensive will feel faster or more intense, and are surprised to find that what matters most is how supported and regulated they feel throughout the work.
How to Decide Which Option Might Be Right for You
You may lean toward weekly EMDR therapy if you:
Prefer a slower, relational pace
Are managing high levels of stress or emotional overwhelm
Want consistent support over time
Are early in trauma or attachment-focused work
You might consider an EMDR intensive if you:
Feel emotionally stable and well-resourced
Want to focus on a specific concern
Have already done some therapy work
Need a more time-efficient option
For some people, the most supportive approach includes both. Weekly therapy can build a strong foundation, while an intensive can be used later for focused processing.
A Note on Online and In-Person Intensives
Both weekly EMDR and EMDR intensives can be offered in person or online, depending on your location and preferences.
Some people feel more regulated doing EMDR from home, while others prefer the structure of an office setting. What matters most is not the format, but whether you feel safe, supported, and able to stay present during the work.
Final Thoughts
Choosing between an EMDR intensive and weekly EMDR therapy does not have to be a permanent decision. It is simply about finding what feels most supportive at this point in your life.
Healing is not about moving as quickly as possible. It is about choosing an approach that respects your nervous system and your capacity.
If you are considering EMDR therapy in Sarasota, FL, or online EMDR therapy anywhere in Florida, a consultation can be a helpful space to talk through these options and decide what feels like the best fit for you.