Extended EMDR Sessions & EMDR Intensives in Washington State
Extended EMDR Sessions via Telehealth in Washington State
90-minute sessions from the comfort of your own home
While EMDR therapy can be effective in standard session lengths, some clients benefit from extended EMDR sessions. Longer sessions allow for greater continuity, deeper processing, and more complete processing than traditional-length sessions.
90-minute EMDR sessions provide additional time for therapeutic processing while maintaining a familiar therapy rhythm (weekly, biweekly). These sessions are often helpful when standard sessions consistently feel too short for the work at hand.
90-minute EMDR sessions may be a good fit if:
- EMDR processing regularly extends beyond a standard session
- Stopping mid-processing feels disruptive or dysregulating
- We are working with complex, layered, or developmental trauma
- You benefit from more time to settle, process, and integrate before closing
For many clients, extended 90-minute EMDR sessions offer a balance between depth and sustainability.
FAQ: Extended EMDR Sessions & Intensives
EMDR Intensives in Washington State
EMDR Intensives via Telehealth in Washington State
EMDR Intensives from the coziness of your own surroundings
While EMDR therapy can be effective in standard or extended session lengths, some clients benefit from or prefer EMDR intensives once they are well prepared. Intensive sessions allow for greater continuity, deeper processing, and more complete nervous system integration—without rushing the work.
Extended EMDR therapy is not about speed. It is about creating the right therapeutic conditions for processing to unfold safely and sustainably.
EMDR Intensives (3-Hour and 6-Hour Sessions)
EMDR intensives offer focused, uninterrupted time for trauma processing and integration. Intensives are carefully structured and paced, with attention to nervous system regulation, safety, and recovery.
EMDR intensives may be helpful if you:
- Want to make meaningful progress without long-term weekly therapy
- Have limited availability or a demanding schedule
- Have already completed preparatory work and feel ready for deeper processing
- Feel “stuck” despite insight, coping skills, or prior therapy
What distinguishes EMDR intensives
- Fewer starts and stops when entering traumatic material
- Greater opportunity to complete processing sequences
- More space for nervous system regulation and integration
- Less emotional carryover between sessions
Intensives are never rushed and are not appropriate for every phase of therapy. Readiness is always assessed collaboratively.
Preparation, Pacing, and Safety in Extended EMDR Work
Extended EMDR sessions and intensives require thoughtful preparation. Before scheduling longer sessions, we consider:
- Nervous system capacity and regulation skills
- History of dissociation, overwhelm, or shutdown
- Internal and external support systems
- Timing, recovery needs, and integration planning
In my practice, Intensive EMDR work is grounded in:
- Careful preparation and resourcing
- Ongoing consent and choice
- Attention to somatic cues and parts responses
- Adequate integration time before closing
The goal is not endurance - it is sustainable, integrated therapeutic healing.
Is an Extended EMDR Session or Intensive Right for You?
Extended EMDR therapy may be a good fit if you:
- Feel ready to work with greater depth and continuity
- Want a more focused approach than weekly sessions allow
Many clients begin with standard EMDR sessions and transition to extended sessions or intensives later in the therapy process.
EMDR Extended 90-minute Sessions
FAQ: Extended EMDR Sessions & Intensives
FAQ
FAQ: Extended EMDR Sessions & Intensives
What is the difference between a standard EMDR session, an Extended EMDR session, and an Intensive session?
A standard EMDR session is typically around 55 minutes. Extended sessions are 90 minutes. Standard and Extended sessions are typically weekly or biweekly. Intensives are 3-hour to 6-hour sessions. Longer sessions provide more time for preparation, processing, and integration, which can reduce the need to stop mid-processing and help the nervous system settle more fully before the session ends.
Are EMDR intensives better than weekly therapy?
Not necessarily. EMDR Intensives are not “better”—they are different. Some clients benefit from focused, longer sessions, while others do better with shorter, more frequent sessions. The decision depends on readiness, nervous system capacity, and clinical goals.
How do I know if I’m ready for an EMDR Intensive?
Readiness is assessed collaboratively. Factors include your ability to regulate distress, access internal resources, tolerate emotional activation, and integrate between sessions. Intensives are not recommended if they would overwhelm your system or bypass needed preparation.
Can the Intensive format be used for other modalities?
Yes, Intensives can be very helpful with preparation and resourcing, as well as parts work and somatic therapy.
Can EMDR Intensives be done via telehealth?
Yes. EMDR Intensives can be conducted via secure telehealth for clients located in Washington State. Many clients find telehealth intensives supportive because they can engage in processing from a familiar, comforting environment.
Will insurance cover extended EMDR sessions or intensives?
Insurance plans generally reimburse for standard therapy sessions (around 55 minutes). Extended sessions and Intensives may not be fully covered.
When applicable:
- Insurance may reimburse the standard session portion (53-55 minutes)
- Additional time is typically the responsibility of the client, unless the insurance plan states otherwise
We will discuss coverage and options clearly before scheduling.
Do EMDR intensives replace ongoing therapy?
Sometimes—but not always. Some clients use intensives as a focused phase within longer-term therapy, while others use them as a stand-alone approach. We decide together based on your needs and goals.
EMDR Extended 90-minute Sessions
Frances Wilder is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist™
