Focused time for work that is difficult to contain within 50 minutes

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An EMDR intensive provides an extended period of protected therapeutic time to work with a particular memory, belief, trigger or recurring emotional pattern.

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Rather than stopping when the work has only just begun to deepen, we have more time for preparation, processing, breaks, regulation and integration.

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Intensives can take place in person at my private therapy room in Norwich or online where clinically appropriate. Bespoke multi-day and in-home formats may also be available following assessment.

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[START WITH A CLARITY & DIRECTION ASSESSMENT]

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Why consider an EMDR intensive?

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Weekly therapy can be valuable, but the 50-minute format does not suit everybody or every phase of therapeutic work.

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You may find that:

• sessions end just as you begin to access something important

• it takes time to settle into the work each week

• life quickly takes over between appointments

• you have developed considerable insight but remain emotionally stuck

• you want to focus on a particular memory, belief or recurring response

• weekly therapy is difficult to accommodate around work or caring responsibilities

• you would prefer a contained period of focused work followed by time to integrate

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An intensive does not mean rushing or forcing the process. It provides more time within which the work can be carefully paced.

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Who may benefit?

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EMDR intensives may suit people experiencing:

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• the ongoing effects of trauma or distressing life experiences

• a recurring belief such as “I am not safe,” “I am not good enough” or “My needs do not matter”

• shame, guilt or responsibility connected to past events

• attachment injuries or relational trauma

• persistent triggers that feel disproportionate in the present

• obsessive doubt or fear shaped by earlier experiences

• burnout and over-functioning connected to The Good Person Trap®

• eating difficulties where past experiences, beliefs or emotional responses are part of the maintaining pattern

• insight that has not yet translated into an emotional shift

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You do not need to have experienced a single dramatic event. EMDR can also work with repeated experiences, unmet needs and patterns that developed gradually.

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The Good Person Trap® and EMDR

Many of the people I work with have learned that being good, helpful, capable or responsible is connected to safety, belonging and worth.

You may understand that you are allowed to rest, have needs, make mistakes or disappoint somebody. Yet your nervous system may continue to respond as though doing so is dangerous.

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This can create a gap between what you know intellectually and what you feel emotionally.

EMDR may help us work with the experiences and meanings underlying that response. The aim is not to make you less caring. It is to reduce the fear, shame or compulsion that has become attached to caring.

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What happens during an intensive?

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Every intensive is individually planned, but it will usually include:

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• agreeing a clear focus for the work

• reviewing preparation, stability and current support

• identifying relevant memories, beliefs, triggers or body responses

• resourcing and regulation where needed

• structured EMDR processing

• planned breaks

• time to reflect upon and integrate what has emerged

• agreeing what support or follow-up may be appropriate

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You remain actively involved in decisions throughout. You will not be expected to process everything at once or continue beyond what is clinically useful.

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An intensive is not six uninterrupted hours of eye movements or tapping. The time is used flexibly and may include formulation, preparation, processing, rest and integration.

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Intensive formats

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Three-hour intensive

£550

A focused half-day session for work around a defined memory, belief, trigger or emotional pattern.

This may suit you if you:

• are new to intensive work

• want to focus on one contained target

• need more time than a standard appointment provides

• prefer to begin with a half-day format

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Six-hour intensive

£1,100

An extended day with time for preparation, focused processing, breaks and integration.

This may suit you if:

• the work is likely to involve more than one connected target

• you want a full day protected from everyday demands

• stopping and restarting weekly has felt unhelpful

• you have already completed appropriate assessment and preparation​

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Bespoke multi-day intensives

Price on application

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Weekend and multi-day formats may be available for more complex or layered work.

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These are designed individually and may include:

• preparation before the intensive

• several structured processing periods

• planned breaks and overnight integration

• review and adjustment across the programme

• follow-up support

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The duration and structure will depend on your needs, readiness, location and the level of support required.

A longer intensive is not automatically better. I will recommend the least intensive format that appears clinically appropriate.

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In-home and retreat-style intensives

In some circumstances, an intensive may take place in your own environment or another agreed private setting.

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This could be helpful where:

• travel or access needs make clinic-based work difficult

• your environment is relevant to the therapeutic work

• a neutral setting away from daily demands would support focus

• a multi-day format requires a different structure

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In-home and retreat-style work requires additional consideration of privacy, safety, boundaries, travel and accommodation. Availability is limited, and suitability is assessed individually.

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Most in-person bespoke work takes place within East Anglia, although other UK locations may be considered.

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Starting with assessment

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New clients begin with a 90-minute Clarity & Direction Assessment.

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This allows us to explore:

• what you would like help with

• relevant history and current circumstances

• previous therapy or EMDR

• current stability, risks and support

• possible EMDR targets

• whether an intensive is the right format

• any preparation needed beforehand

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You will receive a personalised written summary with my initial formulation, recommendations and possible next steps.

If you are already working with me, we can assess suitability for an intensive within our existing work.

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Booking an assessment does not guarantee that an intensive will be recommended. I may suggest preparatory therapy, a different pace or another service if that would be safer or more useful.

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Preparation

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Some people are ready to move into intensive work relatively quickly. Others benefit from additional preparation.

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Preparation may include:

• understanding your window of tolerance

• developing grounding or regulation strategies

• identifying internal and external resources

• clarifying the target and desired outcome

• planning for breaks and physical needs

• considering support and commitments following the intensive

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Preparation is not a test that you must pass. It helps us design work that is appropriately paced and contained.

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Suitability and safety

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An intensive may not be suitable if you currently:

• require crisis or emergency support

• are experiencing significant instability or unmanaged risk

• need frequent clinical contact between appointments

• require medical monitoring or multidisciplinary care

• do not have sufficient stability or support for deeper processing

• would benefit from a slower or more relationally focused approach first

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This does not mean that EMDR will never be appropriate. It may mean that another form or pace of support is needed at this point.

 

EMDR and eating difficulties

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EMDR may be useful where eating difficulties are connected to distressing experiences, shame, control, body-related memories, attachment or beliefs about safety and worth.

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However, EMDR is not a substitute for medical care, nutritional rehabilitation or specialist multidisciplinary support.

An intensive may not be appropriate where eating-disorder behaviours are medically risky, highly unstable or require a more structured level of care. Appropriate physical-health monitoring or liaison with other professionals may be necessary.

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Practical considerations

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Intensives are available online where clinically appropriate and in person at:

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Becky Grace Therapy
125 Ber Street
Norwich
NR1 3EY

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You will be encouraged to keep the period following an intensive relatively spacious where possible. It may be helpful to avoid returning immediately to demanding work, intensive exercise, significant travel or major responsibilities.

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We will discuss food, hydration, medication, sensory needs, access requirements, breaks and any practical adjustments beforehand.

 

Cancellations

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Intensives require substantial protected time and preparation.

• With at least 14 days’ notice, the appointment can usually be rescheduled or refunded.

• With 7–14 days’ notice, 50% of the intensive fee is retained.

• With fewer than 7 days’ notice, the full intensive fee is retained.

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Any assessment or preparatory appointments are subject to the cancellation terms in your therapy agreement.

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Ready to explore whether an intensive is right for you?

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You do not need to decide on the duration or identify the perfect target before getting in touch.

The first step is understanding what is happening, what you want to change and whether intensive EMDR is an appropriate way to approach it.