Intensive EMDR Therapy

In this section …

→  EMDR for Phobias
→  How Are Phobias Treated?
→  Why EMDR?
→  Academic References

How does an EMDR Intensive work?

There is a growing body of evidence that offering EMDR therapy on an intensive schedule (several sessions within one week, rather than weekly sessions over several months) is effective, and is preferred by some people. Intensive EMDR therapy is not suitable for everyone, however, so people seeking these interventions with Catherine must undertake a thorough assessment for suitability for EMDR Therapy, over 2-3 80-minute sessions.

What are the benefits of working intensively?

  • Some people prefer to fully address things in one go, rather than draw recovery out over a longer period of time
  • For some people, it’s easier to engage with therapeutic material without having to manage daily life in between sessions each week, and the research shows lower drop-out rates for intensive EMDR therapy as compared with research on weekly EMDR therapy
  • During intensive therapy, less therapy time is spent catching up about life events, freeing up more time to focus on therapeutic tasks

What are the drawbacks of working intensively?

  • There is a significant up-front cost for intensive therapy
  • For some people, recovery requires more time to prepare for trauma processing and/or digest therapeutic material than an intensive series provides, and working this intensively will present risks to their stability
  • Some people will require a lengthy preparation phase of treatment to ensure that an intensive is well tolerated and helpful to them
  • As with all therapy, there is no guarantee that therapeutic goals will be achieved in an Intensive EMDR intervention

When?

  • The assessment sessions will be scheduled with you and will take place over 2-3 80 minute sessions
  • If you and your therapist both agree that an EMDR Intensive is suitable for your treatment, you will be seen over 1 week, normally on the following schedule or similar, as negotiated with you:
    • Monday: 9:30-11:30, 12:30-2:30
    • Tuesday: 2:30-4:30
    • Wednesday: break
    • Thursday: 2:30-4:30
    • Friday: 9:30-11:30, 12:30-2:30
    • One 80 min follow up scheduled for 1-2 weeks after the intensive
  • EMDR intensives over Friday, Saturday and Sunday (9:30-11:30, 12:30-2:30) are possible, subject to availability, at 1.5 times the weekday rate

Where?

  •  Catherine’s therapy room in central Brisbane
  • In some cases, these interventions may be offered remotely, via zoom

What does it cost?

The Australian Association of Psychologists’ recommended rate for 2024-2025 is $315 per hour. Discounted rates are not normally available for Intensive EMDR Therapy. Eligible Medicare rebates will be applied.

EMDR Intensive Assessment: 2-3 x 80 minute sessions with between session assessments to complete

  • $1260.00 with eligible Medicare rebates applied.

EMDR Intensive Treatment: 6 x 120 minute sessions between Monday and Friday and an 80 minute follow up within 2 weeks:

  • $4210.00 with eligible Medicare rebates.
  • Total: $5470.00 including Assessment

EMDR Intensive Treatment Friday – Saturday – Sunday (subject to availability):

If you prefer to be seen for the intensive Friday-Saturday-Sunday, the weekend rate is $472.50 per hour, making the total cost for the 6 x 120 minute sessions and an 80 minute follow up within 2 weeks:

  • $7045.00 with eligible Medicare rebates
  • Total: $8305.00 including Assessment

For comparison: 20 weekly 80 minute sessions = $8600.00

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