How EMDR Intensives Helped Me Heal After Trauma (As a Trauma Therapist)
A few months ago, I went through a traumatic experience — the kind that changes you overnight.
I’ve shared the full story in a series of videos (you can check those out if you want all the details), but here’s the short version: I had a traumatic birth, spent five days in the hospital, and left knowing I needed help.
What made the whole experience even more surreal was that I’m a therapist specializing in trauma, anxiety, and somatic therapy. I could name every symptom I was experiencing. I could explain exactly what was happening in my nervous system. My self-awareness was sharp — but the symptoms didn’t disappear just because I understood them.
I was afraid to go to sleep. I’d get so exhausted, but my body wouldn’t let me rest for long.
I kept replaying the hospital stay in my head until it felt like I was back there — classic re-experiencing.
My brain spun out imagining endless scenarios that could land me or my son back in the hospital — rumination.
At times, I felt so disconnected from my own body it was as if my mind was floating somewhere else — depersonalization.
Knowing what each of these experiences was called didn’t make them stop.
And this is something I tell my clients all the time: awareness is not enough.
It’s only one piece of the puzzle.
I wanted to be fully present in my life again — for myself, for my baby, for my family. I needed to be intentional about my recovery. So I decided to do something I’d seen transform my own clients’ lives: an EMDR intensive.
What Is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
It’s an evidence-based therapy that helps people reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer hold the same emotional charge. It can be a game-changer for trauma, anxiety, relational challenges, and those “stuck” patterns that come from painful experiences.
EMDR uses a mix of somatic practices and bilateral stimulation (often eye movements) to help your nervous system let go of old responses, replace them with healthier patterns, and create new beliefs that support healing.
Why an Intensive?
An EMDR intensive is like therapy in high-definition.
Instead of the traditional 50-minute weekly session, intensives are extended — anywhere from 90 minutes to several hours — and can be scheduled once, multiple times a week, or in concentrated blocks over a few days.
They’re ideal if:
You want to focus on 1–3 areas without committing to years of therapy
You’ve had a recent trauma or crisis and need relief quickly
You have a busy schedule and want deeper work in fewer sessions
You feel “stuck” and need to jumpstart your healing process
In my practice, I blend EMDR with somatic therapy so clients can build tools for nervous system regulation while we process painful experiences. This makes the work both powerful and safe.
My Intensive Experience
When I started, I couldn’t talk about my hospital experience without sobbing.
I chose 2–3 hour sessions once a week, though I could have done more frequent or longer sessions if that felt right.
After 2 sessions: I could share my story while staying regulated.
After 3 sessions: I started sleeping through more of the night; the constant fear began to lift.
After 5 sessions: I thought about the hospital far less and stayed more present in daily life.
After 6 sessions: I felt like me again. My good days outnumbered my bad ones, and even when anxiety popped up, I could handle it.
Within two months, I was in a place of genuine well-being and even joy — something I couldn’t have imagined when I started.
The Bottom Line
Healing doesn’t have to be a slow, endless process. With the right approach, it’s possible to experience relief, regulation, and real change much faster than you might expect. EMDR intensives gave me the space, structure, and support I needed to reclaim my life after trauma.
If you’ve experienced something difficult — whether recently or years ago — and you’re ready to start feeling like yourself again, you don’t have to do it alone.
I offer EMDR and somatic therapy intensives in California, both in-person in Roseville and virtually across the state. Let’s create a plan that works with your nervous system, your goals, and your schedule.
💬 Click here to schedule your consultation today — and take the first step toward real relief and deeper healing.
