Michelle Sinkgraven, LICSW
Licensed in DC, MD, VA
EMDR INTENSIVES
What are Intensives?
EMDR Intensive Therapy is an individualized, short-term approach allowing for a dedicated period of time to focus on specific targets. Determining targets or goals for the intensive is collaborative with expert guidance aimed at providing impactful relief or change. This approach allows you to journey deeper and find healing more efficiently. An intensive entails two to three 3-hour sessions over multiple days, during a condensed period of a week or a weekend as well as two 1.5-hour preparation and follow up sessions.
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The EMDR Intensive Program is a personalized approach that can eliminate weeks or months of living with symptoms related to trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, and attachment wounds.
An intensive may suit you if...
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You are a current, weekly client who is needing extra, focused support to accelerate your progress.
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You are a new client who just prefers to work intensively.
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You’ve been meaning to get into weekly therapy for a while now, but your schedule has been so hectic and demanding that a weekly therapy appointment feels more overwhelming than supportive.
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Something has happened that has shown you that you need help right now, and you don’t want to spend months doing weekly sessions or sitting on a waiting list.
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​You have a short period, such as annual leave, university break, family leave and would like to undertake a chunk of it then.
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​You want to try to do a large amount of therapy work before an approaching deadline like moving, going on holiday, a reunion, starting a new job, etc.
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​You have been attending counseling, but an issue related to trauma has arisen which your current therapist does not feel trained to manage. You can attend an EMDR intensive as an adjunct to your counseling and then continue your work with your original therapist.
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You’ve already tried talk therapy. It was helpful, but you didn’t get to the root of the problem.
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​You’re tired of working so hard to “cope.”
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You don’t want to wait to feel better. You’re sick of dealing with “it” – whatever “it” is.
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You are currently working with another “talk therapist” and feel EMDR may support your current treatment whether accelerating therapy or addressing stuck points.
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You experienced a recent traumatic event. Obtaining EMDR Early Intervention in the first three months following a traumatic or distressing event can help the brain “digest” the event which often overwhelms the brain’s natural healing process. By doing so, it can help prevent PTSD developing by promoting resilience.
The structure of an intensive is...
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Initial 20-minute virtual consultation to ensure we are a right fit for each other.
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90-minute virtual interview to assess for candidacy, as well as target unpleasant beliefs, body sensations, emotions, or images from which you are seeking relief. We will also assess whether intensive EMDR is right for you now.
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Personalized treatment workbook, which allows you to work on your treatment goals before, during, and after our intensive sessions and allows me to customize your treatment program.
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A tailored treatment program with targeted treatment goals. Therapy is done in-person in my Dupont Circle office for either three 3-hour sessions on M/W/F or F/Sa/Su or two 3-hour sessions (F/M)
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Virtual 90-minute post-treatment follow up session to assess and support your adaptation to positive changes from treatment. We will reflect on what feels better, what changed, and what still needs attention. I will provide you with resources for ongoing learning and growth.
Some clients decide they want to continue with ongoing EMDR therapy with me. Some clients return to their primary therapist to continue their work. Others do not need ongoing therapy.
Some of the benefits are...
Concentrated sessions designed to accelerate healing, allowing for deep engagement, dedicating several hours over a few days to address and process traumatic memories. Deep exploration and processing of trauma. Creates a conducive environment for individuals to explore their healing journey without distractions, allowing for a more focused and immersive therapeutic experience.