EMDR Intensive Therapy in Ottawa
Find transformative healing and momentum in days, not years.
Many people come to EMDR intensives after years of trying to feel better through talk therapy, medication, and sheer willpower.
When symptoms like anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or numbness persist, it’s often because the root cause hasn’t been reached. EMDR intensives offer a focused, effective approach to resolving trauma at the level where it lives—in the body and nervous system—so you can finally experience lasting relief.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing—a structured, evidence-based therapy designed to help people process and heal from trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress. It taps into our brain's innate ability to heal.
The approach was developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro, who noticed that her own distressing thoughts became less intense as her eyes moved back and forth while walking through a park. That observation sparked what is now one of the most effective trauma therapies available. EMDR works by activating both sides of the brain using bilateral stimulation like guided eye movements, gentle tapping, or alternating sounds.
This process helps “unstick” memories and emotions that have been trapped in the nervous system, often for years. Rather than relying on endless talking or intellectual insight, EMDR helps your brain physically reprocess painful experiences at a deeper level—where trauma actually lives. The result is a shift from emotional overwhelm and survival patterns to a real sense of “I’m okay. I’m safe now. I can move forward.”
What issues can be addressed?
While EMDR is well known for helping with trauma and PTSD, it’s also highly effective for:
Anxiety & panic
Depression with a trauma history
Dissociation & emotional numbing
Childhood trauma & attachment wounds
Negative core beliefs
Grief & loss
Medical trauma
Sexual abuse or assault
Work-related trauma (first responders, therapists, healthcare professionals)
Performance blocks in high-level professionals & creatives
Take part in a powerful, personal reset.
How Intensives Work
Unlike traditional therapy, EMDR intensives are designed as extended, dedicated sessions—ranging from a half-day to several full days—where we focus solely on your healing, without the stop-and-start of weekly appointments. This immersive format allows for greater momentum, deeper processing, and faster results. Intensives can help with complex trauma, burnout, or longstanding emotional patterns, paving a powerful path toward the type of relief you’ve been seeking.
EMDR intensives are:
Efficient: Many clients experience meaningful relief in 4–9 hours.
Focused: We remove distractions and go straight to the root.
Transformative: The work goes beyond managing symptoms—we seek to resolve them.
The Process
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This all begins with a free 20-minute consultation. We’ll meet, explore your goals, and ensure we’re a good fit for each other. I’ll walk you through the EMDR Intensive process and learn about the specific challenges that have brought you here.
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To get started, you’ll complete a short intake process. We’ll identify key life events, trauma history, and current supports. I’ll ask about your goals, relationships, coping strategies, and what you’re hoping to shift or change. Together, we’ll create a targeted plan for our time.
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You’ll be my only client during your intensive. Sessions run from 2 to 5 days, depending on your needs. Each day includes focused trauma processing using EMDR and supportive modalities like IFS, somatic work, and CBT. You’ll get breaks, snacks, and downtime—and yes, there are also side conversations about strategy, insight, and real-life tools.
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At the end of your intensive, we’ll review your progress and I’ll provide tools for integration, including a personalized self-care plan and clear next steps. This is all about helping your system absorb and stabilize the work we’ve done, so the insights, emotional shifts, and nervous system regulation don’t just feel good in the moment but actually last.
Post-intensive care can look like journaling, movement, reflection, or simply giving your mind and body time to recalibrate. I also offer text support in the weeks that follow—many clients find it helpful to know I’m in their corner as they return to daily life.
Let’s stop circling the same pain and start doing something that works.
If you’re dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, or emotions that won’t release their grip—this work can help. Let’s find out if an EMDR intensive is right for you.
FAQs
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No. EMDR doesn’t require you to recount every detail or re-experience your trauma. In fact, many clients are surprised by how much shifts without going deep into the story. We work with what your system is ready for, and you always get to decide how much you share. A big advantage is that EMDR works when you don’t talk about the trauma - this is not talk therapy.
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EMDR is the foundation of my work, regardless of if we meet weekly or in a multi-day intensive. If an intensive isn’t the right fit, we can use EMDR in regular sessions. We’ll decide together what best supports your goals.
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Yes. In fact, intensives can be especially helpful when there’s complex trauma, because the extended time allows us to pace the work properly. I’ve worked with a wide range of clients—including those with dissociation, BPD, CPTSD, and DID—and I tailor the intensive to your nervous system, not a one-size-fits-all formula. Again, because EMDR does not rely on talking about the trauma, there is much less distress and disturbance when we look at the old issue.
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EMDR intensives range from $600 CAD for a half-day to multi-day formats based on your goals and trauma history. Most clients book 1 to 3 days, which we determine together in the consultation.
There’s no deposit required, but you’ll need to register a card in my system, and charges will be processed after each session. Payment plans may be available—just ask during our call. Intensives are deeply personalized and best booked after we’ve spoken together beforehand.
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It’s possible. Many clients report profound relief, clarity, and emotional shifts within a single intensive. EMDR works more effectively and deeply than many other approaches. That said, it is deep work. Some people feel lighter and more regulated right away, while others experience a wave of processing before things settle. We build in time for debriefing, integration, and follow-up to support what unfolds.
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While there isn’t anything you necessarily need to prepare, there are a few self-care steps that can help your experience go smoothly and successfully.
Plan on eating healthy, nourishing meals that give your body and brain the fuel needed to do this deep work
Plan on spending time in a non-stimulating environment, as you may have a heightened sensitivity to external stimuli
Consider getting extra sleep so that your brain has all the time it needs to craft new, healthier neural pathways
Inform a trusted family member, friend, or partner of your plans so that you can call them if you need support
Refrain from intense physical exercise, although walking and light hiking in nature may be very grounding
Do not use any cannabis or alcohol, as it will affect your ability to process and integrate the experience