Rapid, deep trauma healing — safely and effectively

An intensive retreat condenses EMDR therapy into a focused block of time rather than spreading it across weekly sessions. Instead of meeting for an hour each week over many months, you take part in several hours of therapy across consecutive days. This gives you space to process deeply without the stop-start rhythm of standard weekly work, which many people find helps build momentum.

Length is tailored to you, but retreats commonly run over two to five days. A typical day combines focused EMDR processing, usually in sessions of around 90 minutes, with breaks for rest, grounding, and gentle movement so your nervous system has time to settle. We build in time to integrate what comes up rather than rushing from one session to the next.

Every retreat begins with a thorough assessment. This is where we talk through your history and goals and decide together whether the intensive format is a good fit at this point. Broadly, if you are suitable for weekly EMDR you can usually take part in an intensive, but the assessment lets us check that carefully and plan around your needs. There is no obligation to continue.

An intensive can achieve a great deal in a short time, and research on intensive EMDR points to fast symptom reduction with low dropout. That said, it is not a guaranteed cure for everyone or every issue. For some people a retreat resolves a specific difficulty; for others it provides a powerful jump-start or helps move past a stuck point in longer-term work. We will be honest with you about what is realistic for your situation.

It is normal to feel tired or emotionally tender during and after intensive work, and the concentrated format means more is covered in a short window. We manage this carefully by spending time on grounding and self-regulation skills first, pacing the work to keep distress within a tolerable range, and building in rest and breaks between sessions. Your therapist stays alongside you throughout.

Both. Some people choose a residential or in-person retreat for the complete break from daily life, which can deepen the work. Others prefer a virtual retreat they can take part in from home, which removes travel and lets them recover in their own space. EMDR is well established as effective online as well as in the room, and we will help you choose the format that suits you.

Processing can continue once the focused days end, so we build support around the retreat itself. This may include grounding resources to use between sessions, time to integrate what has shifted, and follow-up to see how you are settling afterwards. We will discuss what ongoing support, if any, makes sense for you.

Yes. Our practitioners are accredited through the EMDR Association UK & Ireland / EMDR Europe and are experienced in delivering EMDR in an intensive format. You can read more about our team’s training and experience on our About us section.