EMDR Intensives Near Newport Beach: A Focused Approach to Healing and Change
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If you’re searching for EMDR intensives near Newport Beach, you may be looking for a way to work through something that continues to feel unresolved without committing to months of weekly sessions.
Many people who choose EMDR intensives are not new to personal growth. They may have already spent time in therapy, have a strong understanding of themselves, and are ready to address something that continues to impact their life — whether that is anxiety, a painful experience, trauma, or a major life transition.
I’m Tannaz Alagheband, LCSW, PMH-C, a certified EMDR therapist offering EMDR intensives from my Irvine office, located on the Newport Beach border, as well as throughout California through telehealth.
EMDR intensives provide a focused way to engage in deeper therapeutic work within a shorter period of time. If you’re curious about the structure, packages, and what to expect, you can learn more about EMDR Intensive Therapy in California.
This post explains what EMDR intensives are, who they tend to work well for, and what you can expect from the process.
What Is an EMDR Intensive?
An EMDR intensive is an extended format of EMDR therapy that allows for longer, more concentrated sessions rather than traditional 50-minute weekly appointments.
Instead of starting and stopping the process every week, intensives create more space for your mind and body to stay connected to the work. This can be especially helpful when you are ready to focus on a specific experience, memory, or pattern that has continued to impact your life.
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain process experiences that continue to feel emotionally overwhelming or unresolved. These experiences may show up as anxiety, feeling easily triggered, relationship patterns, perfectionism, or feeling stuck despite understanding yourself intellectually.
You can learn more about the EMDR approach and whether it may be a fit for you through EMDR therapy in Irvine and California.
An EMDR intensive uses the same therapeutic approach, but allows the work to happen in a more concentrated format.
Why Choose an EMDR Intensive Instead of Weekly Therapy?
Weekly therapy can be incredibly valuable and is the right fit for many people. However, some clients choose an intensive format because they are looking for dedicated time to focus on an issue without repeatedly starting and stopping the process each week.
EMDR intensives may be especially appealing for people who:
Have demanding work or family schedules
Want to dedicate intentional time toward healing
Have already done therapy and feel ready for deeper processing
Are preparing for or moving through a major life transition
Want a more concentrated approach rather than a longer weekly timeline
The goal of an intensive is not to rush the therapeutic process. It is to create enough space for meaningful work while maintaining a pace that feels supportive and grounded.
Is an EMDR Intensive a Good Fit?
EMDR intensives may be a good fit for adults who are motivated for change and want a focused approach to therapy.
They are often chosen by:
Professionals, entrepreneurs, and parents with demanding schedules who find weekly appointments difficult to maintain
People who have been in therapy before and have a sense of what they want to work through
Individuals processing a specific experience, such as pregnancy loss, infertility, birth trauma, a difficult medical experience, or a traumatic event
People who feel "stuck" despite insight and self-awareness and want to work on deeper emotional patterns
Many clients who seek EMDR intensives are also working through anxiety, perfectionism, and the pressure of constantly needing to perform. You can learn more about this work through therapy for anxiety and perfectionism.
EMDR intensives can also be helpful for people navigating reproductive experiences that have felt overwhelming or difficult to process, including infertility, pregnancy loss, and reproductive trauma. You can learn more through therapy for reproductive trauma and IVF-related experiences.
For some clients, painful experiences are also connected to family history, cultural expectations, or the pressure of balancing multiple identities. Support is also available for first- and second-generation immigrants navigating these experiences through therapy for first- and second-generation immigrants.
A consultation call is an opportunity to talk through what you are hoping to address and determine whether an intensive format is the right fit.
What Can You Expect During an EMDR Intensive?
After an initial consultation and preparation session, intensive sessions are structured in longer blocks of time, often two to three hours, with breaks built in throughout.
Some people choose a one-day intensive focused on a specific memory, event, or concern. Others choose a two- or three-day intensive when they are working through more complex experiences or longstanding patterns.
The pace is intentional. EMDR intensives are not about rushing through difficult experiences. The goal is to create enough space for meaningful processing while staying grounded and supported throughout the process.
Where Are EMDR Intensives Offered Near Newport Beach?
EMDR intensives are offered in person from an Irvine office, located on the Newport Beach border, with convenient access from coastal Orange County communities.
Telehealth EMDR intensives are also available throughout California for clients who prefer the flexibility of meeting virtually.
If you are wondering whether an EMDR intensive may be the right fit for you, you can learn more about the intensive options available and book a consult to determine if the intensive option is the right fit for you.
FAQ Section
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Traditional EMDR therapy is typically completed through weekly sessions over time. An intensive allows for longer sessions over one or several days, creating more uninterrupted time for processing and reducing the need to repeatedly restart the therapeutic process each week.
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The length depends on your goals and what you are hoping to address. Some clients choose a single day focused on a specific concern or memory. Others choose two or three days when working through more complex or longstanding patterns.
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No. Some clients come to intensives after years of therapy, while others are newer to therapy. During a consultation, we can discuss your goals, history, and whether this approach is appropriate for you.
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This practice is private pay and out-of-network. Many PPO plans offer out-of-network benefits that can reimburse a portion of the cost after your deductible is met.
