Curious About 1:1 vs Group EMDR Intensives? What to Expect from EMDR Intensives and How To Decide
- Edwige Theokas
- Jul 18
- 5 min read
Curious About 1:1 vs Group EMDR Intensives?
What to Expect from EMDR Intensives and How To Decide
You’ve done the therapy. You’ve journaled, meditated, and read every self-help book you could find. But there’s still something stuck—something deeper.
For high-achieving women, especially moms carrying already heavy responsibilities and invisible emotional loads, traditional healing paths often feel too slow or too scattered.
That’s where EMDR intensives come in.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Intensives are a game-changing option for those ready for rapid, transformational results. These experiences condense months of healing into a focused time frame.
As a therapist who wants to help more people in less time, I have recently discovered the power of doing EMDR intensives in a group setting.
Maybe you’re curious about EMDR intensives, group intensives, or choosing which one could be right for you, and want to learn more.
This post will briefly walk you through what to expect from an EMDR intensive, the differences between individual vs group formats, and how to choose what’s right for you. If you’d like a more in-depth explanation of an intensive, you can check out this post here and here.
Whether you choose a private 1:1 intensive or a curated group experience, the benefits are profound.
What Is an EMDR Intensive?
An EMDR intensive is a highly structured, immersive experience designed to help you move through unresolved trauma, emotional patterns, and subconscious blocks using EMDR strategies.
Rather than weekly sessions over several months, intensives take place over several hours, over one to three days, providing concentrated healing in a safe, supported environment.
In an intensive, you’ll typically move through:
A comprehensive intake + preparation process
Resourcing and nervous system regulation techniques
EMDR-based exercises (including bilateral stimulation)
Somatic practices, visualization, and belief reprogramming
Integration and post-intensive support
Why Intensives Work So Well:
With a typical 50 minute session, it can be hard to access the stored trauma for such a short period of time. Your body and brain may resist accessing the deeper traumas because it does not feel safe, nor will it have enough time to develop new neural connections necessary for long-term healing.
Within an intensive experience, the brain can stay in a healing state longer without being disrupted by life between sessions
Patterns can be fully explored and completed in one arc rather than fragmented over time
Clients leave with actionable insights and emotional relief that they can feel immediately.
Research from the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) shows that EMDR intensives result in significant reductions in symptoms of PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression, even more quickly than traditional weekly therapy.
Please note that this description is based on the EMDR Intensives that I offer. Other providers may offer an alternative experience or process. My intensives are offered to women only.
1:1 EMDR Intensives: Deep, Personalized Healing
During a 1:1 intensive, you are the sole focus for the duration of the experience.
Benefits:
Highly customized to your trauma history, goals, and needs
Full confidentiality and privacy
Deeper 1:1 attention, including space for emotional processing
Ideal for clients with more complex trauma or who prefer solitude
Potential Cons:
Can be more emotionally intense without peer mirroring
The cost is typically higher due to dedicated attention being provided to you and you alone
May lack the social validation and community that groups provide
A 1:1 experience may be ideal for:
Clients who are new to trauma work or need a deeply personalized space
Individuals who prefer privacy or have specific memories they want to target
Group EMDR Intensives: Healing in Community
What it is: A small, curated group of women who go through a shared EMDR-informed process over a day or weekend. While individual trauma isn't always shared, the container allows for mirrored experiences, nervous system co-regulation, and peer support.
Benefits:
Shared healing reduces shame and isolation
Group energy boosts momentum and breakthroughs
More affordable than 1:1 intensives
Peer stories often spark personal clarity
Potential Cons:
Less individualized targeting of specific memories (though core patterns are addressed)
Requires comfort in a group setting
Emotional safety depends on the ability of the client to feel safe with others. If safety cannot be accessed by the individual, healing will be harder to achieve.
Ideal For:
Women who thrive in sisterhood and relational support
High-functioning individuals who need to feel seen, not pathologized
Those looking for emotional regulation, clarity, and connection, not just symptom relief
What Happens in an EMDR Intensive Day?
While every facilitator brings their own experience and style, within my offerings, a typical day might look like this. Please note that currently, all of my GROUP intensives are offered online only
Morning:
Opening circle + intentions
Nervous system regulation (breathwork, grounding)
EMDR resourcing + visualization work
Midday:
EMDR-based processing sessions
Somatic awareness + subconscious reprogramming
Light lunch + integration breaks
Afternoon:
Integration journaling or paired reflections
Closing ceremony, anchoring your future self
Results You Might Experience:
Emotional relief from core memories or beliefs
Greater self-awareness and compassion
A calmer, more regulated nervous system
Better sleep, focus, and inner peace in the weeks that follow
Conclusion
EMDR Intensives have been shown to be effective overall in healing long-standing trauma and pain. EMDR Intensives can also be a great complement to current therapy, where a person may feel stuck or missing something from their traditional therapy.
Below is a recap of the potential benefits of choosing a group EMDR Intensive experience vs. a 1:1 experience.
Choosing Between 1:1 and Group EMDR Intensives There’s no wrong choice—just what fits best:
Ready to experience deep healing—without months of therapy?
My next round of EMDR intensives includes both 1:1 and group formats to match your needs.
Book a consultation call now to learn more about EMDR Intensives. Please note that currently, all of my GROUP intensives are offered online only. 1:1 Intensives are offered in person and online.
My name is Edwige (Eddie) Theokas, and I am a trauma-based therapist in Bordentown, NJ.
I specialize in EMDR to address trauma, anxiety, and stress. I work specifically with moms who are experiencing burnout and have had trauma.
I provide in-person and online counseling throughout the state of NJ and specifically in Mercer and Burlington County, NJ (Bordentown, Chesterfield, Robbinsville, Hamilton, and Princeton). I also provide EMDR Intensives. Contact me to schedule a consultation.
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