If you’ve heard about EMDR intensives, you might picture sitting in therapy all day, talking about the hardest things you’ve experienced. If the past has left you feeling flooded for years, that idea may sound overwhelming. You may wonder how you’d get through three days of it.
I’d want to know more, too. So let me walk you through what happens before, during, and after a retreat.
An EMDR intensive gives us concentrated time to work together instead of spreading that work across weekly appointments. It also gives you time away from your usual responsibilities to focus on yourself. There is time to prepare, take breaks, check in, and respond to what you need along the way.
Before the retreat: A 90-minute consultation
We begin with a 90-minute consultation. I’ll ask about what’s bringing you in, what you hope might change, and what support you have in your life right now. We’ll talk about the parts of your history that are relevant and what tends to happen when difficult memories or feelings come up.
I also want to hear your questions. You might be wondering how much you’ll need to share, what happens if you feel overwhelmed, or how you’ll feel when you go home at the end of the day. We can talk about all of that.
By the end of our conversation, we’ll have a better sense of whether a three-day retreat feels like a good fit for you right now. If it does, we’ll begin making a plan together.
During the retreat: Three days with room to pause
The retreat includes three full days dedicated to EMDR work. Those days aren’t spent processing memories from morning until evening. We’ll make room for preparation, grounding, breaks, and regular check-ins, alongside the deeper work you came to do.
Some moments may feel emotionally intense. In others, we might pause to notice what’s happening in your body or take time to settle before continuing. We may focus on one part of an experience, follow something new that comes up, or adjust our plan as we go.
Having several days together gives us more room to stay with the work than a weekly appointment allows. It also gives us room to listen to what you’re experiencing. If you feel ready to continue, we can. If you feel flooded, numb, or far away, we’ll slow down and help you reconnect with the present. You’ll have a voice in the pace throughout the retreat.
Why Harpers Ferry?
I chose the Harpers Ferry, West Virginia area because I wanted this experience to include space away from the demands of everyday life.
Roughly an hour and a half from Baltimore and Washington, DC, Harpers Ferry sits where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet. There are mountain views, historic streets, places to walk, and local restaurants and shops to explore. Even the drive in can begin to feel like a shift out of your usual routine.
The setting gives you somewhere to take a breath between our time together. You might enjoy a meal, go for a walk, or spend a little while doing nothing at all. You don’t have to fill every quiet moment.
After the retreat: A 60-minute integration session
Once the three days are over, we’ll meet for a 60-minute integration session. This is a chance to talk about what you experienced and what you’re noticing now that you’re back in your daily life.
Maybe something feels different. Maybe you have questions, or you’ve noticed an area that still needs care. We’ll make space for all of that and talk about what support would be helpful moving forward, whether that means practicing skills from the retreat, continuing with your regular therapist, or considering more work together.
If you’ve been carrying something painful for a long time, wanting dedicated time to address it makes sense. The consultation gives us a place to explore whether this retreat is the right way to do that, together.
Wondering how this compares with regular appointments? Read next: Weekly EMDR or an Intensive Retreat: How Do You Decide?
