Both weekly therapy and EMDR intensives can be meaningful and effective ways to work through difficult experiences. The biggest difference is how our time together is structured.

In weekly therapy, we typically meet for 50–60 minutes at a time, allowing you to gradually explore and process experiences alongside your everyday life.

An EMDR intensive retreat offers an extended period of focused therapeutic work across three consecutive days. Rather than returning to your daily responsibilities between appointments, you'll have dedicated time for preparation, processing, reflection, and rest.

Neither approach is inherently better. The right fit depends on your needs, goals, and where you are in your healing process.

Not at all. Some women come to a retreat after years of therapy, while others are exploring EMDR for the first time.

Before your retreat, we'll complete a comprehensive intake to better understand your history, current concerns, and goals. We'll also discuss how EMDR works, what to expect, and whether an intensive format is clinically appropriate for you.

You don't need to know exactly what you want to process before reaching out. That's something we can figure out together.

This is one of the most understandable concerns about intensive trauma therapy, especially if you've spent years trying not to think about certain experiences.

EMDR isn't about pushing you to relive painful memories or forcing you to process more than you're ready for.

We'll spend time preparing, developing grounding strategies, and paying attention to how you're responding throughout our work together. There is flexibility for breaks, rest, and adjusting our pace as needed.

You always have a voice in the process. My role is to help guide the work while remaining attentive to your emotional safety and capacity.

Your retreat is designed around your individual needs, so no two experiences look exactly alike.

We'll begin by checking in, identifying what feels most important to focus on, and preparing for our work together. Throughout the day, we'll move between EMDR processing, reflection, grounding, and breaks as needed.

There is time to step away, have a meal, take a walk, or simply rest.

We won't spend every minute actively processing difficult memories. Thoughtful pacing and opportunities for integration are an important part of the experience.

Absolutely. In fact, many people explore EMDR intensives as a complement to their ongoing therapeutic work.

With your permission, I can collaborate with your current therapist to help ensure continuity of care before and after your retreat.

An intensive isn't necessarily intended to replace ongoing therapy. For some women, it provides an opportunity to focus on a particular experience or concern while maintaining the support of their existing therapist.

We always assess readiness and move at a pace that feels safe and supportive.

Your private retreat takes place at A Reason to Write Retreat Center in the beautiful Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

Your experience includes two nights of private accommodations, allowing you to step away from everyday responsibilities and focus on yourself without needing to commute between sessions.

The peaceful setting offers opportunities to rest, reflect, and enjoy some quiet between our therapeutic work.

Our work doesn't simply end when the three days are over.

Your retreat includes a dedicated 60-minute integration session where we'll reflect on your experience, discuss any changes or challenges you're noticing, and explore ways to support your continued progress.

Some women return to their ongoing therapist, while others may benefit from additional support or follow-up treatment.

We'll discuss recommendations based on your individual needs so you have a thoughtful plan for what comes next.

The investment for your private three-day EMDR intensive retreat is $6,000.

This includes your pre-retreat consultation and assessment, three days of individualized EMDR therapy, two nights of private accommodations, personalized treatment planning, and a post-retreat integration session.

Payment can be made by card or other accepted payment methods. CareCredit may also be available as a financing option, subject to approval.

We'll review payment arrangements and any questions you have before confirming your retreat.

Francis Wellness is an out-of-network provider and does not bill insurance directly.

Depending on your insurance plan, you may be eligible for partial reimbursement of certain clinical services. However, reimbursement is not guaranteed, and nonclinical retreat expenses, such as accommodations, are generally not covered.

I'm happy to provide information about the clinical services included so you can contact your insurance provider and explore your benefits before making a decision.

You don't have to make that decision on your own.

An intensive retreat can be a meaningful option for women who want focused time to address painful experiences, longstanding emotional patterns, or beliefs that continue to affect their lives.

However, intensive trauma processing isn't appropriate for everyone at every stage. Your current emotional stability, support system, treatment history, and goals all matter.

We'll begin with a consultation to explore what you're hoping to work through, answer your questions, and determine whether this experience is a good clinical fit.

The first step is simply having a conversation.