At Obsidian Counseling & Wellness, we meet so many people who are carrying a lot—emotionally, professionally, personally—and they want to feel better without adding another stressful commitment to their already full lives. For many people with demanding careers, parenting responsibilities, or constantly shifting schedules, the idea of weekly therapy feels almost impossible.

If that’s you, you’re not alone.
And that’s exactly where EMDR Intensives can be life-changing.

So… what is an EMDR Intensive?

Therapy room showing the relaxing atmosphere Obsidian Counseling and Wellness provides in Illinois for EMDR intensives to address trauma, anxiety, and depression

Think of an EMDR Intensive as pressing pause on the chaos of daily life and giving yourself a protected space to truly heal. Instead of spreading therapy across weeks or months, the work you’d normally do slowly is done gently, safely, and efficiently in a longer, uninterrupted block of time.

This may be:

4 hours per week
6 hours per week
8 hours per week

We choose the length together based on what feels right for you.

During an intensive, you’re not rushing.
You’re not bracing for the next meeting.
You’re not squeezing therapy between responsibilities.

Instead, you get space, focus, and support—without the emotional “start–stop” of weekly sessions.

Why EMDR Intensives Are a Powerful Option for People With Full Lives and Full Plates

Many of the people we work with tell us that life feels full—sometimes beautifully full, sometimes overwhelmingly full. Adding weekly therapy into that mix can feel more stressful than supportive.

Some are professionals or business owners who need long stretches of uninterrupted work time.
Others are caregivers, parents, organizers, or the emotional anchor for everyone around them.
Many are all of the above.

What they share is this:

They want relief. They want clarity. They want to feel better.
They just don’t have space for therapy that drags on for months.

EMDR Intensives are designed to meet that need.

Instead of breaking the work into small weekly pieces, an intensive gives you a dedicated window to settle in, stay present, and move through meaningful healing—without being pulled in and out emotionally.

People choose intensives because:

Their schedules are already full
They want faster, more efficient results
They feel more grounded when they can stay with the work
They need a reset that doesn’t require long-term rearranging
They do best with deep focus for a short, intentional period of time
On a scale from 1-10 of stress, they are usually at the higher end and want to make a change now

And for entrepreneurs and business owners, intensives make even more sense:

Healing stones in bowl showing the healing that will take place with Obsidian Counseling and Wellness when engaged in EMDR intensives to address trauma, anxiety, and depression in Illinois

High-impact work in a single, planned block
No repeated disruptions to workflow
Better emotional regulation for leadership and decision-making
A strong return on time and energy

EMDR Intensives honor your reality and offer a supportive, focused path forward—without the months-long commitment of weekly therapy.

Who EMDR Intensives Can Help

EMDR Intensives are especially supportive for people navigating:

A specific trauma or difficult event
Patterns you can’t seem to shift
Anxiety or emotional triggers that feel overwhelming
Stress or burnout
Childhood experiences that still affect your relationships or daily life
Preparing for something stressful (presentation, interview, major decision)

Before your intensive, we take time to understand the full context of your story so the work feels grounded, meaningful, and connected to your real life.

Is There Research Behind This?

Yes. A growing body of research shows that EMDR Intensives can be just as effective—and sometimes even more effective—than weekly EMDR. Studies show:

Faster reduction of PTSD symptoms
Lower emotional reactivity
Less avoidance
Higher completion rates

People often stay more engaged and experience significant change in a shorter period of time.

It’s Not for Every Situation, and That’s Okay

We’ll always help you determine whether an intensive is the right next step. If you’re in crisis, extremely overwhelmed, or dealing with significant dissociation, we may begin with stabilization first.

This is about safety, pacing, and supporting you with care.

What EMDR Intensives Look Like at Obsidian Counseling & Wellness

We offer:

4-hour intensives (ideal for a single target or recent event)
6-hour intensives (our most popular—perfect for deeper work on 1–2 core memories)
8-hour intensives (best for layered or complex experiences)

Because intensives use an extended-session format, insurance does not cover them, and they are offered as private-pay services. Many clients share that they experience more insight and relief in a few hours than they felt in months of weekly therapy.

If You’re a Busy Person Who Wants Meaningful Change Without Months of Appointments

Chicago skyline at night showing the trauma, anxiety, and depression will alleviate and end when doing an EMDR intensive with Obsidian Counseling and Wellness in the northern suburbs of Chicago and telehealth for all of Illinois

You deserve support that works with your life—not against it.

An EMDR Intensive offers you the chance to:

✨ slow down
✨ reset
✨ understand your patterns
✨ release what’s been weighing you down
✨ walk away with real, noticeable relief

All within a focused, intentional block of time.

If you’re curious or want to explore whether this might be a good fit for you, we’re here to talk about it.

Learn more or schedule a consultation today by filling out the form below.

EMDR Intensives: A Faster, More Focused Path to Healing (Especially for Busy People)