EMDR Intensives: What are they & will it help me?

Have you considered EMDR therapy or EMDR intensives but felt you didn't have "trauma" to unpack? I'm here to dismantle the myth that you must have endured some BIG trauma in your past or present to reap the benefits from EMDR therapy. Are you interested in an improved outlook on life? On reducing some feelings of anxiety, depression, or "not good enough-ness"? Or what about courage and confidence to pursue your dreams? How about reducing feelings of shame or overwhelm? EMDR therapy can help!

At the core process of EMDR therapy, we are identifying negative core beliefs (and fears, insecurities), then identifying positive core beliefs you would like to believe about yourself, your situation, and your future. Then through the eight phases of EMDR therapy, we are able to resolve the negative core beliefs and fully instill the adaptive, positive beliefs. 

Sounds pretty amazing, right? Well, it is! Keep reading for how we will help you and the process we use to achieve the positive healing. 

Do you have a strain in some of your relationships? Are you noticing a pattern of response or reaction that is creating distress for you? Are you struggling with certain anxiety or depression triggers and you aren't sure what the cause is? Or do you struggle with performance at work or with a sport/hobby/extracurricular activity? Have you ever felt your body respond in a fight/flight/freeze/fawn way? All of these can be connected to beliefs you may be subconcsiously holding and through EMDR we can identify the source, and, resolve the present day distressing beliefs, feelings, and body sensations (ie - pit in the stomach, tightness in the chest, lump in the throat, clenched jaw, neck tension, etc)

Negative core beliefs that might resonate with you:
I'm a failure                                                            I'm unworthy
I'm unlovable                                                        I'm abandoned
I have to be in control                                      I'm bad
I'm helpless                                                            I'm responsible for everything
I'm hopeless                                                          I'm alone
I'm not safe                                                            I'm trapped
It's not safe to feel                                            I'm defective

If you resonate with one or several, you're in good company. Prior to healing, most of us relate to at least a couple of these negative core beliefs. There could be any number of reason why you may be currently living with these negative belief systems. With EMDR therapy we will move you from the above negative core beliefs to something more adaptive and positive like the following:

I did the best I could                                        I am worthy
I'm lovable                                                             I can survive, exist, & get my needs met
I can let go of some control                         I can accept myself
I can control what I can                                 I can recognize appropriate responsibility
I am safe                                                                 I'm okay as I am
I can begin to learn when & how to ... 
I can recognize what I can & can't control
   
Aren't these SO much better?! The reality is you may not belief the latter list to be true yet; however, with EMDR therapy, we WILL get you there. That's through the amazing process of EMDR. I offer EMDR intensives, and Adjunct EMDR therapy for those individuals currently working with a primary talk therapist. (For instance if you are working with a talk therapist currently but perhaps you feel stuck or at the max benefit that the talk therapy can provide, you can meet with me for EMDR adjunct therapy. We'll identify the targets you would like to address and resolve and we'll get started with the EMDR process & you can still attend your talk therapy sessions for support) And, if you're reading this and you're a therapist feeling stuck with a client's progress or how to help your client further, I work with clinicians by providing EMDR intensives to your client as adjunct therapy. The client still can meet with you to process and gain support and they'll see me to complete the EMDR intensives. It's a powerful catalyst for growth, healing, and change!

I enjoy helping my clients move from the negative to positive core beliefs. As well as, helping them overcome destructive habits, fears, insecurities, past wounds, unresolved core issues, and, learn to thrive in their communication, boundaries, and relationships. I understand the power held in each client finding their voice, sharing their voice, and living life authentically. 

If you grew up in a family where addiction, codependency, mental health issues, betrayal, or dysfunction were present, it's common to struggle to relate and connect authentically with others. There is healing and hope for this! 

Questions to consider:
What would your life be like if you were free from the above barriers/fears/insecurities/struggles mentioned? What would be possible for you?
What if you felt more empowered to take care of yourself, stand up for your needs/wants, and you felt free to communicate openly?
What if you were able to reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, regret, and shame?
Did you know it's possible?
What's at stake if you don't get healing and invest the time now for your mental and emotional well-being?

I offer two different, expedited EMDR therapy packages:
One-day, weekday EMDR Intensive  (typically offered on a Monday, Thursday, or Friday) 

• Description of 6-hour program: 4 contact hours + resources/assessments/with optional customized treatment workbook   
  • This program is equivalent to 5-7 regular 45-minute sessions 
  • 90-minute interview for follow up  
  • 2.5 hours during one-day intensive  
  • What can I expect to accomplish in a one-day intensive?  
    A one-day intensive offers a multitude of resources and can help to either increase performance and confidence, or significantly decrease the devastating effects of single event trauma (e.g. negative cognitions, disturbing emotions, and body sensations). While significant healing can occur in the one-day intensive, Complex PTSD (or numerous distressing events/symptoms) deserves more treatment than the one-day intensive. Many of my clients experiencing Complex PTSD may continue to work on their trauma histories through monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly one-day intensives.  
    

Two-day, weekday EMDR Intensive  (typically offered on a Monday/Thursday or Thursday/Monday, or Friday/Monday combo but options for this can be discussed) 

• Description of 8.5 hour program: 6.5 contact hours + resources/ assessments/ with optional customized treatment workbook   
  • This program is equivalent to 8-10 regular 45-minute sessions.  
  • 90-minute interview for follow up 
  • Two, half-days (2.5 hours per day)   
  • What can I expect to accomplish in a 2-day weekday intensive?  
    Participating in a 2-day EMDR intensive creates impactful change more efficiently than just weekly, 45-minute sessions or even the one-day intensive. It includes all the benefits of the 1-day intensive and then some. I typically recommend this 2-day package if you have several distressing events in your lifetime that you would like to resolve. Or if the feelings, core beliefs, and body sensations you have experienced for years or decades, then the 2-day intensive would be best. We want ample time to take a deep dive into the healing process and allow you the max benefit of implementing grounding exercises, reprocessing those past distressing situations/feelings/beliefs, and completing future resourcing, all as a part of the EMDR intensive healing process.
    

The great news is working intensively with EMDR therapy, you don't need to make weekly therapy sessions! We can discuss the package that would be best for you and we're able to make significant strides during these intensive days. Some clients choose to do intensives monthly or quarterly depending on their goals and desired outcomes. I also offer a 50+ page personalized workbook that helps you discover your potential triggers, negative core beliefs, and desired EMDR goals. It's an amazing resource that can also go with you back to your primary talk therapist if you are seeing me for adjunct EMDR therapy. It's a resource that has ongoing benefits!

Let's get you started on this expedited healing journey!

EMDR therapy = Symptom relief sooner. 

If you're ready to get started on your EMDR intensive healing journey, please email me directly at: [email protected]

It’s courageous to reach out for help! And, hope and healing are absolutely possible! 
I look forward to hearing from you.
- Brittni Harris-Kelchner, LMHC, LPC, MCAP - 100% Virtual EMDR Intensives
   EMDR Intensive Therapist | Florida | Missouri | South Carolina
   IG: @inspiredhopecounseling