If past trauma, painful memories or distressing experiences are weighing you down, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy may help. EMDR is a trauma-focused counselling method endorsed by leading health organizations.
At Monarch Psychology in Calgary, our trained EMDR therapists guide you through a research-backed process to reprocess traumatic memories so their power over you is reduced.
Whether you’re looking for weekly EMDR therapy or a more focused intensive format, our therapists can help you process traumatic experiences, reduce emotional distress, and move toward lasting healing.
EMDR Intensives offer extended therapy sessions over one or more days, allowing you to make meaningful progress without the interruptions of weekly appointments.
EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy that combines controlled exposure to distressing memories with bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements) and cognitive reframing. During sessions, you recall the upsetting memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation using eye movements or hand-held buzzers; this dual attention task helps to gradually reduce the vividness and emotional intensity of the memory. Unlike talk therapy, EMDR does not require you to describe the trauma in detail.
Is an EMDR Intensive Right for You?
An EMDR Intensive is an alternative to traditional weekly or bi-weekly therapy. Instead of meeting for 50-80 minutes each week, you’ll work with your therapist for several hours at a time, allowing for deeper, uninterrupted processing of traumatic memories and longstanding emotional patterns.
For many people, this format creates momentum that can be difficult to achieve in shorter sessions. Rather than spending time each week settling in and then stopping just as important work begins, an intensive provides the space to stay engaged in the therapeutic process.
Research suggests that EMDR Intensives can be just as effective as weekly EMDR therapy while allowing many clients to experience meaningful progress in a shorter period of time.
Every intensive begins with careful preparation to ensure EMDR is appropriate for your needs.
Depending on your goals, your intensive may include:
We’ll work with you to determine whether weekly EMDR or an intensive format is the best fit for your circumstances and therapeutic goals.
EMDR is recommended as a first-line treatment for PTSD and trauma-related disorders.
Emerging research shows benefits for:
Clinical guidelines note that EMDR helps restore normal information processing so traumatic memories are stored with more helpful emotions instead of ongoing fear and shame. This leads to a reduction in trauma symptoms and creates space to move your life forward in the way you desire.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based trauma therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories. By combining focused recall of a memory with bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, EMDR supports the nervous system in reducing the emotional intensity connected to past experiences.
EMDR follows an eight-phase protocol designed to ensure safety and effectiveness. During sessions, you briefly bring a distressing memory to mind while engaging in bilateral stimulation. Over time, this process helps decrease the vividness and emotional charge of the memory. The goal is not to erase the past, but to reduce its impact on your present life.
No. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not require you to describe traumatic events in depth. You share only what feels necessary for the process. Many individuals appreciate that EMDR allows healing without repeated retelling of painful experiences.
EMDR is recommended as a first-line treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It may also help with:
At Monarch Psychology, EMDR therapy is offered both in person at our Calgary clinic and through secure virtual sessions. Your therapist will help determine which format best supports your comfort and therapeutic goals.
If distressing memories continue to feel vivid, emotionally intense, or intrusive, EMDR may be worth exploring. Monarch Psychology offers a free 15-minute phone consultation to help determine whether EMDR therapy aligns with your needs and preferences.
Traditional EMDR therapy typically takes place in weekly or bi-weekly 50- 80-minute sessions. EMDR Intensives involve longer therapy sessions over one or more days, allowing for more continuous processing and reducing the need to pause and restart the work each week. Your therapist can help determine which approach best fits your goals.
EMDR Intensives may be appropriate for individuals working through trauma, distressing memories, anxiety, grief, or other concerns that are suitable for EMDR. They are not appropriate for everyone, which is why every client completes an assessment before beginning an intensive.
