EMDR Intensives: Frequently Asked Questions
By Gessica Cross, LCSW · Published · Last reviewed
An EMDR intensive is a longer EMDR session, usually 90 minutes or two hours, instead of the standard one-hour appointment. Here are answers to common questions about booking one with EMDR Center of Denver. For the full service page, see EMDR intensives for Colorado adults.
What is an EMDR intensive?
An EMDR intensive is an extended session, usually 90 minutes or two hours, in place of the standard one-hour appointment. It is the same eight-phase EMDR protocol. The extra time lets you move through a target memory without stopping at the end of an hour. An intensive is not a different therapy.
How long is an EMDR intensive?
Most intensives are 90 minutes or two hours in a single online session, with breaks whenever you ask for them. Three-hour and four-hour sessions are offered occasionally, when they are clinically appropriate and strongly preferred by the client.
Can I do an intensive as my first session?
New clients start with a free 15-minute consultation and an initial session, where your therapist learns your history and you set goals together. Once that groundwork is in place, an intensive can be scheduled.
Who are EMDR intensives a good fit for?
Intensives suit adults who want to do focused work in longer blocks. That includes people with demanding schedules who would rather block a morning than commit to weekly sessions, people who travel, people who find that a fifty-minute session ends just as they are getting somewhere, and people preparing for an event with a fixed date, such as a wedding, a deployment or a birth. They are also a fit for existing clients who want to work on a specific target.
Is an intensive right for everyone?
No. If you are in acute crisis, newly sober, or have not yet built the coping resources EMDR relies on, your therapist will start with standard sessions. The free consultation is where the two of you work out the right starting point together.
Is an intensive better than weekly sessions?
Neither is better. They suit different people. Intensives put more time into one sitting, while weekly sessions give you more time to integrate between appointments. Many clients combine the two.
Are EMDR intensives online?
Yes. All sessions at EMDR Center of Denver are online, on a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. The practice works with adults who live anywhere in Colorado. Read more about online EMDR therapy in Colorado.
Where can I find fees, and how do I get started?
Current fees and payment options, including HSA and FSA cards, are on the Rates page. To get started, schedule a free 15-minute consultation with Jeanne Cross or Gessica Cross. You can ask questions, share what you are looking for, and decide together whether the practice is a good fit.
Next step
Ready to talk it through? Schedule your free 15-minute consultation, or call 720-464-3444.
Related reading: the practice's article Why 90-Minute and Two-Hour EMDR Intensives Bring Relief Faster, and the EMDR FAQ.
Sources
- EMDR Center of Denver. EMDR Intensives for Colorado Adults. Read Nov 5, 2026.
- EMDR Center of Denver. Why 90-Minute and Two-Hour EMDR Intensives Bring Relief Faster, clinically reviewed by Jeanne Cross, LCSW, LAC. Published Oct 29, 2026; read Nov 5, 2026.
- EMDR Center of Denver. Online EMDR Therapy in Colorado and Rates. Read Nov 5, 2026.
Education and crisis disclaimer
This article is for education and is not a substitute for therapy, medical advice, or emergency care. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room. EMDR Center of Denver does not provide emergency services.