5 Common Misconceptions About EMDR Therapy Intensives
Anxiety Therapy | EMDR Therapy
By April Forella, EMDR Therapist in Palm City, FL
If you’ve ever felt like weekly therapy just isn’t moving fast enough—or you’ve paused therapy altogether because your busy life doesn’t leave much room for healing—you’re not alone. Many high-achieving women I work with carry deep emotional pain under layers of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and chronic overthinking. And when life feels overwhelming, the idea of slowing down for therapy (let alone a longer-format one) can feel… impossible.
But that’s exactly where EMDR therapy intensives can be a powerful, time-efficient, and transformative option.
Still, I often hear hesitation from women considering this approach, usually rooted in common misunderstandings. Let’s take a moment to clear up five common misconceptions about therapy intensives—and talk about why this format might be more accessible and supportive than you think.
What is an EMDR Therapy Intensive, Anyway?
An EMDR therapy intensive is a focused, extended session (or series of sessions) designed to help you move through targeted trauma or distress more efficiently than traditional weekly therapy. Instead of 60-minute appointments spread out over months, intensives allow for deeper immersion in healing—often in a matter of days.
In my Palm City practice, intensives are customized for each client and include a combination of EMDR therapy, resourcing, somatic work, and rest—all tailored to your goals, nervous system, and capacity.
Myth #1: “It’s Too Much Therapy All at Once.”
Many women worry that intensives will be emotionally overwhelming or draining. And that makes sense—especially if you’ve been holding things together for a long time.
But EMDR intensives are not about pushing you to your edge. In fact, we spend a good portion of the time helping you feel grounded and resourced. Sessions are structured with plenty of breaks, nervous system support, and pacing that meets you where you are. Most clients leave feeling lighter—not overloaded.
Myth #2: “It’s Only for People with Big Trauma.”
EMDR intensives can absolutely support healing from single-incident or complex trauma. But you don’t need to have a big trauma history to benefit. Many of my clients are high-functioning, successful women who are just tired of the same patterns: anxiety that won’t let up, sleep that’s never restful, and inner critics that never seem satisfied.
These intensives can help you work through long-held beliefs like “I’m not enough” or “I’m not safe,” even if you can’t point to one specific event that caused them.
Myth #3: “It’s Too Expensive.”
Therapy intensives are an investment—but when you consider the cost of months (or even years) of weekly therapy, they can actually be a more efficient path to relief.
What’s more important is this: Your healing matters. I work with clients to determine what’s realistic, whether that means a half-day, one-day, or multi-day format. Because intensive therapy should be accessible and supportive—not another stressor.
Myth #4: “It Won’t Work as Well as Weekly Therapy.”
Some people assume that more time equals more effectiveness—but the truth is, intensive therapy can often lead to faster breakthroughs because it minimizes the “stop and start” that happens in weekly therapy.
When your nervous system doesn’t have to brace itself week after week, and instead gets to stay in a safe, healing space longer, it can access deeper layers of integration and relief.
Myth #5: “It’s Not Personalized Enough.”
EMDR intensives are not one-size-fits-all. In fact, one of the most rewarding parts of my work is tailoring each intensive to the woman sitting in front of me.
Before we even begin, we’ll meet for a consultation and prep session to understand what you need, what your goals are, and how your body and mind respond to stress. From there, I design an intensive that reflects you—your strengths, your pace, and your healing priorities.
The Bottom Line: EMDR Therapy Intensives Are for Real Women with Real Lives
You don’t have to put your life on pause to begin healing.
Whether you’re navigating high-functioning anxiety, burnout, or unresolved trauma that keeps pulling you into the same old patterns, an EMDR therapy intensive could offer the focused support you’ve been craving.
And if you’ve been Googling things like “therapy intensives near me,” “why am I always overwhelmed?” or “how to stop overthinking everything,” this might be your sign to explore a new path forward.
Curious if an EMDR Intensive Is Right for You?
I offer custom EMDR therapy intensives in Palm City, Florida designed with busy, high-achieving women in mind. If you’re ready for a focused, compassionate approach to healing anxiety and trauma—without the drawn-out timeline of traditional therapy—I’d love to help you explore if this format is a fit.
April Forella, LMHC, Palm City, Florida
April Forella, LMHC-S is an EMDR Certified therapist in Palm City, Florida. She is a compassionate EMDR therapist dedicated to helping high-achieving women overcome anxiety, grief & loss and trauma. With a deep understanding of the pressures faced by successful women, she specializes in guiding women through the healing process, using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to resolve past trauma and reduce anxiety. April’s holistic approach empowers clients to unlock their full potential, regain inner peace, and thrive both personally and professionally.
📍 In-person therapy in Palm City, FL
📆 EMDR Intensives available for busy women
🧠 Learn more or book a consult at www.aprilforella.com
✨ Schedule a free consultation to learn more and start your healing journey. Your needs matter. You don’t have to keep carrying this alone.
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