EMDR Intensives UK
EMDR intensive therapy is a fast, structured way to process trauma and feel better in a short period of time.
We can see you online or in Taunton, Somerset.
Who Are They For?
They are a good fit for people who want to feel better without months of weekly sessions, and who have time to dedicate 2-3 days to longer therapy sessions.
Our Plum Psychology Pathway:
Start with an assessment and readiness check, then we plan your intensive targets, complete preparation, and move into focused processing sessions. Follow-ups are offered to support integration into your daily life
How Are We Qualified To Help You?
Led by a UK Clinical Psychologist and EMDR Consultant, Plum Psychology are a small team of HCPC-registered psychologists and EMDR-trained therapists with experience in helping people overcome different traumas, from workplace incidents to family ruptures or complex losses.
What is an EMDR intensive?
An EMDR intensive is a bespoke programme designed to help you work towards your therapy goals through longer, focused EMDR sessions delivered over a short period of time.
Want the full explanation of how EMDR works first? Read our EMDR Definitive Guide here.
Which conditions can EMDR therapy help with:
-
Anxiety
-
PTSD
-
Problems that exacerbate Burnout (Perfectionism, People-pleasing, workplace bullying, or incidents)
-
Nightmares or upsetting memories
-
Stuck relational problems or self-sabotage patterns
Intensive EMDR sessions are long therapy sessions carried out over 2 to 3 days during a week or weekend, giving you a condensed period of therapy compared with traditional weekly EMDR.
The evidence shows that this format of EMDR is just as effective as weekly sessions in reducing problematic symptoms of PTSD and improving mental health, and in many cases improves completion rates of therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How is an EMDR Intensive different from weekly EMDR?
Sessions are longer (2-4 hours) and fall on consecutive days, which means you’re supported through the emotions that surface during trauma processing, rather than waiting a week between sessions. This focused format helps you stay on track with your goals instead of being pulled off course by weekly life events. They also give you faster progress in a shorter time.
Q: Who are EMDR Intensives best for?
Those who:
✓ Have a short break (e.g. annual leave or gardening leave) to dedicate to therapy
✓ Have limited time for weekly therapy
✓ Have enough stability to focus on trauma therapy for a few days
✓ Need help quickly after a stressful or traumatic event
✓ Want to make quick progress before a big life change
✓ Are in counselling but need trauma-specific support alongside it
An assessment is carried out before starting an intensive. Some people may benefit from additional preparation or stabilisation sessions before moving into trauma processing.
Not sure whether EMDR is right for you? Take our free EMDR quiz.
Q: Do you offer online EMDR Intensives?
Yes. Our EMDR Intensives are available UK-wide and can be delivered online or face-to-face. Both options are equally effective - online EMDR sessions offer flexibility and privacy, while in-person sessions may suit you better if you want to get away from your everyday life admin for the period of your programme. Online EMDR therapy has been shown to be as effective as in-person - more on how online EMDR works in practice here.
Q: Which problems can be helped by an EMDR intensive?
They are effective for people experiencing trauma, burnout, anxiety, or stress-related symptoms. They can be particularly helpful if you:
✓ Feel stuck despite previous therapy
✓ Are coping with flashbacks, nightmares, or emotional overwhelm
✓ Want relief from trauma-related stress without long-term weekly sessions
✓ Need a focused reset due to work stress, relationship strain, or major life change
Q: Is an EMDR intensive safe?
EMDR therapy is considered very safe and is widely used for trauma, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. As with any therapeutic process, some people may experience temporary emotional discomfort while processing distressing memories. Your EMDR practitioner will guide the pace and use grounding techniques to ensure the work is contained and manageable. For more guidance, please visit this helpful guide to help you understand whether EMDR therapy is right for you.
Q: Can I get a free consultation before purchasing an intensive EMDR therapy course?
Absolutely! Book a free 20-minute EMDR consultation with one of our EMDR therapists today.
Q: How much does an EMDR Intensive treatment cost?
Our UK-wide EMDR Intensive packages start from £1,550. The exact cost depends on the therapist, programme format and number of sessions required. An assessment is also needed before starting, and some people may benefit from additional preparation or follow-up sessions. Full costs will be discussed with you before you begin.
Q: Are EMDR Intensives effective?
Research suggests that intensive EMDR can reduce PTSD symptoms over a shorter treatment period, with outcomes comparable to weekly trauma-focused therapy in some studies. Results vary from person to person, which is why we assess your needs and suitability before recommending an intensive programme.
How EMDR Intensives Work at Plum Psychology
Who Are We and How Are We Qualified To Help You?
Plum Psychology is a small psychology practice (based online and in Taunton) led by Dr Claire Plumbly who is a Clinical Psychologist and EMDR Consultant-Supervisor. All members of our team are HCPC-registered psychologists, with extra training and supervision in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Each psychologist has a slightly different area of expertise, from parenting to medical trauma, childhood neglect to workplace traumas. We match you with the team member most suited to your particular difficulty. If you would like to come to Taunton for an in-person EMDR intensive at Hestercombe House we can recommend local Airbnb accommodation for your stay.
What is our EMDR Intensive Therapy Process?
Before the intensive, you will meet your psychologist for 1-2 assessment sessions to work out:
-
how trauma is showing up for you (mind, body, behaviour, work)
-
recent events that have exacerbated or triggered this
-
early life experiences that have contributed
-
which stabilisation skills you already have and the gaps
You’ll finish with a clear map of your trauma symptoms and what we need to address to start feeling better
ONE
Assessment
&
Plan
TWO
Stabilisation
Skills
Some people already have good stabilisation skills, but often we need to take 1-2 sessions to strengthen this together. During this phase we develop:
-
soothing skills for downshifting your high-threat activation (sleep, regulating strong emotions and overwhelm, skills to decompress)
-
grounding skills, if you find it hard to stay present
THREE
Target
Trauma
Memories
We aim to make this phase the main content of the intensive days. During this, we
-
get clearer on the targets for our trauma processing
-
work through these targets in a pre-agreed order with the bilateral stimulation to bring you symptom relief from the trauma.
-
where possible, we do future-focused EMDR on events that you are fearful of.
FOUR
Integration
and follow-up
Finally, we recommend a follow-up session to see how the new, adaptive information has been assimilated and make plans for ways to integrate this further into your everyday life.
Meet our intensive EMDR therapists
Dr Claire Plumbly
.jpg)
Dr Katherine Peckitt
Dr Vicky Aldridge
Dr Louise O'Rourke
The EMDR Intensive Programme with
Dr Claire Plumbly is a week-long treatment:
Three half-day EMDR-Intensive sessions in the same week. These are carried out either online using Zoom or in person in Taunton.
Pre-treatment assessments to identify 1) symptoms you would like to alleviate, 2) your attachment style, 3) your areas of being triggered, 4) memories or experiences linked to your difficulties.
A customised treatment workbook will be sent to you two weeks before your intensive. This allows you to work on your treatment goals before and after sessions, and can also be shared with any future therapists for continuity of care
My Rewire Your Anxious Brain Kit, an online course that helps you prepare for the week-long intensive.
What else might you need:
-
Two assessment sessions to assess the suitability of this approach (£225 per session)
-
Follow-up sessions: to support your adaptation to positive changes from treatment or to complete any work that couldn’t be finished during the week-long intensive (£225per follow-up)
Book a free short 15-minute call to discuss this option.
The EMDR Intensive Programme with
Dr Katherine Peckitt includes:
Two full days, Saturday & Sunday, in person in Taunton, Somerset (accommodation not included)
Attachment- and psychosomatic-informed EMDR intervention
Can be an adjunct to existing therapy intervention, and liaison with the therapist is advisable
Read Dr Peckitt's Bio page here.
What else might you need:
-
An initial assessment session: to assess the suitability of this approach (£140 per assessment session; may require 1 to 3 of these)
-
Follow-up sessions: to support your adaptation to positive changes from treatment or to complete any work that couldn’t be finished during the week-long intensive.
Book a free short 15-minute call to discuss this option.
The EMDR Intensive Programme with
Dr Vicky Aldridge includes:
Initial assessment and bespoke treatment planning appointment (At least one week before the intensive phase)
Preparation workbook including everything you need to prepare your mind and body for the intensive phase
1 x 1.5hr EMDR session (Friday Evening)
Half day (Saturday)
Half day (Sunday)
One follow-up session (one week or more after intensive phase)
Individualised maintaining progress plan
Read Dr Aldridge's Bio page here
What else might you need:
-
An initial assessment session: to assess the suitability of this approach (£140 per assessment session; may require 1 to 3 of these)
-
Follow-up sessions: to support your adaptation to positive changes from treatment or to complete any work that couldn’t be finished during the week-long intensive.
Book a free short 15-minute call to discuss this option.
The EMDR Intensive Programme with
Dr Louise O'Rourke includes:
Online EMDR intensive therapy delivered in one week (Friday 1.5h, Saturday & Sunday half-days)
A comprehensive workbook will be provided beforehand to prepare for the processing phase of therapy.
Read Dr Louise O'Rourke's bio page here.
What else might you need:
-
An initial assessment will be required to understand your needs and determine suitability for this approach (typically 1–3 sessions, £140 per session)
Book a free short 15-minute call to discuss this option.
What is the research that supports this intensive EMDR format
The intensive application of trauma-focused therapy can enable faster symptom reduction in people with PTSD. It has similar, or even better, results than weekly therapy while reducing the risk that patients drop out of therapy before the end of treatment. Learn more here and here.
Intensive EMDR treatment is feasible and is indicative of reliable improvement in PTSD symptoms in a very short time frame. Learn more here.
An intensive program using EMDR therapy is a potentially safe and effective treatment alternative for complex PTSD, too. Learn more here