EMDR Intensive Sessions for Traumatic Bereavement
A Deep, Focused Healing Experience for When Grief Is Complicated by Trauma
Grief is painful. When it’s tangled with trauma — like a sudden death, violent circumstances, interpersonal conflict, or medical trauma — it can feel unbearable. You may find yourself stuck in images you can’t unsee, emotions that feel too big to touch, or a numbness that won’t lift.
You don’t have to carry this alone.
An EMDR Intensive Might be for You If …
- You’ve experienced a traumatic loss and feel stuck in your grief
- You’re haunted by flashbacks, guilt, or distressing imagery
- You want a more focused way to process trauma than weekly therapy allows
- You want to process trauma at a quicker pace than weekly sessions
- You’re already in therapy and want to add an intensive to deepen the work
You can do this work immediately after a traumatic experience or at any time afterward — even if years have passed since the trauma
What Is an EMDR Intensive?
An EMDR intensive is a focused, extended therapy session — up to 4 hours in one day — where we work together one-on-one to process the traumatic aspects of your grief. It’s a way to move deeply into healing without the start-and-stop rhythm of weekly sessions.
This isn’t a one-off. To make sure your nervous system is supported every step of the way, the intensive is part of a larger arc of care.
“Not proceeding in an intensive format may actually be dangerous for some clients… I’m thinking about the suicidal client here, the active addiction client, or a client — like a CEO or a celebrity — who has a major event the next week that could make or break their career. Those are really important situations that intensives can help with.”
— Robert A. Grigore, MCC, RCC, EMDR-Certified Therapist and Consultant from Episode 15: EMDR Therapy Intensives of Let’s Talk EMDR: The EMDRIA Podcast
While your story may be very different, if your grief feels urgent, overwhelming, or like it’s interfering with daily functioning, an intensive may be the safest and most effective way forward.
The Full EMDR Intensive Process
Your EMDR intensive experience includes:
Two or more 50-minute sessions before the intensive
These sessions focus on nervous system stabilization — the foundational work that helps you feel safer and more resourced before we enter trauma processing. We’ll explore:
- How trauma shows up in your body and mind
- Practical tools for grounding and regulation
- Resourcing exercises to help you access calm and safety
- Strategies to soothe overwhelm if it arises during or after our work
Together, we’ll determine your goals and carefully set up the memories we’ll target in the intensive — all done thoughtfully to avoid retraumatization.
You don’t have to be “ready” to do this perfectly. You just have to be willing to move gently and steadily.
The Intensive Day(s): Up to 4 Hours of EMDR Therapy per Day
We’ll work deeply and at your pace, processing the traumatic grief you’ve been carrying through the structured phases of EMDR therapy. Here’s what the process generally looks like:
- Preparation & Stabilization: Grounding techniques and resourcing strategies keep your nervous system regulated throughout the session.
- Targeting Memories: Carefully chosen traumatic memories or moments guide the intensive.
- Bilateral Stimulation: Eye movements, taps, or sounds gently engage both sides of your brain to reprocess trauma.
- Processing: Feelings, thoughts, and sensations naturally shift, releasing tension and bringing new insights.
- Nervous System Guidance: I closely monitor your responses, pausing or grounding as needed — you never have to push through distress.
- Closure: The session ends with grounding and ensuring you feel safe to move forward.
Multiple Intensive Days Option:
Depending on the severity of your trauma symptoms and your readiness, we may schedule multiple intensive sessions over several days. This tailored approach allows for deeper healing at a pace suited specifically to your needs and preferences. Each intensive day will be thoughtfully structured to support your nervous system and maximize therapeutic benefit.
At the end of each intensive day, we’ll transition into a personalized nervous system relaxation experience — such as guided meditation, sound healing, gentle restorative yoga, or breathwork — to help your body integrate the deep trauma work and leave you feeling calm, grounded, and supported.
Aftercare and Integration
You’ll leave the intensive with a personalized aftercare plan, including:
- Tools for nervous system support
- Grounding and integration practices
Written guidance for what to expect in the days that follow
We’ll also schedule at least one follow-up session to help you integrate the work and decide what ongoing care feels right for you.
What to Expect After Your EMDR Intensive
Healing continues beyond the intensive day(s). Many clients experience immediate relief from overwhelming emotions, reduced anxiety, and a clearer perspective on their grief and trauma. It’s common to feel physically tired or emotionally raw as your nervous system processes the work. This is a natural part of healing. Taking time for rest, self-compassion, and grounding practices in the days following your intensive will help deepen your journey.
Where We Can Meet
You can choose the setting that feels most supportive for your body and nervous system:
-
- In your home — For comfort, familiarity, and the added ease of not needing to commute after an emotionally and physically exhausting experience.
- In my office (489 College St, Toronto, ON) — A calm, private, trauma-informed space designed for deep therapeutic work.
- Online — A secure virtual option if you’re more comfortable receiving care in your own environment or live outside the area.
I offer free in-home sessions within the city of Toronto. For clients in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) or beyond, a travel fee will apply, which we’ll discuss during your consultation.
- In your home — For comfort, familiarity, and the added ease of not needing to commute after an emotionally and physically exhausting experience.
Why EMDR? How It Helps When Grief Feels Overwhelming and Traumatic
When someone you love dies suddenly, violently, or in circumstances that shake your sense of safety, grief often isn’t just sadness — it can feel like your mind and body are trapped in a constant state of alarm. You might experience:
- Flashbacks or intrusive images
- Nightmares
- Overwhelming guilt or “what if” thoughts
- Emotional numbness or dissociation
- A racing mind filled with fear, panic, or hopelessness
- Physical symptoms like tightness, tension, or panic attacks triggered by reminders
EMDR helps your brain reprocess these traumatic memories, easing their intensity so you can move toward healing and integration.
Investment & Booking Details
EMDR Intensive Rates:
- Virtual Intensive (4 hours): $1,000 CAD
- Office Intensive (4 hours, 489 College St, Toronto): $1,200 CAD
- In-Home Intensive (within City of Toronto limits): $1,300 CAD
Additional travel fees apply for sessions outside Toronto city limits.
Pre- and Post- Sessions:
- 50-minute sessions before and after the intensive at $165 CAD per session
Payment plans available. Health benefits or HSA coverage may apply.
Booking & Deposit
To reserve your EMDR intensive day(s), a non-refundable deposit of 30% of the intensive fee is required. This confirms your spot and allows me to block dedicated time for your healing work.
Cancellation Policy
- Deposits are non-refundable but may be applied to a rescheduled intensive with at least 14 days’ notice.
- Cancellations made less than 14 days before the scheduled intensive will forfeit the deposit and may incur additional fees.
If you need to reschedule due to illness or emergency, please contact me as soon as possible — I will do my best to accommodate.
Take the First Step
We’ll begin with a free consultation to talk through your story, answer your questions, and see if this approach is right for you.
Please email me, aly@alybird.com with the subject line “EMDR Intensive Consultation.” I will respond with possible dates for your consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions about EMDR Intensives
Q: What is EMDR therapy?
A: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a trauma-focused therapy that helps your brain process and integrate distressing memories.
Q: How is an EMDR intensive different from regular weekly sessions?
A: An intensive condenses several hours of focused EMDR work into one or multiple days, allowing for deeper and faster processing of traumatic grief.
Q: Who is a good candidate for an EMDR intensive?
A: Anyone who has experienced traumatic bereavement or trauma-related grief and feels ready for deep healing.
Q: What if I feel overwhelmed during the intensive?
A: Your nervous system safety is my priority. We use stabilization techniques and you control the pace.
Q: Can the intensive be done virtually?
A: Yes! Virtual intensives are secure and effective.
Q: Can I choose where the intensive happens?
A: Yes. You can choose your home, my office, or virtual sessions.
Q: Can I do multiple intensives?
A: Yes. Depending on your needs and trauma severity, we can schedule multiple intensive sessions over several days to tailor the healing process specifically to you.
Q: What kind of support will I receive after the intensive?
A: You’ll get personalized aftercare tools and at least one follow-up session to help integrate the work.
Q: What if I cry the whole time?
A:That’s welcome here. You’ll never be rushed or judged. You’ll be supported with care and skill, every step of the way.
