At Colors of Austin Counseling, we are committed to providing specialized, transformative therapy experiences. Our EMDR Intensives, currently offered in person by Vanessa Newton, LCSW-S, and are designed to help you heal from distressing life experiences through an immersive and comprehensive approach.

What is EMDR Therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic technique that enables individuals to heal from symptoms and emotional distress resulting from distressing life experiences. The EMDR process mimics the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep cycle while you are alert, present, and thinking about the distressing event. This process activates the brain's natural healing mechanism, facilitating profound and lasting change.

Who Can Benefit from EMDR?

EMDR can benefit children and adults of all ages. It is particularly effective for those who may find it challenging to articulate their thoughts and feelings with words. EMDR is versatile and can address a wide range of stressors, including but not limited to:

• Anxiety

• Chronic illness/medical challenges

• Loss and grief

• Depression

• Pain

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Specific Outcomes and Benefits

While EMDR cannot change the facts or circumstances of past distressing events, it can transform how you experience these events in the present day. Through EMDR, past events can be remembered or reflected upon without the challenge and disturbance they once caused, allowing you to move forward with a sense of peace and resilience.

How EMDR Works

EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or completing homework between sessions. Instead, it focuses on altering the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from distressing events. This enables your brain to resume its natural healing process. EMDR therapy involves attention to three time periods: the past, present, and future. The eight-phase treatment approach addresses past disturbing memories, current situations causing distress, and develops the skills and attitudes needed for positive future actions. These phases occur over multiple sessions, with one session sometimes using parts of several phases. For many, EMDR therapy can be completed in fewer sessions than other psychotherapies.

Our EMDR clinicians

Options for EMDR Intensives

As EMDR-trained clinicians, Vanessa and Maria are pleased to inform you that they have availability to work with you. They offer EMDR therapy through a model of intensive sessions, which can provide a more focused and efficient approach to addressing your symptoms.

EMDR intensives allow us to progress through your treatment without the typical interruptions of standard 50-minute sessions. This intensive format can potentially reduce overall treatment time by minimizing time spent on initial check-ins, addressing immediate crises, focusing on stabilizing coping skills that won't be necessary post-healing, and regaining composure at the end of each session.

Here are our options:

*All EMDR intensives include resources, assessments, and a personalized treatment workbook.

If any of these options interest you, Vanessa or Maria would be happy to schedule a call to discuss further. Please note that insurance does not cover the cost of EMDR intensive therapy, so you would be responsible for paying out of pocket. However, we can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for possible partial reimbursement. It might be helpful to contact your insurance company to inquire about coverage for extended therapy sessions.

Paying for EMDR Intensives

Each EMDR intensive experience begins with a stand-alone 90-minute intake session and ends with a stand-alone 60-minute session one month after the intensive experience. These sessions may be reimbursable by insurance utilizing CPT code 90837. It is up to the client to contact their insurance provider to make these inquiries.

The actual intensive experience is not reimbursable by insurance. Outside of the intake and closing sessions, payment in full for the EMDR intensive is required at the time of service.

In considering this investment, it is helpful to compare that standard weekly therapy appointments cost approximately $1,145 over a two-month period (8 sessions, 7 total hours of EMDR therapy) and a day-long EMDR intensive costs $1,720 for 6.5 total hours of therapy in one day-long experience. For some, paying for time NOT in weekly therapy and living with increased resilience and reduced symptomatology is a worthwhile investment.

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Q&A: Common Questions About EMDR Intensives

Take the first step towards healing and transformation with our EMDR Intensives. Contact us to learn more or to schedule your intensive session. At Colors of Austin Counseling, we are here to support you every step of the way.