Why Summer Might Be the Perfect Time for an EMDR Intensive
Summer tends to come with a shift. A break in routine. A little more sunlight. Maybe even a bit more breathing room. And if you’re someone who’s been thinking, “I need to get back into therapy,” or “I don’t have time for weekly sessions,” summer might actually be the best time to go deeper—not just “get back” into therapy, but move forward in it.
Whether you’re dealing with trauma, grief, relationship challenges, or parenting stress, extended-length sessions like EMDR intensives can offer a flexible, focused, and efficient path toward healing—especially during a season that already asks us to reset.
Let’s talk about why summer (yep, even with all its chaos and travel and flip-flop energy) is a great time to consider EMDR intensives or longer, less frequent therapy sessions.
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A Break in Routine = Space to Do the Deeper Work
For many women—especially those who are over-functioning, caretaking, or always managing something—summer can offer just enough disruption to be useful. School is out. Work might slow down. Even if your day-to-day feels just as packed, the overall cultural rhythm changes a bit.
Instead of using that time to pause your therapy work, it might be a chance to go deeper. EMDR intensives give you the opportunity to set aside several hours or a few consecutive days to focus deeply on what’s been keeping you stuck—without the need to spread it out over months.
Sometimes clients tell me they don’t want to “open the floodgates” if they can’t see me again right away. That’s valid. But with an intensive, we plan for that space. We create time to warm up, dive in, and then gently close things out so you leave feeling grounded. That can be hard to do in a 50-minute session.
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Weekly Therapy Isn’t the Only “Right” Way
There’s this unspoken idea that therapy has to be weekly to be effective. For many people, especially those juggling parenting, demanding jobs, and caregiving responsibilities, that’s just not sustainable.
And if you have a lot on your plate, you know how hard it is to shift gears. You spend half the session just getting into therapy mode—and by the time you do, it’s time to wrap up. That means your energy and your money are often going toward transition time, not transformation.
Extended-length sessions (whether that’s a one-day intensive or monthly 2-hour appointments) can cut down on that wasted time. You get to drop in deeper, stay there longer, and leave feeling like real progress was made.
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Flexible Scheduling = More Possibility
Summer often brings more calendar flexibility—whether that’s a long weekend you can carve out, or finally having someone to watch the kids for a few hours. EMDR intensives and extended sessions can be scheduled in ways that meet you where you are. I offer evening and weekend options for this exact reason.
You don’t have to rearrange your life to make progress. You can build your healing into the natural rhythm of your life—your summer travel, your parenting needs, your energy level.
And if you’ve been wanting to do trauma work but couldn’t figure out how to make it fit, this is your sign: it’s possible to get support in a way that’s both impactful and flexible.
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Efficient, Impactful, and Grounded in Real Life
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by everything happening in the world, exhausted from trying to hold it all together, or stuck in a pattern that no longer serves you—EMDR intensives and longer sessions give you the space to really do something about it.
Whether you’re working through the emotional residue of a difficult relationship, the heaviness of parenting while grieving, or the burnout that comes from being the one who “keeps it all running”—intensives are efficient, yes. But more importantly, they’re impactful.
They’re not about rushing or forcing the process. They’re about giving your nervous system the space to actually process. And that’s the kind of progress that sticks.
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Cost Effective (Yes, Really)
One thing people don’t always consider: intensives can actually be more cost-effective. With less time spent each session “warming up” and “cooling down,” you get more actual therapy time. That means you’re getting more bang for your buck—especially if you’re only able to do a few sessions a month.
Plus, for clients who travel from out of town, or just don’t have time for regular weekly therapy, intensives make it possible to still do deep and meaningful work without having to show up every Tuesday at 3 p.m. for the rest of the year.
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You Deserve to Feel Better—Without Burning Out Getting There
We’re not meant to always be in crisis to seek support. We’re also not meant to be constantly dragging ourselves through healing work in tiny scraps of time between everything else we do for others.
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment, or wondering if there’s another way—this might be it.
Summer could be your season of reset. A time to carve out space just for you. A time to untangle what’s heavy, clear out what’s stuck, and create room for what’s next.
You don’t have to keep putting this off. You deserve the kind of care that actually fits your life.
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Ready to go deeper—on your own schedule?
Let’s talk about how EMDR intensives or extended-length sessions can support your healing this summer. Reach out and let’s create a plan that works for you.
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Written by Brittanie, Therapist and Advocate for Women’s Well-Being
Brittanie is a licensed therapist specializing in helping women navigate ADHD, trauma, parenting, grief, boundaries, self-esteem, and life transitions. She provides therapy for women in Missouri and Illinois, including EMDR intensives and extended-length sessions. Her work centers on high-achieving, emotionally attuned women who want more than just getting by—they want peace, clarity, and a life that actually feels good.
If you’re finding it difficult to incorporate these strategies into your life or need more personalized support, please feel free to reach out.
Share your thoughts in the comments, or get in touch with me directly. We can work together to create a practical, easy-to-use toolkit of coping skills tailored just for you.