EMDR Intensive Therapy for PTSD and Complex Trauma

An EMDR intensive is a focused form of trauma therapy for PTSD and complex trauma, designed to help people process distressing experiences and reduce the emotional, cognitive and physical symptoms associated with trauma.

Rather than spreading trauma processing across weekly appointments over a longer period, an EMDR intensive brings several targeted therapy sessions together within a shorter, structured timeframe.

At Myndful Psychology, the EMDR Intensive Program was developed and led by Principal Clinical and Health Psychologist Dr Aneta Kotevski and is now delivered by a number of experienced Myndful psychologists.

What makes the Myndful EMDR Intensive Program different from other treatment programs is that it does not focus solely on psychological processing. The program also incorporates trauma-informed yoga and movement, delivered by Melbourne GP and yoga teacher Dr Laura Chapman. This creates an additional opportunity to work with the physical and nervous-system experience of trauma.

This combination of EMDR processing, trauma-informed movement and integration is central to the Myndful approach.

Why combine EMDR with trauma-informed yoga?

Trauma is not experienced only as a memory or a thought. It can also be experienced through the body.

After trauma, a person may notice:

• chronic muscle tension
• changes in breathing
• a racing heart
• difficulty relaxing
• feeling constantly "on guard"
• numbness or disconnection from the body
• a strong physical response to particular situations
• difficulty feeling safe or settled
• an urge to fight, flee, freeze or shut down

Sometimes a person can intellectually understand that an event is in the past, and they are out of danger. However their body continues to respond as though danger is present. They often describe it as "I know I'm safe, but I don't feel safe."

This is one of the reasons the body-based component of the Myndful EMDR Intensive Program is so important.

EMDR provides a structured way of processing distressing memories, experiences, beliefs and associated responses (see What is EMDR? to learn more). Trauma-informed yoga provides a complementary opportunity to develop awareness of what is happening in the body, support regulation and reconnect with a sense of safety and choice.

Together, these approaches recognise that trauma recovery can involve both the way we remember what happened and the way our nervous system continues to respond to it.

A key difference: trauma-informed yoga with Dr Laura Chapman

A distinctive feature of the Myndful EMDR Intensive Program is the inclusion of dedicated trauma-informed yoga sessions led by Dr Laura Chapman, GP and yoga teacher. This is not simply an additional exercise component. The sessions are specifically designed to complement trauma treatment and provide a different therapeutic pathway for working with the body's experience of distress.

Dr Chapman brings together her medical background and yoga training to create practices that are sensitive to the needs of people recovering from trauma. The focus is not on physical performance, flexibility or achieving particular yoga poses.

Instead, sessions may explore:

• breath awareness
• noticing physical sensations
• developing a greater sense of safety in the body
• nervous-system regulation
• self-connection
• self-compassion
• gentle movement
• understanding the neurophysiology of stress and recovery

People are encouraged to develop choice and agency in relation to their bodies, rather than being pushed beyond what feels safe. This is particularly relevant for people whose trauma has left them feeling disconnected from, uncomfortable in or unsafe within their own bodies.

Can trauma be held in the body?

People often describe trauma as being "stored in the body". This can be a useful way of describing the lived experience of trauma, but it is important to be precise about what this means.

Trauma is not a physical substance sitting inside the body that can simply be released through movement. Rather, traumatic experiences can influence the brain, nervous system, body sensations, movement patterns, attention and physiological responses. A person may therefore continue to experience a physical response long after an event has ended.

For example:

• a person who has been in an accident may feel their heart race when getting into a car
• someone who has experienced interpersonal trauma may tense their body when another person moves suddenly
• someone who has experienced medical trauma may feel their breathing change when entering a hospital

These responses can occur automatically, even when the person consciously knows they are safe.

Trauma-informed movement can provide an opportunity to notice these responses without judgement and gradually develop greater awareness, regulation and choice. The goal is to reduce trauma-related activation and help the person develop a greater sense of safety, connection and control within their body.

What is included in the Myndful EMDR Intensive Program?

The Myndful EMDR Intensive Program runs over three weeks, with sessions scheduled twice per week.

The program includes:

1. Initial consultation and treatment planning

The program begins with a 50-minute initial consultation. Your psychologist will explore your history, current symptoms, treatment goals and suitability for an intensive approach. A personalised treatment plan is then developed.

2. Four focused EMDR processing sessions

The core program includes four 50-minute focused EMDR processing sessions. These sessions provide structured opportunities with an experienced psychologist to work with identified trauma targets, including relevant memories, beliefs, emotions and physical responses.

3. Three trauma-informed yoga sessions with Dr Laura Chapman

The program includes three 60-minute trauma-informed yoga sessions, delivered by Dr Laura Chapman, GP and yoga teacher.

These sessions are a defining feature of the Myndful approach. They provide an opportunity to work directly with the body's experience of stress and trauma through gentle movement, breath awareness, nervous-system education, self-connection and self-compassion.

4. Final integration and review

The program concludes with a 50-minute follow-up integration, evaluation and review session. This provides an opportunity to reflect on changes, consolidate learning and determine whether further treatment would be beneficial.

5. Optional two-week extension

For some people, additional trauma processing may be clinically recommended. Where appropriate, the program can be extended by a further two weeks, including four additional 50-minute EMDR processing sessions and two additional 60-minute trauma-informed yoga sessions.

The extension is based on individual clinical need.

The Myndful difference: working with trauma in mind and body

Many people seek EMDR because they want help with distressing memories and the psychological symptoms that follow trauma.

At Myndful, the approach recognises that trauma can affect mind, body and nervous system. This is why trauma-informed yoga is not treated as an optional add-on. It is deliberately integrated into the intensive structure.

Working with both mind and body means the program can support people experiencing a wide range of concerns, including:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD)
• trauma-related anxiety
• chronic anxiety and hypervigilance
• panic disorder and panic symptoms
• specific phobias
• depression, particularly where adverse or traumatic experiences are contributing
• chronic pain and pain-related psychological distress
• psychological distress associated with chronic health conditions
• medical trauma and distressing healthcare experiences
• trauma-related emotional and physiological responses

For conditions such as anxiety, panic, phobias, depression and chronic pain, EMDR may be particularly relevant where distressing experiences, trauma, learned threat responses or persistent nervous-system activation are contributing to current symptoms.

Who is an EMDR intensive suitable for?

EMDR is an evidence-based psychological therapy, with its strongest and most established evidence base in the treatment of PTSD. It is recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a first-line treatment for PTSD.

EMDR was first developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and has since gained widespread acceptance in treating single-incident trauma, PTSD and complex trauma (prolonged exposure to traumatic events or situations, often beginning in childhood and continuing into adulthood). It also has benefits for treating anxiety, depression and chronic health conditions.

Is an EMDR intensive right for everyone?

No. An intensive is not necessarily better than weekly therapy. For some people, weekly treatment provides the appropriate pace and level of support. However, others may benefit from a more concentrated approach.

Factors such as the complexity of trauma, current stability, dissociation, emotional regulation, support systems and the person's capacity to rest and recover between sessions all need to be considered.

This is why the initial consultation is an important part of the Myndful program. The goal is to determine whether an intensive approach is safe, appropriate and clinically suitable.

What should you do before an EMDR intensive?

An EMDR intensive requires a genuine commitment of time and energy.

Ideally, you should be able to:

• attend all scheduled sessions
• set aside adequate time and space for the program
• allow yourself time to rest between sessions
• minimise major competing demands where possible
• reflect on and process your experiences between sessions
• prioritise sleep and general wellbeing
• avoid major stressful commitments around intensive processing where possible

Where practical, taking time away from work, study or significant responsibilities can allow greater space for the therapeutic process.

How quickly can EMDR work?

One of the reasons people are interested in EMDR intensives is the possibility of making meaningful therapeutic progress within a shorter timeframe.

However, an intensive cannot guarantee rapid recovery or a particular number of sessions. Some people experience meaningful changes relatively early in EMDR treatment, while others require more preparation, processing or ongoing therapy. The appropriate pace depends on the individual. An intensive concentrates treatment; it does not bypass the complexity of trauma.

Take the next step

If trauma, PTSD or complex trauma continues to affect your emotional wellbeing, relationships, body or everyday life, an EMDR intensive may be worth exploring.

The first step is an individual consultation to determine whether the program is appropriate for you and what treatment approach best fits your circumstances.

Myndful offers the EMDR Intensive Program online and in person.

To discuss whether an EMDR intensive may be suitable for you, contact the friendly team at Myndful Psychology to discuss your needs.