What is a Peak Performance EMDR Intensive?
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I am trained in an accelerated model of EMDR, so even though traditional EMDR works fast, we can work even faster. We then pair that with extended “intensive” sessions so you get in, get out, and get back to thriving. It’s a fast and targeted approach to change resulting in a more resilient nervous system, more regulated emotions, and a clearer mind.
One full-day intensive is the equivalent of 3 months of an average coaching schedule (and this isn’t average work), meaning a 4-day intensive is the same as one year’s worth of insight!
Clients use words like “gobsmacked,” “shocked,” “amazed,” and “unbelievable” when we reach the end of our time together because they genuinely can’t believe the way they feel.
Intensives usually require 1- 5 full days per theme, although more may be recommended depending on the nature of your goals.
. Full-day sessions include:
- Three hours of EMDR in the morning.
- A break for lunch (usually an hour).
- Another three hours of EMDR in the afternoon.
- Breaks as needed throughout the day.
For first-time clients, at least one full-day is recommended to get started as this yields the best results. Full or Half-day sessions are available for follow-up work if future sessions are wanted or needed.
We will discuss your intended outcomes and how much time we would likely need together to meet your goals in our initial consultation session.
A full day sounds like a really long time…
I know it sounds like a long time, but I promise full-day sessions don’t feel like 6 hours. In fact, most clients report it tends to feel more like one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon.
Because Peak Performance EMDR isn’t like traditional coaching where you’re talking to create insight and change, we’ll be keeping your brain busy enough that it won’t notice the time passing, and neither will you.
And as the day goes on, you’ll likely feel lighter (but possibly a bit tired) as old stories shift away. I do find full-day sessions offer the best results, but In some cases, we may be able to start with two half-day sessions back-to-back if needed or as scheduling allows.
What can Peak Performance EMDR Intensives address?
Return to Baseline Intensives
Reset and return to your “normal” and help prevent future problems in the immediate or long-term aftermath of:
- Accidents – experienced or witnessed
- Illness and/or Injuries
- Medical procedures
- Inter-crew / safety-buddy conflict
- Post-passage/race recovery
- Near miss / near death experiences – actual or perceived
- Sudden and unexpected loss and setbacks
- Reactive panic attacks and phobias
Depending on the nature of the incident/s, I find this can usually be achieved within 1-3 full day sessions.
Raise the Bar Intensives
Things don’t have to be “bad” before we make things better. Overcome unhelpful mental habits and take what’s working to the next level. Perfect for:
- Mental pre-passage/race prep
- Return to play after extended time away / injury recovery
- Stress Management and Nervous System conditioning
- Performance Anxiety / Fear / Worry
- Mental blocks and limiting beliefs
- Self-Sabotage / Procrastination
- Success planning and recalibrating after disappointment
- Mental fitness, focus, clarity, and emotional resilience
- Create (and practice) a success mindset
- Accelerate your ability to pivot and reset plans on the fly
I find these usually require 3-5 full-day sessions to achieve desired results depending on the nature of the goals.
Life Overhaul Intensives
Once people have experienced Peak Performance Intensives first hand, many want to keep going and clear out all the old stories keeping them stagnant and stuck.
These typically just take as long as it takes depending on the nature of your goals and pre-existing background. Life overhaul intensives are only available to clients who have already done prior intensives work with me.
How intense is an intensive?
That depends on how intense the goal is.
For Return to Baseline Intensives – usually something pretty intense has happened that we need to help your nervous system release. In that case, the first hour is often the most challenging because you have spent a lot of energy avoiding the memories, feelings, and sensations so it can take your system a little while to relax into the process.
However, once we get rolling, things begin to shift quite quickly. We usually find that the peak intensity for a specific aspect of an event typically starts to subside after about 90 seconds of processing. You already lived it once, you can handle the worst again for 90 seconds. Once we’re done, you never have to think about it again unless you choose to. If you’re experiencing any anxiety about the intensive process, we start there and don’t proceed until you feel ready.
For Raise the Bar Intensives – Here the intensity comes from the speed at which we are able to move through different aspects of your story. It still can be challenging, but in a different way.
Regardless – you are in complete control of how fast and how far we go.
Benefits of Peak Performance EMDR Intensives:
Intensives allow for faster change and results than traditional weekly/bi-weekly sessions. We are effectively doing three months’ worth of processing in one day. This means you will get the same results in a fraction of the time. Essentially, instead of getting your relief, clarity, and change over time, you’re getting it all at once, so you can just get on with living your life.
Longer sessions mean we can stay focused on a specific goal. Whereas when sessions are spaced out over weeks, new challenges or life circumstances can pull you away from your original goals.
Longer sessions mean you don’t have to revisit the past more than needed. In weekly sessions, we likely will not be able to complete processing on a specific memory/belief system in our limited time together, meaning we may have to return to the same event over multiple sessions over multiple weeks. In intensives, it’s typically one and done for specific events because we have the time to adequately address everything we need to in the same session.
Intensives are easier to plan around. Instead of scheduling multiple 60min or 90min sessions over months, you can clear your schedule for the day/s and then get back to living.
Accessible for world travellers. When you’re not always in the same place (or even the same country) finding coaches who can work with your sporadic schedule and shifting location can be a challenge. With Peak Performance EMDR Intensives, you can book your sessions for when you know you’ll be in one place for a few days and then be on your way.
Are Peak Performance EMDR Intensives a good fit for everyone?
Because of the accelerated nature of Peak Performance EMDR Intensives, they are not for everyone. Some challenges are best supported through a slower approach – such as those with complex dissociative disorders and people who are not currently in a stable emotional circumstance. In those cases, going slow is the fastest, most effective way toward the change they seek.
In our initial consultation, we will discuss your specific goals and the pros and cons of doing intensive work. If it appears you would be better served through a different approach, I’ll do my best to help you find a referral.
Does EMDR work for everyone?
As with anything – results cannot be guaranteed and we would discuss all possible outcomes in our initial consultation. That said, I find that clients will always experience some kind of tangible change from each intensive session. I just can’t guarantee it will be the specific result you hoped for in the specific time estimated (although that is always the plan and usually the case).
Sometimes what appears to be a simple self-contained event, may be connected to a more complex story once we begin. This only means it may take longer than we originally thought to reach your goal, although in rare cases you may be better served with a different approach.
What is the cost and process?
The first step is booking an initial 90min consultation session ($250 USD – regularly $375) to explore your goals, determine if intensives are a good fit for you and come up with our “map” for our time together if we decide to move forward.
Dates are released six weeks in advance, but first choice goes to existing clients to ensure they can complete work started if more sessions are needed or wanted. You will be told in our initial consultation about current availability.
Once we find a date that works for you, you are asked to put down a 50% non-refundable deposit to reserve your space ($750 USD for each full-day). You have 48hrs to send your deposit from the time your session is offered or your space will be released to other clients who inquire. Intensives are not reserved until a deposit is made. The final 50% payment is due by 9am PST one week before the session ($750 USD for each full-day).
Also one week before your session, you will also receive the intake questionnaires that will help us tailor the process for you specifically. These must be completed at least 24hrs in advance of our session start time.
Initial Consultation sessions and Peak Performance EMDR Intensive sessions are only offered virtually. There is no difference between virtual and in-person as far as effectiveness. On your end – you will need to have stable wifi, a device that can access the internet that has a microphone and a camera such as a phone, tablet, or laptop, and a private space to connect.