What is an All Day Intensive? Would you like to address your emotional challenges in a new and different way than before? Do you wish somehow for a life-changing breakthrough? Are you frustrated with slow progress? An All Day Intensive is a unique, powerful and deeply healing one-on-one experience that uses the EMDR, IFS and Brainspotting psychotherapy modalities, known for achieving dramatic and long lasting impactful change. All Day Intensives provide the benefit of therapeutic work that covers multiple healing and self improvement objectives, all on the same day. One who wishes to process several traumatic events within a short period of time may choose an all day intensive as an adjunct to one’s regular therapy or instead of weekly sessions over a period of months. Time and travel can be cumbersome and a deterrent to getting the help you need and deserve; an All Day Intensive eliminates these obstacles. Some clients opt for occasional follow up virtual sessions after a powerful all day intensive experience. Why do an All Day Intensive? Intensives are a catalyst for healing, growth and change by enabling an in depth, uninterrupted therapeutic experience and accelerated results. Clients have reported positive and empowering outcomes due to the combo of models used and the uninterrupted quality of time – 6 hours, all on the same day. EMDR, IFS and Brainspotting are potent models that go in depth, like an excavation, to root causes of emotional challenges and are dramatically different than ‘Talk Therapy’. All Day Intensive clients are seeking a unique experience that they can learn from and take back home to Self, family and work relationships with a greater understanding of why they get stuck in non-helpful life patterns and decisions . At the end of an All Day Intensive, clients are empowered to make choices that are better aligned with their True Selves and resolution to past traumas are achieved in meaningful and significant ways. Insight into aspects of the Self and relief of symptoms lead to a liberating way of viewing one’s world, relationships and past traumatic experiences. IFS (Internal Family Systems) A popular modality, Internal Family Systems, or IFS, otherwise known as ‘Parts Work’, is a non-stigmatizing ego-oriented therapy that allows for rapid understanding and change in relation to painful patterns coming from emotional injuries in childhood. IFS helps a person access Exiled Parts of him or herself and unburden their younger suffering Selves as well as other Parts that try to help the Internal System cope with triggers that are cut-off from one’s true, wise Self, defended and not integrated well in the overall functioning of the personality. We can call it “The Family Inside You”. To learn more about IFS Therapy, check out the book ‘No Bad Parts’ by the Founder of IFS, Dr. Richard Schwartz, click here. EMDR (Eye Movement Desesistization and Reprocessing) EMDR therapy has the capacity to quickly reduce the level of distress in a particular memory, event, behavior or image. It is especially helpful when there is extreme anxiety, fear, or emotionally triggered arousal that impedes daily functioning in specific areas of life. When in crisis, EMDR is effective in decreasing current or ongoing distress. EMDR is known for effective treatment of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and an excellent way to systematically process all aspects of a particular trauma. Brainspotting Using a pointer, the therapist guides the client’s eye movements to locate a “brainspot” — a specific point in the visual field linked to unresolved trauma or strong emotions. Once the brainspot is identified, the client maintains focus on it while becoming aware of their body’s physical sensations and emotions. This activates the brain’s natural ability to process and release stored trauma. The therapist ensures a safe, supportive environment, facilitating emotional healing. Though Brainspotting is still being researched, it’s a promising technique for treating trauma, anxiety, and other psychological issues. For more information about Brainspotting click here When Some Things Are Just Too Uncomfortable to Say Out Loud For clients who don’t want to share everything with the therapist, EMDR or Brainspotting can effectively process without every detail needing to be divulged or stated out loud. For a video demo of the methods of bilateral stimulation I use in EMDR therapy go to https://youtu.be/I6ZCfAZ3EOY The Flash Technique The Flash Technique is a recently developed therapeutic tool utilizing EMDR that can provide unanticipated quick relief from a specific unrelenting disturbance, thought, fear or phobia. For a brief explanation of this innovative technique go to https://empowermentaftertrauma.com/the-flash-technique/ Combined Power Incorporating IFS, EMDR and Brainspotting therapy modalities allows for a trifecta of potent and powerful trauma processing and repair. In collaboration with clients, together we decide when it feels right to use each modality and often we use aspects of these models simultaneously. In working on a particular problem we may begin with using EMDR, or Brainspotting, and then when a “Part” shows up (An IFS term for an aspect of Self represented by the Internal Family), we transition into IFS work. Or a client may be seeking IFS work and when a particularly distressing event emerges in the session EMDR or Brainspotting can help process the memories and images and decrease distress and arousal (body feeling triggered). Often clients who seek IFS are themselves therapists and want the pure IFS experience to be able to bring back what they have learned to their own clients. For brief explanations of IFS, EMDR and Brainspotting therapy as well as video demos go to https://empowermentaftertrauma.com/services/. For a video demo of a session using both EMDR and IFS, go to https://empowermentaftertrauma.com/ifs-and-emdr-combo-demo/. The Schedule An All Day Intensive begins with defining goals, articulating challenges in detail and taking the time to explore how past history impacts present day life challenges. This process is generally achieved during the first hour of the day. If the plan is to use the IFS model exclusively we will identify Parts that the client wants to get to know, interact with, negotiate with and reconcile. Over time, Exiled Parts emerge and seek relief from the pain and fixations of the past that Unburdening provides. Intensives begin at 10:00am and end at 4:00pm with a 15 minute lunch break and bio breaks as needed. The office is a relaxing and cozy space for spending the day exploring emotional challenges and gaining liberating insight that takes psychic pounds off of burdened shoulders. Drinks and snacks are available, just bring lunch. Crisis At times a client finds him/herself in an unexpected crisis on the designated day of arrival that they had previously not anticipated. In such cases we will begin with EMDR or Brainspotting therapy. This will help deactivate what has been triggered prior to the scheduled Intensive to help the client return to their baseline emotional equilibrium so that attention can then be turned toward the original reasons for the scheduled session. Often a crisis will be related to the originally stated challenges and goals so the process is not derailed, processing the crisis is a part of the journey. Your Choice Clients choose what traumas, issues or Parts they want to work on first and there is a collaborative process in mapping out the day. Goals, Parts, Challenges, Traumatic Events, Resources, Negative Beliefs and Positive Beliefs about Self and Triggers and how they all impact daily interactions at work and in relationships, are explored to gain an understanding of how past experiences impact present day living, decision making and next steps are collaboratively planned. Clients choose which modality (IFS, EMDR or Brainspotting) they want to use and may switch from one to the other over the course of the day. Parts of these models can be also be used simultaneously. Wrap Up In the final session hour, all Parts are re-visited, acknowledged and given their due respect. Parts that remain somewhat activated are reassured that they will continue to receive the time and attention in the coming days and weeks in private Self Therapy or in follow up sessions. An agreement is established to check in with Unburdened Exiles for at least two weeks after this day of cathartic and satisfying work. (Unburdened Exiles are members of the Internal Family System that have now been freed to operate in a more balanced collaborative state with other parts of the personality). Other homework is agreed on if warranted and is often helpful to maintain the progress achieved in different areas that day. Afterward It is important to plan ahead of time for a period of at least two hours for self care which can take many different forms. For example, for moms with small children, it may be wise to extend the babysitter’s hours in advance to allow for time to relax in a cafe or nature. A therapist would be wise to not schedule client hours on the evening of an all day intensive. Time, space and quiet could be helpful and some may prefer a spouse or friend to debrief with. Most clients appreciate homework. Tailor made ideas for each client are generally suggested for clients to work on over the following weeks after their all day intensive experience in accordance with the issues addressed over the course of that day. For those who have traveled some distance for this day (generally the case) occasional follow up sessions can be schdeduled virtually if desired. Some clients who over time encounter new, major life situations or transitions, seek another all day intensive or just an extended session or several regular sessions. A brief note via email or text is always welcome to report on progress with homework and the impact of the intensive at work and at home. I look forward to joining with you in a ‘Big Therapy Project’! ***All Day Intensives now available in NY and FL (Boca Raton). For Appointments call 718-249-6618 For more information about the IFS therapy model go to ifs-institute.com For more information about the EMDR therapy model go to emdria.org For more information about the Brainspotting therapy model go to brainspotting.com |
Tested Positive for Codependency
