EMDR for Parents Intensive

310-351-3609

mercedes@shameproofparenting.com

EMDR for Parents Intensives

Are you a parent who wants to work through past memories?

Do you feel like past traumas are keeping you from fully enjoying being a parent?

Has the recent global pandemic placed more stress on the already overwhelming role of raising healthy children?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, then keep reading…

This new offering is specifically designed to use the EMDR modality to target the traumas and past memories that are becoming a barrier to you fully embracing your parenting role. With her years of experience in child welfare, family systems theory and intervention, and parent coaching, licensed psychotherapist Mercedes Samudio will support you on your journey to not only be the best parent you can be but also uncover the debilitating belief and feelings that stop you from being the best version of yourself.

What is EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes. You can learn more about EMDR here!

How long is EMDR therapy?

EMDR therapy is an eight-phase treatment. Eye movements (or other bilateral stimulation) are used during one part of the session. After we have determined which memory to target first, we’ll explore holding different aspects of that event or thought in mind and using your eyes to track the therapist’s hand as it moves back and forth across the client’s field of vision. Although there is no definitive time frame for this type of treatment, clients often report feeling better about certain memories and events after one session. Of course, these types of results depend on the nature of the event/memory, and the time it will take to reprocess and desensitize the feelings that come up when you think of that memory.

What does treatment typically look like?

  • Phase 1:  The first phase includes assessment and history taking. We’ll assess your readiness and develops a treatment plan.  We will then identify possible targets for EMDR processing.  These include distressing memories and current situations that cause emotional distress.  Other targets can include related events in the past, but the emphasis is placed on coping skills development and behaviors that you will use in future situations.
  • Phase 2:  During this phase, we will ensure that you have several different ways of handling emotional distress.  You’ll learn a variety of breathing, imagery, and stress reduction techniques that you can use during and between sessions. A goal of EMDR therapy is to produce rapid and effective change while you maintain equilibrium during and between sessions.
  • Phases 3-6:  In phases three to six, a target memory is identified and processed using EMDR therapy procedures.  These involve you identifying three things:
    • An image related to the memory
    • A negative belief about yourself
    • Any related emotions and body sensations.
  • Phase 7:  In this phase, we move into closure, where I will ask you to keep a log during the week.  The log should document any related material that may arise.  It serves to remind you of the coping skills activities that you learned and mastered in phase two.
  • Phase 8:  The next session begins with phase eight.  Phase eight consists of examining the progress made thus far.  The EMDR treatment processes all related historical events, current incidents that elicit distress, and future events that will require different responses

What is an EMDR Intensive?

An EMDR intensive is a way to empower a client to fully embrace their healing journey in an intensive but short period of time, typically a half-day, a day, or a weekend. In these intensives, there will be multiple EMDR sessions per day where we work to uncover and heal past traumas that may get in the way of you being the best parent you can be!

New research shows that intensive therapy for trauma and stress can be extremely effective in symptom reduction. Mercedes is also trained in family systems theory, the Parental Identity Development Model, and other modalities that are frequently used in the EMDR intensive to further reduce and resolve symptoms.

What is included in an EMDR Intensive?

  • EMDR for Parents Intensive Consultation to assess for candidacy, as well as target unpleasant beliefs, body sensations, emotions, or images from which you are seeking relief.

  • Personalized EMDR for Parents Intensive Workbook which allows you to work on your treatment goals before, during, and after our EMDR intensive sessions.

  • A custom EMDR for Parents Intensive Program with targeted goals. EMDR for Parents is done virtually – for half-days (4 hours) or full days (8 hours).

  • EMDR for Parents Intensive Post-interview to assess and support your adaption to positive changes from our intensive.

What are the pros to doing an EMDR for Parents Intensive?

  • Process more healing in a shorter amount of time.

  • Dedicate a few hours to one full day focusing on healing, growth, and connection.

  • It’s cost-effective since intensives are highly focused – sometimes requiring less time and overall cost to the client.

  • No more scheduling your weeks around therapy sessions, leaving you more time to connect to yourself and your family.

  • Make a lasting change and take care of your whole self so that you can connect with your child’s whole self.

What does an EMDR for Parents Intensive look like?

Half days are 4 hours long with 2, 10-min breaks. Full days are 8 hours long, with an hour for lunch and 2, 10-min breaks.

Both days follow the same structure:

  • Assessment, Resourcing, and Treatment Planning: Here we will take some assessments, learn key coping tools to support you through the day, and set a treatment plan that will guide us during the intensive.
  • Intensive EMDR Interventions: Here we will dive into your treatment plan and will begin clearing old narratives, managing current stressors, and creating a new identity that will carry you into the future.

What is the cost of the EMDR for Parents Intensives?

Intensives are self-pay. Insurance does not cover the costs, as intensives are not part of coverage plans. There are also no insurance codes for intensives for billing, so clients cannot submit claims to insurance themselves.

  • Half-day (4 hours): $1,400
  • Full-Day (8 hours): $2,000

Okay! I’m ready! How can I schedule a session?

That’s awesome! You can take this quiz to see if you would benefit from EMDR for Parents Intensive. You can also click here to schedule a session.

If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to email me or call/text me at 714-758-5988.