Healing Trauma Intensive Group

The Healing Trauma Intensive is adapted from Dr. Jareo EMDR group protocol (IGTP-OTS). Dr. Jareo developed the group protocol when a hurricane occurred in 1998 and it was impossible to provide individual EMDR therapy to all the people who were traumatized. Since then, the group EMDR protocol (EMDR-IGTP-OTS) has been research and used in many other settings to successfully reduce symptoms of trauma (https://www.emdria.org/wpcontent/uploads/2020/04/emdr_group_treatment_resourc.pdf.).

The Healing Trauma Intensive incorporates a Christian prospective into the EMDR group, by focusing on the character of God. Each group member connects to God individually and then later in reprocessing the trauma invites God into the process.

This type of group is not a process group, so individual group members DO NOT share their trauma stories with one another. Each member has an individual consultation with a trauma therapist before the group to determine if they are a good fit for the group and what difficult memory they will be working on during the group.

The Healing Trauma group meets for two consecutive days. Each day consists of three sessions, with each session lasting approximately one hour. Between sessions, participants are encouraged to take breaks to rest, walk, and practice self-care. A chaplain is also available for conversation and prayer.

Research indicates that most participants experience a significant reduction in symptoms after completing these six sessions. Following the two-day intensive, individual counseling and chaplaincy care remain available for those who require additional support or continued holistic healing. (https://www.emdria.org/wpcontent/uploads/2020/04/emdr_group_treatment_resourc.pdf.).

Healing Trauma Intensives Groups can be helpful for…

PTSD
Verbal, physical or sexual abuse
Recent traumatic events
Difficult memories and experiences
Fight, flight, or freeze responses
Negative beliefs about yourself and others
Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness and shame
Anxiety, phobias, and panic
Feeling depressed, hopeless, or ashamed
Hypervigilant
Tolerating emotions and regulation skills

Learn more

Unique Benefits of Trauma Intensive Groups:

No Talking

In a group format you do not share the difficult memory that you are working on with the group! Instead of talking, you draw to help your brain reprocess the memory.

You are not alone

There is comfort and support having other people around you who are working through their trauma at the same time as you.

Faster

Experience faster and more effective symptom relief by completing the amount of work in a 2-day intensive, that would compare to months of individual weekly therapy

Symptom Relief

Research shows that most people experience a 60%-90% reduction in symptoms after an EMDR group intensive (https://www.emdria.org/wpcontent/uploads/2020/04/emdr_group_treatment_resourc.pdf.)

Reduce frustration and dropout rate

Research shows that Clients are better able to complete the counseling process in an intensive, as compared to weekly counseling in which Clients can become frustrated and overwhelmed and drop out of therapy (Butler & Ramsey-Wade, 2024

Individually Tailored

You will have an individual consultation with a therapist before the intensive to determine what past memory you will work on during the intensive.

Focus on the root of the issue

In an intensive format, it allows the Client to focus on the root of the issues instead of other symptoms that arise in weekly therapy.

Convenient Time Commitment

Instead of committing to months of therapy in your schedule, you can commit to 2 days of therapy. This is especially helpful to those who travel a lot or cannot meet on a weekly basis.