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Rethinking Therapy: Intensive EMDR as a Game-Changing Approach

Rethinking Therapy: Intensive EMDR as a Game-Changing Approach

The Limitations of the Insurance Model for Therapy
The requirement that insurance companies apply parity in their coverage of mental health and physical health needs seemed like it would make mental health care accessible to more people who need it, and would therefore improve outcomes for more people.  It has not worked out that way. 
The traditional insurance model requires only one hour per week of therapy, which causes sessions to end at an arbitrary time, halting progress in order to align with external requirements. This means the client has to come back in a week and pick up again (paying a copayment or full fee again, depending on where they are vis a vis their deductible!). 

While it may meet the needs of insurance companies, it often fails to adequately serve the clients. One of the main issues with this model is that it does not effectively reduce costs for most patients.  When it comes to therapy, clients are often burdened with deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance. These financial obligations can quickly add up, resulting in clients paying more for a longer term of treatment. Unfortunately, this can lead to clients staying stuck in therapy longer than necessary, as they struggle to afford the ongoing costs.  


A New Approach: Intensive Short-Term Therapy

Recognizing the limitations of the insurance model, I have been exploring a new way to help clients meet their therapy goals more quickly. This approach involves providing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in intensive short-term episodes of care.  EMDR is a therapeutic technique that has gained recognition for its effectiveness in treating a variety of mental health conditions. Research has shown that when provided in an intensive format, EMDR can yield the same or even better clinical results compared to traditional therapy models.  The best part, is that clients have relief and are on their way to their new life without spending months to years on a therapy couch.

EMDR addresses the psychological and physical symptoms stemming from adverse life experiences. EMDR is not just for trauma; it is also used for performance enhancement.

The Benefits of Intensive EMDR Therapy

 By offering EMDR therapy in intensive short-term episodes of care, clients can experience several benefits. Firstly, the condensed format allows for a more focused and concentrated approach to treatment. This means that clients can make significant progress in a shorter amount of time.  

Additionally, intensive EMDR therapy has been found to be particularly effective for a wide range of client populations. Whether someone is struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges, this approach has shown promising results across the board.  Furthermore, the shorter duration of intensive therapy can potentially lead to cost savings for clients. By reducing the number of sessions needed, clients can avoid accumulating excessive therapy expenses and achieve their therapy goals without unnecessary financial strain.  
Research In support of EMDR effectiveness:

  • Twenty-four randomized controlled trials support the positive effects of EMDR therapy in the treatment of emotional trauma and other adverse life experiences relevant to clinical practice.
  • Seven of 10 studies reported EMDR therapy to be more rapid and/or more effective than trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.
  • Twelve randomized studies of the eye movement component noted rapid decreases in negative emotions and/or vividness of disturbing images, with an additional 8 reporting a variety of other memory effects.
  • Numerous other evaluations document that EMDR therapy provides relief from a variety of somatic complaints.
  • Research and frequently asked questions about EMDR

Research on Intensive EMDR Therapy is positive: 
  • Intensive application of trauma-focused therapy seems to be well tolerated in patients with PTSD, enabling faster symptom reduction with similar, or even better, results, while reducing the risk that patients drop out prematurely. Learn more here and here.
  • Intensive EMDR treatment is feasible and is indicative of reliable improvement in PTSD symptoms in a very short time frame. Learn more here.
  • An intensive program using EMDR therapy is a potentially safe and effective treatment alternative for complex PTSD. Learn more here.
  • The economy is compelling: even compared to other trauma therapy, the intensive format may decrease treatment time, because of time not spent on a) checking in at the beginning of each session, b) addressing current crises and concerns, c) focusing on stabilizing and coping skills that the client won’t need after trauma healing, or d) assisting the client in regaining composure at the end of the session. Learn more here.

Conclusion

 The insurance model of one hour per week of therapy may serve the needs of insurance companies, but it often falls short in meeting the needs of clients. The financial burden placed on clients through deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance can hinder their progress and keep them stuck in therapy for longer than necessary.  In response to these limitations, I have embraced a new approach – providing EMDR therapy in intensive short-term episodes of care. This innovative method offers clients the opportunity to achieve their therapy goals more quickly, with emerging research supporting its effectiveness across various client populations.  So, if you're looking for a way to make significant progress in therapy without breaking the bank or staying stuck for extended periods, intensive EMDR therapy may be the solution you've been searching for.

Book now for a Summer 2025 EMDR Intensive and receive 20% off the full price

For a short time, I'm offering a discounted rate (Code: Summer2024)for new and existing clients for an EMDR Intensive retreat.  We can meet in Rochester, or anywhere in the state of Minnesota.  Intensives are 2 to 3 half day sessions. I recommend that clients plan for relaxing or renewing activities during the rest of the day of the retreat.  Ideally there should be a day between each half-day, but if calendar requirements demand it, we can have consecutive days of care.  Reach out now to co-design your program and take an accelerated route to feeling better faster.



Meet Katherine Driskell

 
About Katherine
Helping people find their clear blue sky possibilities after their storm
Katherine Driskell, MSW, LICSW has been in the non-profit and mental health space for more than 20 years. With experience in therapy with clients from 8 to 80+, in a variety of settings, she is able to start with clients where they are, and help them reach their goals. 
She is a certified EMDR Therapist and Consultant-In-Training through EMDRIA and a Certified HeartMath Interventions Practitioner. She is a member of the Minnesota Society for Clinical Social Work.

She focuses on motivated clients with clear goals. She helps them meet their goals through short-term intensive work focused directly on the origins of the blocks and beliefs that hold them back. She works with high-achieving professionals and performers as well as individuals who have experienced traumas big and small. Located in the heart of the Destination Medical Center district in Rochester, Minnesota, she loves working with patients and their loved ones, doctors and providers to overcome the medical trauma that is sometimes part of healing and illness. She combines mental health and counseling knowledge and skills with cutting edge, research-supported approaches to remove barriers to achieving potential.  

She has worked for the State of Minnesota providing mental health care to clients with chronic mental and behavioral challenges. She was in a leadership position at the Mayo Clinic for five years before joining a local non-profit organization to guide a program providing mental health therapists to provide care in schools.

Katherine is available for Consultation for EMDR Therapists who have completed EMDRIA-Approved Basic Training and want to pursue certification.  Click here to join the next cohort. 

Katherine has also provided license supervision to social workers and professional clinical counselors for nearly a decade. She sought supervision outside of her place of employment as well, knowing the value of an outside perspective and the protected space to grow that comes from a dedicated supervisory relationship. Clinicians must continually reflect on their own well-being and responses to the work they do with clients. In a safe, nurturing supervisory relationship, clinicians can become the healers they seek to be. Each year she takes on a small cohort of Clinical Social Workers and candidates for licensure as Professional Clinical Counselors for license supervision. Reach out to get on the waiting list for the next cohort here




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