Therapy with Bri

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. The name sounds clinical — the experience is surprisingly straightforward. Using gentle bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements or tapping), EMDR helps your brain process distressing memories and experiences that have gotten stuck. Most people are surprised by how quickly something that felt unbearable begins to feel more manageable. You don’t need to fully understand it before we begin — you just need to be willing to try.

These intensives are designed for people navigating acute loss or trauma — the kind that stops your life in its tracks. This includes the discovery of a partner’s infidelity, miscarriage or stillbirth, the loss of a beloved pet or family member, divorce, job loss, or any experience that has left you feeling like the ground has shifted beneath you.

Weekly therapy is valuable — but when you’re in acute pain, waiting seven days between sessions can feel impossible. The intensive format was designed for exactly that: when you need relief now, not in six months. Concentrating the work into focused blocks of time also allows us to go deeper without constantly stopping and restarting. Many clients accomplish in one intensive what would have taken months of hourly traditional sessions.

We begin the session by orienting — what happened, where you are mentally and emotionally, and what you want to be different. The middle portion of the session is where we do the EMDR processing work. We gently and skillfully have you reflect on what is causing you distress and we move you through to a better place. Finally, we close with integration, turning what came up into a clear sense of what to do next. I will function more like a coach and we will concretely strategize how to implement the insights that you’ve gained. You’ll leave tired, but lighter — and with something concrete to act on.

That depends on what you’re working through and how you respond to the work. Some clients find significant relief after a single session. Others choose to do two sessions in the same day or three plus sessions over a period of weeks. We’ll assess this together as we go — there’s no predetermined package you have to commit to upfront.

Yes — and effectively. Virtual EMDR is well-established and widely used. We meet through a secure telehealth platform, and rather than relying on eye movements, you guide yourself through the bilateral stimulation by tapping — a simple, tactile technique you do with your own hands. It’s grounding, it’s effective, and most people find it surprisingly natural within minutes. Additionally, many clients actually find the familiarity of their own space helpful. All you need is a private, quiet place and a reliable internet connection.

Processing what you are struggling with is only half of it. The other half is figuring out what to do next. At the end of each session, (whether you have 1 or several during your intensive), we identify what clarity you have gained — what you now know and what you need. Then, we determine what your next step is. We build that into something you can actually act on. Insight without direction doesn’t move your life forward. This is what sets my work apart from traditional therapy and from other EMDR therapists.

For those who want to go deeper, I offer a full-day immersive experience at my private office in the hills of Asheville, North Carolina. This consists of two 3-hour sessions with a long restorative break in between — time to eat, walk, and let the morning’s work settle before we continue. You may choose to have one full-day or several; it’s up to you and something we will discuss during our consultation. Clients travel for this experience, and many pair it with a night or two in Asheville to give themselves space to decompress and integrate.

It depends on how many 3-hour sessions your intensive includes. The shortest intensive possible is a one 3-hour session. The cost for this is $675. The number of these 3-hour sessions determines your cost. You may decide you want a full-day with two 3-hour sessions. If this is online, the cost is $1,300 per day and the number of days determines your total cost. Lastly, if you choose a full-day, in-person immersive at my location in Asheville, NC, the cost is $1,500. The exact investment depends on the scope and location of our work together and is discussed during consultation.

This is a private pay practice. Intensives are not typically covered by insurance, and working outside of insurance allows us to focus entirely on your needs without the constraints of what a diagnosis or session limit allows. Some clients are able to submit a superbill to their insurance for possible partial reimbursement — I’m happy to provide that upon request.

Because intensive appointments are long blocks of dedicated time, I require a 50% deposit to hold your appointment and ask for at least 48 hours notice for cancellations. Full details will be provided when you book.

Yes — and much of my practice is focused there. Online intensives are available to anyone in Massachusetts, and many Massachusetts clients choose to travel to Asheville for the full-day immersive experience. It’s a meaningful trip worth making.

Wear something comfortable — there’s no dress code here. For online sessions, find a private, quiet space where you won’t be interrupted and there is good lighting and a strong wifi connection. For in-person Asheville sessions, I’ll send you a full welcome guide with everything you need to know, including what to expect, where to stay, and how to make the most of your time here.

Reach out through the contact page to schedule a brief consultation. We’ll make sure this is a good fit and answer any questions you have before we begin.