When to Refer for Adjunct or Intensive EMDR (And Why It Can Help Your Clients Thrive)
Not all EMDR-trained clinicians offer adjunct or intensive formats — but there are times when these options can make a meaningful difference in a client’s healing.
Whether a client is stuck, overwhelmed, or needs a more focused approach to trauma work, flexible EMDR support may be just what’s needed to create movement.
This post offers a practical guide for clinicians who are curious about when and how to refer for adjunct or intensive EMDR, along with what to expect when collaborating with another EMDR provider. If you're holding complex trauma cases, feeling unsure how to integrate EMDR with your current work, or just want a reliable referral option for deeper processing, you're in the right place.
Table of Contents
What is Adjunct EMDR?
Adjunct EMDR is a collaborative and flexible approach designed to support a client’s ongoing therapy. Rather than replacing their current therapist, the adjunct EMDR provider works as part of the care team — helping to process a specific trauma, emotional block, or distressing pattern that’s been difficult to resolve through talk therapy alone.
The work is designed to be responsive to each client’s needs — there’s no set number of sessions. Some clients notice meaningful change in just a few, while others benefit from continuing until a specific issue or trauma is fully resolved. The length and pacing of care depends on the client’s goals, processing style, and how often sessions are scheduled.
Sessions are typically either 50 minutes (standard EMDR) or 2 hours (Intensive EMDR). Clients can schedule them as frequently as needed or space them out to allow for integration with their primary therapy. This flexibility allows the process to align with each client’s pace and preferences.
Adjunct EMDR may be a helpful option when:
A therapist feels unfamiliar with specific EMDR protocols needed to support the client
A therapist isn’t yet confident in their EMDR skills or feels unsure how to navigate certain trauma content
A therapist is choosing not to integrate EMDR into their current work
A client feels stuck despite insight, effort, or progress in therapy
Adjunct EMDR doesn’t replace a client’s relationship with their primary therapist — it complements it. Think of it like a consultation with a specialist: the client gets targeted support and then continues their work feeling more open, settled, or empowered.
What is Intensive EMDR?
Intensive EMDR is a focused and flexible format for processing distressing memories, images, beliefs, sensations, and emotions. While it's often used to address trauma, it can also support other stuck patterns or nervous system reactions that haven’t shifted through traditional therapy.
Unlike weekly sessions, which are typically 50 minutes, intensive sessions are 2 hours long and scheduled based on the client’s needs and the clinician’s availability. They can be spaced out to allow for integration with ongoing therapy or scheduled more closely together to stay connected to the work. This extended time allows for deeper reprocessing, a stronger sense of closure, and fewer disruptions between sessions.
While many clients benefit from weekly EMDR therapy, others find the 50-minute format too brief to stay with what’s coming up. That’s often when intensive work becomes helpful — especially when someone is feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or eager to move through something more directly.
So is one better than the other — standard or intensive? The EMDR process itself doesn’t change. What’s different is how much time is dedicated to it. Intensive EMDR simply allows for longer, uninterrupted sessions — which can help some clients stay connected to the work without having to stop just as something meaningful is coming up.
Some people prefer the rhythm of weekly sessions. Others appreciate being able to stay in the work longer during a single sitting. It’s not about one being more potent or effective — it’s about what feels more supportive for that person at that time.
Intensive EMDR can stand alone or be used in collaboration with ongoing therapy. For clients already working with another therapist, intensives are offered as supplemental care — with the goal of supporting, not replacing, the work already in progress.
Signs It’s Time to Refer
There’s no perfect formula for when to refer a client for adjunct or intensive EMDR — but there are common scenarios where it can be especially helpful:
A client feels stuck despite insight, effort, or progress in therapy
Talk therapy feels limited in helping a client fully process and release what they’re carrying
Body-based symptoms or nervous system activation persist even after addressing the issue cognitively
EMDR isn’t available in the client’s current therapy, or time constraints make it difficult to include
The client expresses interest in EMDR as part of their healing work
Whether the referral is therapist-initiated or client-driven, adjunct and intensive EMDR can offer a targeted layer of support — one that helps move through stuck material while preserving the relationship and momentum of the client’s primary therapy.
How Adjunct Work Supports, Not Replaces
The goal of Adjunct EMDR isn’t to take over a client’s care — it’s to offer targeted support for something specific, while honoring the ongoing work already happening with their primary therapist.
In this model, the primary therapist remains the anchor of the client’s therapeutic journey. The EMDR clinician focuses on a clearly defined target — such as a traumatic memory, distressing belief, or persistent nervous system response — and the client returns to their regular therapy with more clarity, regulation, or emotional movement.
It’s a team approach:
The EMDR therapist helps clear what’s stuck.
The primary therapist helps integrate the shifts and support ongoing growth.
This structure allows clients to get the best of both: specialized trauma processing without sacrificing the trust and continuity of an established therapeutic relationship. It also supports therapists in offering comprehensive care — even when EMDR isn’t part of their own practice — without feeling like they have to do it all.
Adjunct EMDR doesn't compete with therapy — it complements and enhances it.
How to Refer (and What to Expect)
Referring a client for adjunct or intensive EMDR is meant to be simple — for both the referring therapist and the client.
If you're a therapist referring a client:
Reach out directly by using the contact form to share a brief overview of the client’s goals or what’s prompting the referral.
You’re welcome to request a brief phone consult to discuss the fit, clarify expectations, or ask any questions before making the referral.
With the client’s permission, limited updates can be shared after sessions to support ongoing care and integration.
If you’re a client seeking adjunct or intensive EMDR:
You don’t need a formal referral — feel free to reach out directly.
We'll talk briefly about what you're hoping to work through and whether this format is the right fit.
If you're already working with a therapist, they’ll remain your primary provider — this work is here to add to, not interrupt, what’s already in progress.
Clients can choose between standard 50 minute EMDR or intensive 2 hour EMDR session based on what feels most supportive. There’s no pressure to commit long-term — sessions are scheduled one at a time, and the process moves at the client’s pace.
Common FAQs About Referring for EMDR
Will I lose my client if I refer them to you?
No. Adjunct and intensive EMDR are collaborative by design. The intention is to provide focused support around a specific issue, then return the client to their ongoing work with you. The client’s primary therapy relationship remains central throughout the process.
What’s the difference between standard and intensive EMDR?
The EMDR process stays the same — what changes is the session length and pacing. Standard sessions are typically 50 minutes and occur weekly. Intensive sessions are 2 hours and can be scheduled more flexibly (e.g., weekly, biweekly, or in a more condensed timeframe). Some clients benefit from the momentum of longer sessions, while others prefer shorter, more consistent touch points.
How long does adjunct EMDR last?
It depends. Some clients feel complete after just a few sessions. Others benefit from continuing until a particular memory, pattern, or nervous system response has been fully cleared. There’s no set number of sessions — it’s tailored to the client’s needs, goals, and pace.
How often are sessions scheduled?
Adjunct and intensive EMDR sessions are scheduled individually, based on client preference and therapist availability. They can be close together for momentum or spaced out to allow for integration with primary therapy.
What kind of updates will I receive as the referring therapist?
With client consent, brief updates can be shared to support continuity of care. You’re also welcome to reach out at any time if you have questions or would like to touch base before, during, or after the adjunct work.
What if I’m EMDR-trained but don’t feel confident using it?
That’s a common scenario! Referring to an EMDR specialist doesn’t mean you’ve failed — it means you're honoring your scope and protecting your client. Adjunct referrals can be a way to offer high-quality trauma support without stepping outside of your comfort zone or training.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're a therapist supporting a client through deep trauma work or someone personally navigating distressing memories, adjunct and intensive EMDR offer a flexible, collaborative path forward. This model doesn’t replace the healing that’s already happening — it’s here to help move through what’s stuck so the ongoing work can go even deeper.
If you’re curious about whether this approach is the right fit — for yourself or your client — please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Until next time, don’t forget to take care of yourself.
– – Catherine Alvarado, LMFT
About the Author
Catherine Alvarado, LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist, EMDR Certified Therapist, and Consultant-in-Training (CIT) in Redondo Beach, CA. Beyond the pages of the blogs, Catherine Alvarado, LMFT & Associates offers in-person and virtual therapy services for adolescents and teens of Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, and the rest of the South Bay area.
If you are experiencing distress, reach out today to schedule a free phone consultation.
