EMDR Intensives for Body Image Trauma in WA & CA
EMDR Intensives Therapy offers a powerful, focused path to heal body image trauma at its root — so you can finally reclaim your body, your worth, and your voice.
You’ve spent years trying to shrink yourself — not just your body, but your voice, your needs, your feelings.
Maybe it started with subtle comments from your parents: “Are you sure you want to eat that?” or “You were prettier when you were thin.”
Over time, those comments became internalized shame and self-hatred— shaping how you see yourself and your worth.
You’ve lived in a body that’s been scrutinized, judged, and never allowed to just be.
Exercise became punishment.
Food became a source of guilt.
Your inner critic sounds a lot like your mother’s voice.
And even now, when you try to care for yourself, old patterns pull you back into self-blame, over-control, and never feeling “enough.”
EMDR Intensives can help you heal those early wounds — at the root.
Rather than spending months in weekly therapy trying to unpack what’s beneath the surface, intensives offer a powerful, focused approach to:
↬ Reprocess the painful messages you received about your body and worth
↬ Quiet the internalized voices of criticism and control
↬ Create space to reconnect with your own truth, your body, and your inner child
↬Release shame, not your hunger
This work isn’t about changing your body.
It’s about healing the pain of why you felt you had to.
My Story: Healing My Own Body Image Trauma
Growing Up in Taiwan
Growing up in Taiwan, I was always the biggest girl in class. After puberty, most of my friends were petite — in the 40 to 50 kg range — while I was always around 60 kg.
The experience was like death by a thousand paper cuts. Every day, my parents made judgmental and critical comments like:
“You should listen to your uncle — he told you to lose weight.”
“Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for being so fat?”
“I’m doing you a favor by telling you the truth (of how fat you look). No one else will.”
Years of Diets and Shame
I was being put on diet after diet: no dinner, only vegetable soups for a month, liquid-only cleanses. If it was a fad diet, I probably tried it. One time, my mom put me on a liquid diet for two weeks and I lost 7 kg. I gained all the weight back — and with it, came stretch marks and shame. My body still remembered how on the edge of fainting, dizziness, and that pounding heartbeat felt like.
I was never given the foundation for a healthy relationship with food or my body.
I was always hungry. Always thinking about food. And always guilty when I ate too much.
It felt like the only way to be accepted — to be loved — was to shrink myself.
When It Got Worse
In my late 20s and early 30s, things got worse. I thought I had found a “healthy” lifestyle, but in reality, I was overexercising and restricting my food intake to only what was considered “clean” or “safe.” I hit my breaking point when a coach encouraged me to count macros and tightly restrict calories — all while my binge eating was secretly out of control.
How I Healed
Healing didn’t happen overnight for me.
But in therapy, I was introduced to the Health at Every Size model and intuitive eating. I joined a therapy group where I started learning how to truly listen to my body and care for it with compassion. With time, I used EMDR to process the trauma of my parents’ voices — those internalized messages that still echoed in my head. Somatic Experiencing helped me tune in, slow down, and actually honor what my body needed.
The healing journey took years. But now, I know what it feels like to accept myself. To love myself. To feel peace in my own skin.
I created this EMDR Intensive because I don’t want you to have to spend years doing this work alone. I want you to know it’s possible to love your body, to honor it, and to live fully in the one precious body you have.
Why EMDR Intensives Are More Effective for Trauma Healing
Traditional weekly therapy can be powerful — but it often moves slowly, especially when you're working through complex trauma, long-standing patterns, or painful memories that feel stuck in your body.
EMDR intensives offer an accelerated path to healing by giving you uninterrupted time and space to go deep — without the stop-and-start rhythm of weekly sessions.
With an EMDR intensive, you can:
Make more progress, faster. Months of therapy work can often be accomplished in just a few focused days.
Stay fully immersed. Instead of reopening trauma and pausing after 50 minutes, you have the time to process deeply and integrate fully.
Reduce overwhelm. Intensives are paced around your nervous system. There’s space for rest, reflection, and regulation throughout.
Work through specific events or themes. Whether it’s a recent loss, childhood memory, or relational trauma, intensives provide the focus to actually move through it.
Honor your time and energy. If you have a full schedule or limited emotional bandwidth, this format respects both.
If you're craving relief, clarity, and lasting change - EMDR intensives might be the turning point you've been waiting for.
What is EMDR Intensive?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) intensives are an effective way to achieve accelerated trauma healing. As a therapist serving Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, and clients throughout Washington State and California I offer these extended therapy sessions to help you make significant progress in a shorter period of time.
Instead of weekly 50-minute sessions, you’ll receive several hours of focused therapy over an optional 1–3 days. This intensive format is designed for deep trauma healing, allowing for faster relief from complex trauma and emotional pain.
Is this for you?
You might be a good fit for an EMDR intensive if:
You’re tired of carrying the emotional weight of diet culture
You experienced body shaming from family, especially in childhood
You’ve done some therapy before, but feel stuck in old patterns
You want a deeper, more immersive healing experience
You’re ready to stop fighting your body — and start listening to it
What to Expect
In a half-day, 2 day, or 3 day intensive, we’ll create a safe, supportive space to:
Identify the roots of your relationship with food, body image, and self-worth
Use EMDR to process stuck memories and beliefs
Integrate the healing with somatic tools, grounding, and self-compassion work
You’ll leave with more clarity, relief, and a deeper connection to yourself — not just cognitively, but in your nervous system and body.
How does an
EMDR intensive for Body Image Trauma work, and What Should I expect?
Curious how it all works? You’re not alone — many clients wonder what to expect from something this focused and immersive. Here, you’ll find a step-by-step breakdown of what the EMDR intensive process looks like, so you can feel informed, prepared, and supported every step of the way.
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Send me an email to let me know you're interested in EMDR intensive for Body Image Trauma. I’ll respond with a brief questionnaire to help me determine whether this approach is the right fit for you at this stage in your healing journey.
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We’ll schedule a free, no-obligation phone/Video call to explore your needs and review your treatment options. If we’re a good match, we’ll schedule your pre-intensive assessment.
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We’ll meet virtually to explore your history, clarify your goals, and develop a personalized EMDR intensive plan. This session sets the foundation for deep, focused work.
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This is where the real healing begins. Depending on the package you choose, you’ll receive 3 hours of EMDR therapy per day, with plenty of breaks, nervous system support, and somatic This is where the real healing begins.
Depending on the package you choose, you’ll receive 3–6 hours of EMDR therapy per day, with plenty of breaks, nervous system support, and somatic practices woven throughout. These spacious, uninterrupted sessions create the safety your body and brain need to go deep — without being rushed, interrupted, or confined by weekly 50-minute sessions.
We’ll also incorporate IFS (Internal Family Systems) parts work to connect with the younger parts of you who internalized shame, felt unlovable in their bodies, or learned they had to be small to be safe. These parts are often the ones carrying the trauma, and in this space, they finally get the chance to be witnessed, heard, and healed — not pushed away.
This is where the magic happens:
When stuck trauma starts to move, when exiled parts begin to trust, when clarity and compassion emerge from within.
This is the beginning of real, embodied transformation. -
We’ll meet for a follow-up session to reflect, process, and integrate everything that came up during your intensive. This is your moment to pause, honor your progress, and leave with tools to continue your healing journey.
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Who Is This EMDR Intensive For?
This EMDR Intensive is for you if:
✓ You struggle with body image, self-worth, and feeling “never enough”
✓ You’ve survived years of chronic dieting, restriction, or weight cycling — but still don’t feel at peace in your body
✓ You’ve internalized family messages that love is conditional on your appearance
✓ You feel shame, guilt, or anxiety around food or your body, even if you’re no longer dieting
✓ You’re aware of how early experiences with emotionally immature parents shaped your relationship with your body and self-worth
✓ You’ve done talk therapy, but feel like you need deeper healing that addresses the root wounds
✓ You’re ready for focused, immersive healing with EMDR, IFS, and somatic practices — in a space that honors your nervous system
✓ You identify with Health at Every Size (HAES) and want to reconnect with your body through compassion, not control
✓ You’re a high-functioning adult who is ready and resourced for deeper trauma work, and feel safe engaging in intensive sessions
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Who This EMDR Intensive Is NOT For
To keep you safe and supported, this intensive may not be a good fit if:
𐄂 You are currently struggling with active anorexia, ARFID, or bulimia (These deserve specialized eating disorder treatment with medical oversight)
𐄂 You are not medically or psychologically stable enough for extended trauma processing sessions
𐄂 You have not yet developed enough emotional regulation tools or coping skills to manage intense emotions between sessions
𐄂 You’re in active crisis or experiencing suicidal ideation without support
𐄂 You’re looking for weight loss guidance, food rules, or a fix — this space is rooted in body liberation and trauma healing, not appearance-based goals
𐄂 You need a long-term, structured eating disorder treatment plan (an intensive may complement this work later, but it’s not a substitute)
What Healing Can Look Like
Letting Go of Shame
EMDR Intensives support you in uncovering and transforming the painful beliefs and messages you’ve carried about your body and self-worth. These intensive sessions create space for more compassionate, empowering narratives to take root.
Soothing the Inner Critic
By addressing the internalized voices of judgment and control, EMDR helps quiet the harsh self-talk that may have been present for years. Over time, these critical thoughts lose their grip, allowing for greater inner peace.
Rebuilding Connection with Your Body
Healing from the Inside Out
This work isn’t about changing how your body looks. It’s about healing the emotional wounds that made you feel like you had to. EMDR Intensives address the roots of your pain, not just the surface.
A Shift in How You See Yourself:
Many clients describe feeling a deep sense of relief—“lighter,” “more whole,” and “no longer stuck.” They often begin to view themselves and their bodies through a lens of empathy, rather than criticism.
If you're ready to begin this transformative journey, EMDR Intensives offer a powerful opportunity to reclaim your relationship with your body, your sense of worth, and your inner voice.
Packages & Investment
Half-Day Intensive: 3 hours of EMDR, plus 3 hours of prep and integration
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This handbook is designed to support you throughout your EMDR intensive experience. Inside, you’ll find everything you need to prepare for your sessions, including what to expect before, during, and after the intensive, helpful tools for self-care, and answers to common questions. It’s a guide to help you feel informed, empowered, and grounded as you begin this deep healing work.
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90 minutes pre-intensive assessment.
3-hour of EMDR intensive (with IFS parts work and Somatic Experiencing).
90 minutes post-intensive evaluations.
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$1620
2-Day Intensive: 6 hours of EMDR, plus prep and integration
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This handbook is designed to support you throughout your EMDR intensive experience. Inside, you’ll find everything you need to prepare for your sessions, including what to expect before, during, and after the intensive, helpful tools for self-care, and answers to common questions. It’s a guide to help you feel informed, empowered, and grounded as you begin this deep healing work.
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90 minutes pre-intensive assessment.
6-hour (3 hour each day) of EMDR intensive (with IFS parts work and Somatic Experiencing).
90 minutes post-intensive evaluations.
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$2430
3-Day Intensive: 9 hours of EMDR, plus prep and integration
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This handbook is designed to support you throughout your EMDR intensive experience. Inside, you’ll find everything you need to prepare for your sessions, including what to expect before, during, and after the intensive, helpful tools for self-care, and answers to common questions. It’s a guide to help you feel informed, empowered, and grounded as you begin this deep healing work.
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90 minutes pre-intensive assessment.
9 hours of EMDR intensive (with IFS parts work and Somatic Experiencing).
90 minutes post-intensive evolutions.
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$3240
Attuned Immersion:
5-Day Intensive
15 hours of EMDR · For body shame rooted in years of comments, criticism, or control
For many people, body shame wasn’t one comment. It was years of remarks about weight, food, or appearance, often from the people closest to them. Those messages shape how you eat, dress, and see yourself today. Attuned Immersion gives us a full week to work through the earliest memories and the beliefs they left behind, so you can begin to feel at home in your body again.
Package Includes:
EMDR Intensives Workbook
90-minute pre-intensive assessment
15 hours of EMDR intensive over 5 days (with IFS parts work and Somatic Experiencing)
Brief end-of-day check-in to support rest and integration
Two 90-minute integration sessions (about one week and four weeks after your intensive)
Pricing: $5,265
Attuned Immersion is offered after your preparation session confirms it’s the right fit and the right time. You’ve already been carrying this long enough. We’ll make sure the pace feels safe.
Why Work With Me
Because I’ve lived it — and I’ve trained for it.
I know what it’s like to grow up believing that your worth depends on the size of your body. To internalize the shameful whispers of family members who said they were “just being honest.” To spend years cycling through diets, bingeing in secret, punishing your body with exercise, and still never feeling good enough.
And I also know what it’s like to come out the other side.
As a trauma therapist trained in EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Somatic Experiencing, I help you go beyond talk therapy — to actually heal the roots of body shame and relational trauma. Together, we’ll meet the parts of you that still carry the pain, protect the shame, or fear rejection if they stop striving.
This isn’t just about fixing how you see your body — it’s about healing the beliefs that told you your body was ever a problem.
I bring not only professional skill but deep empathy and cultural understanding. I work with many clients who are BIPOC, immigrant-raised, or grew up in families where love was conditional and silence was survival. You won’t have to over-explain. You’ll be met with warmth, attunement, and the kind of presence that makes it safe to finally exhale.
If you’re ready to stop carrying this shame
If you’re ready to stop making your healing conditional on shrinking yourself
Then I’d be honored to walk with you toward freedom.
FAQs
1. What’s the difference between EMDR intensives and regular therapy?
While traditional weekly therapy spreads processing out over months in 50-minute blocks, an EMDR intensive condenses healing into focused, consecutive hours or days, allowing the nervous system to dive deep without constant interruption.
2. What are EMDR Intensives, and what does a session look like? How is it different from other EMDR intensives?
EMDR Intensives are personalized, trauma-informed therapy sessions designed to meet your unique nervous system, needs, and healing goals. Unlike traditional EMDR intensives that follow a standard protocol, these intensives are fully attuned to you—your body, your parts, and your emotional rhythm.
Most clients choose from half-day, two half-day, or multi-day formats. Every intensive begins with a 90-minute assessment session, where we explore your history, goals, and readiness, and determine which format will best support your healing. About a week after the intensive, we meet for a 90-minute follow-up session to support integration and continued growth.
During the intensive itself, I combine EMDR with techniques from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Experiencing, and mindfulness. Sessions are flexible and responsive, allowing deep processing while keeping your nervous system regulated. The key difference is the attunement: rather than rigidly following a standard protocol, your intensive is crafted in real time around your experience, ensuring your healing is embodied, integrated, and deeply personal.
3. Do you offer flexible scheduling for intensives?
I currently offer EMDR intensives on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. While availability may vary, I do my best to accommodate your schedule and energy capacity. If you have limited availability or specific scheduling needs, we’ll talk through options during our consultation.
4. Will the intensive be tailored to my specific history and needs?
Absolutely. Each intensive is designed with you in mind. I draw from EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Experiencing (SE), and attachment theory to create a healing space that feels safe, attuned, and effective. We’ll talk in advance about your goals, trauma history, and nervous system needs to ensure the experience is grounding and restorative.
5. What kinds of issues are best suited for an EMDR intensive?
EMDR intensives are especially helpful for clients navigating childhood trauma, single-incident trauma (like accidents, assaults, or medical emergencies), body shame, relationship wounds, or the lingering impact of emotionally immature or unavailable parents. They can also be a good fit if you’ve plateaued in talk therapy, or if you’re looking for a focused, immersive way to process a specific memory, theme, or life event that continues to affect you.
6. How do I know if I’m ready for an intensive?
Readiness for an EMDR intensive varies from person to person. You don’t have to figure it out on your own — I’m here to help. Email me to set up a free consultation, and we’ll explore together whether this is the right time and approach for you.
7. Can I continue seeing my current therapist?
Yes, absolutely. In many cases, this is actually recommended. EMDR is often used as an adjunct therapy to support the work you're already doing with another therapist. With your permission, I’m happy to coordinate care with your current provider to ensure continuity and support across both experiences.
8. What research supports the effectiveness of EMDR?
Emerging studies indicate that EMDR intensives can be a safe and effective treatment for trauma-related conditions, often yielding faster results than traditional weekly therapy.
A study published in ScienceDirect found that participants experienced EMDR intensives as safe and facilitating meaningful change, enhancing their sense of agency and engagement.
Research in the Journal of EMDR Practice and Research reported that an intensive outpatient trauma-focused program combining EMDR and prolonged exposure therapy led to significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, with 58%–62% of participants no longer meeting PTSD diagnostic criteria post-treatment.
Another study in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology observed that 70% of patients showed a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms one month after completing an intensive EMDR program.
These findings suggest that EMDR intensives can offer a concentrated and effective approach to trauma therapy, providing substantial relief in a shorter timeframe.
9. What forms of payment do you accept?
A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking to reserve your intensive. The remaining 50% is due on the day of the session. I accept credit cards and Health Savings Account (HSA) payments.
10. What is your cancellation policy for EMDR intensives?
Because EMDR intensives require me to block out significant time in advance, I ask for at least two weeks' notice for any cancellations or rescheduling. Cancellations made with less than two weeks’ notice are non-refundable, and you will be responsible for the full cost of the intensive.
11. Can you see clients in person if they live outside of Washington State?
It depends. Washington law allows me to work with you as long as you are physically located in Washington during our sessions. If you live in another state and want to meet in person, I can contact your state licensing board to confirm whether in-person sessions are permitted. I’ve had clients from out of state fly in for intensives or in-person work, and in many cases, state boards have approved it. If you are living in CA, I can also work with you online.
Feel free to reach out if you’d like me to check your state’s guidelines.
12. How much does an EMDR intensive cost?
Intensives are priced by length, so you can choose the depth that fits your goals and budget:
6-hour intensive: $1,620
9-hour intensive: $2,430
12-hour intensive: $3,240
Every intensive includes a pre-intensive assessment and post-intensive integration support. We'll talk about which length makes sense for you during your free 20-minute consultation. You'll also receive a Good Faith Estimate before we begin.
13. Can I do EMDR Intensive online?
Yes. I offer EMDR intensives fully online for adults anywhere in Washington and California, and in person at my Lynnwood, WA office. Online EMDR uses on-screen eye movements, tapping or audio tones, and research shows it can be just as effective as in-person work for many people. All you need is a private, quiet space, a reliable internet connection and headphones. You'll need to be physically located in Washington or California during our sessions.
14. Will insurance cover an EMDR intensive?
No.
15. What does a typical day of a EMDR intensive look like?
A Sample 6-Hour EMDR Intensive Day
Prior to the intensives: 90 minutes assessment.
On the day of the intensive:
9:00 – 10:00 AM · Welcome & Resources Building
We settle in, check in with your nervous system, and decide together what we'll focus on today.
We strengthen your inner resources, such as calm place, grounding and supportive figures, so your system feels anchored before processing.
10:00 – 10:15 AM · Break
A moment to stretch, hydrate and rest.
10:15 AM – 12:00 PM · EMDR Processing
Focused EMDR reprocessing, paced to your nervous system, with IFS and somatic support woven in as needed.
12:00 – 12:15 PM · Closing & Grounding
We gently close the session, make sure you feel steady, and talk about self-care for the rest of the day.
A week after the EMDR intensive, we will do a 90 minutes follow up session.
This is a sample. Every intensive is tailored to you, and longer intensives continue over 2–3 days.
This isn’t about changing your body, it's about healing your relationship to yourself.
You were never the problem.
You were just trying to survive in a home that didn’t know how to love unconditionally.
All along, you were just doing your best to belong in a family that confused control with care, and love with conditions.
Now it’s time to offer that you and your body something new: Compassion. Safety. And the freedom to exist exactly as you are.
Contact
KareKounseling PLLC
12918 Mukilteo Speedway, C-23, #296,
Lynnwood, WA 98087
Washington
In-person therapy is available in Lynnwood, WA, with online therapy available throughout Washington State, including Seattle, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Everett, Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, Bothell, Mill Creek, Woodinville, Redmond, Bellevue, Renton, Kent, Tacoma, Olympia, and surrounding communities.
California
I provide online psychotherapy to adults throughout California, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Marin County, San Francisco, San Rafael, Mill Valley, Oakland, Berkeley, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, and surrounding communities.