Intensive EMDR moves faster and goes deeper than a standard session. Before we begin that level of work, I make sure your nervous system is prepared to handle sustained processing safely. Stabilization is a short, focused preparation phase designed to help you build grounding skills, body-based safety resources, and a clear post-session support plan.

Why stabilization comes before trauma processing

Trauma work isn’t just about remembering what happened — it’s about your nervous system being able to stay anchored while you process it. If the foundation isn’t steady, EMDR can feel overwhelming or dysregulating. Stabilization ensures you have the internal tools and external support to tolerate healing work without retraumatization.

What happens in stabilization:

• Brief assessment of safety, pacing, and readiness

• Identification of triggers + early warning signs of overwhelm

• Grounding, containment, or resourcing skills you can actually use in the moment

• Support plan for what you’ll do after long EMDR sessions

• Decision point: move forward into an intensive or continue prep

Stabilization is recommended if you are:

• Experiencing dissociation, emotional flooding, or losing time

• Unsure how to ground yourself without external help

• Still building safety, sobriety, or daily regulation

• Working with complex or layered trauma

Length:

• Most people complete stabilization in 2–4 focused sessions, but pacing is individualized.

• Once readiness is established, you can move into the next available intensive window.