26/10/2026
Why do we treat trauma once a week?
I spent the weekend at the EMDR Ireland conference in Athlone, and one presentation has stayed with me. Ad de Jongh shared his work at Psytrec in the Netherlands, with a focus on intensive trauma treatment.
In the UK and Ireland, we’re so used to trauma therapy happening weekly or fortnightly, over months and sometimes years, that we rarely question it. But why do we work this way?
Largely because a stretched system created the pattern. Not because the evidence tells us it’s what serves the person best.
The research coming out of the Netherlands is remarkable. Significant, lasting change in a matter of days, not years. Just a 4-day stay.
Think about what that could mean for someone who has been waiting, coping and carrying it for years. Fewer drop-offs, less time lost between sessions, and less time spent re-stabilising before you can get back to the work.
I’m not saying one size fits all, but I do think it’s a conversation we should be having.
I’d love to hear from you:
✨ Have you experienced or delivered intensive trauma work?
✨ What did you notice?
✨ What would you like to see more of in how trauma treatment is offered?