How Long Does a Typical EMDR Therapy Session Last?

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, is a structured mental health method used to help people work through traumatic memories and other distressing material. It’s best known for its role in treating post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and its use has expanded to include other concerns as well. 

At Oak & Sands Counselling Services, EMDR is one of the therapy modalities we offer alongside couples therapy, family therapy, therapy for women, counselling for teens, therapy for men, and counselling for children. If you’re exploring EMDR for the first time, it can help to know what the appointment itself looks like, including answering questions like how long does a typical EMDR therapy session last and why the timing is part of the work.

How Long Do EMDR Therapy Sessions Last?

The standard EMDR session length, and why it matters

Most EMDR treatment sessions run 60 to 90 minutes, and that timing is intentional. It gives enough room for a check-in at the beginning, the main therapeutic work in the middle, and a structured close before you leave, which is an important part of EMDR done well. EMDR is designed to work with both the mind and the body, so pacing matters. When a session ends too abruptly, it can feel like the work is being cut off rather than contained.

Why some EMDR sessions are shorter or longer

EMDR is commonly offered in 50-minute sessions, especially during intake, treatment planning, and early skill-building. It is also offered in 60–90 minute sessions, which is the range described by Cleveland Clinic and EMDRIA. Longer formats are sometimes described as long EMDR therapy sessions or EMDR intensives. Session length, on its own, is not a marker of quality. What matters more is how the session is structured and how carefully the work is paced.

An EMDR appointment includes more than reprocessing

EMDR is often described as “eye movements,” but the appointment usually includes more than bilateral stimulation. EMDR sessions can involve the assessment phase, preparation, and reprocessing, not just the desensitization phase. In session, an EMDR therapist may clarify a traumatic target event, explore appropriate negative feelings, and work with distressing memories that still carry emotional charge. We also pay attention to the body, because distress often shows up as body sensations, and a body scan can help track what is still activated. Tools like relaxation techniques and self calming techniques can be part of the work, especially in cases involving complex trauma or complex PTSD. Depending on the goals, we may also integrate other approaches we offer, including Emotion Focused Therapy .

How frequency affects what “typical” looks like

Session length is only one part of how EMDR is delivered. Many clients book EMDR weekly, while others leave more space between appointments. The question of how many EMDR sessions are needed depends on the focus of therapy and how the work is progressing. A single, well-defined memory can call for a shorter timeline. A longer trauma history, including past trauma and other distressing life experiences, often involves multiple sessions. For children and teens, pacing is usually more individualized, and our practice also provides dedicated counselling for children .

Book EMDR therapy with Oak & Sands Counselling Services

If you are exploring EMDR, it helps to start with clear expectations, because the structure of the work is part of what makes it feel safe enough to begin. Session length, pacing, and frequency all shape the experience, and we believe clients deserve an explanation that is direct, grounded, and free of pressure.

At Oak & Sands Counselling Services, we provide EMDR in a supportive clinical setting, with care available for adults, teens, and children, as well as couples and families. If you would like to learn more about how we approach EMDR, you can visit our EMDR Therapy page or reach out through our contact form to book online or in person.