A soft place for high-achieving Black professionals to land
You Carry a Lot, Beloved. What If You Didn’t Have to Hold It All Alone?
EMDR Intensives for High Achievers is therapy built for Black professionals and leaders who are tired of being tired — and curious about what it would feel like to finally exhale.
Let’s make room for you.
You show up for everyone — your team, your family, your community, your dreams. But somewhere along the way, your own name got moved to the bottom of the list. The burnout, the overthinking, the racialized stress, the perfectionism? They’re not character flaws. They’re signs you’ve been carrying too much, for too long.
EMDR Intensives offer a different kind of care: focused, body-based, and designed to move at the speed of your real life. Not years of weekly sessions. Just dedicated time to tend to the parts of you that rarely get tended to.
Let’s tend to you for a change — in days, not years.
- Days, not years
- Evidence-based
- Completely confidential
The weight no one sees you carrying
High-Functioning Doesn’t Mean You’re Fine.
From the outside, your life looks like success. But inside? You’re running on fumes.
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re in the right place:
- You’re the one everyone calls — but who do you get to call?
- You rest, but you never actually feel rested.
- You’re praised for being “strong,” but strength feels lonely sometimes.
- You’ve tried therapy before, but 50 minutes a week barely scratches the surface.
- You want a space where you don’t have to explain your identity, your code-switching, or why you’re exhausted.
At Notice That! Therapy, we lead with heart, cultural humility, and real skill. You don’t have to shrink, perform, or translate yourself here.
If you’re still here, keep reading. There’s more for you.
What Exactly Is an EMDR Intensive?
Deep Healing, Without Years of Talk Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of the most researched trauma therapies out there. Instead of talking in circles, it helps your brain and body actually process what’s been stuck — so the memory loses its grip.
An intensive takes that power and concentrates it. Think 3 to 6 hours of focused, uninterrupted care over one to three days. No weekly check-ins. No starting over every session. Just you, your nervous system, and a therapist who knows how to hold the depth of what you’re carrying.
Backed by Science
Recognized by the WHO, APA, and VA as a leading trauma treatment.
Faster Results
Meaningful shifts in days, not years.
Targeted & Personal
We name the core issue and work through it with intention.
Private & Discreet
Fewer appointments on your calendar. Your healing stays yours.
Is This For You?
You Move Fast for Others. Now It’s Time to Slow Down for You.
Intensives are for people who are ready to go deeper. Maybe you’ve done talk therapy and it helped — but you know there’s more beneath the surface. Maybe you’re used to thinking your way through everything, and you’re curious what it would feel like to let your body finally release what it’s been holding.
If you’re stable in your day-to-day life, motivated to do focused work, and ready to be supported in a way that actually fits your schedule, this might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Executives, Leaders, & Academics
You hold space for teams, students, and systems. But who holds space for you? Burnout and perfectionism don’t have to be the price of leadership.
Entrepreneurs, Founders, & High-Profile Persons
You built something meaningful. But the drive that got you here might also be running on unprocessed stress. Let’s look at that together.
Medical & Legal Professionals
High-stakes work leaves a mark. Vicarious trauma, moral injury, and cumulative stress are real — and they deserve focused, efficient care.
Black Professionals Navigating It All
Racialized stress, code-switching fatigue, and the pressure to be twice as good are exhausting. This work makes room for every layer of what you carry.
How We Get There
Four Steps. No Guesswork.
A clear, gentle process designed to help you feel safe, seen, and supported from start to finish.
Let’s Talk — A No-Pressure Consult
A free 20-minute call to answer your questions, hear what you’re carrying, and see if an intensive is the right fit. No strings attached.
We Map It Out Together
Before the intensive, we do a focused assessment. We identify the core targets, build a personalized plan, and make sure you feel grounded going in.
The Intensive Itself
Concentrated EMDR sessions over one to three days. Deep, uninterrupted processing with built-in breaks so your nervous system can integrate as we go.
Integration & Follow-Up
Afterward, we check in, solidify your gains, and make sure you have tools to keep moving forward. You won’t be left to figure it out alone.
Ways We Can Work Together
Intensive Formats
Choose the option that fits your life, your goals, and the depth of care you’re ready for.
Half-Day Intensive
3 hours
A focused reset for a specific event or target. Great when you want meaningful movement but don’t have a full day to step away.
- 3-hour concentrated session
- Pre-intensive target mapping
- Integration guidance
- One follow-up session
Full-Day Intensive
6 hours
Our most popular option. A full day of deep, uninterrupted processing with breaks built in for rest, integration, and self-care.
- 6-hour session with breaks
- Comprehensive pre-assessment
- Personalized treatment plan
- Two follow-up sessions
- Priority scheduling
Multi-Day Retreat
2–3 days
For organizations and leadership groups ready to go deeper together. Includes group and individual EMDR support over multiple days.
- 8–12 hours over 2–3 days
- Extensive pre-intensive workup with pre-assessment
- Lodging provided by organization for EMDR facilitator (and assistant, if needed)
- Follow-up plan and post-assessment
- Negotiated integration support
About Your Therapist
Hi, I’m Violeta
I’m known for meeting complex stories with compassion, clarity, and a steady presence that makes deep work feel possible. I’d love to hear from you.
For nearly twenty years, I’ve studied human behavior, relationships, and healing across Diasporic communities — including advocating for Black health and wellness at the United Nations in Geneva. My work is grounded in deep care, cultural humility, and the understanding that you are more than your resume.
Certified EMDR Therapist
EMDRIA-certified, supporting clients through racial trauma, post-traumatic growth, and reclaiming a sense of safety and self-worth.
Holistic Training
Reiki Level 3 practitioner and NADA-trained Ear Acudetox specialist, weaving body-based tools into the work.
A Decade with Leaders
Nearly ten years alongside BIPOC and LGBTQ+ social impact leaders doing intergenerational trauma and healing work.
Published Writer
Featured in the BlackLandia Anthology (2026) and the zine Therapeutic Edgelands.
Violeta Donawa, LMSW-C, MA
www.violeta-emdr.com
Questions?
What Folks Usually Ask Before Reaching Out
No pressure. Just honest answers.
What is EMDR, and how does it work?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps your brain reprocess distressing memories so they lose their emotional charge. Using bilateral stimulation — like eye movements, taps, or tones — EMDR activates your brain’s natural healing process, similar to what happens during REM sleep. You don’t have to relive every detail for it to work.
How is an intensive different from weekly therapy?
Weekly therapy spreads the work across months or years in short sessions. Intensives concentrate it into focused multi-hour blocks over one to three days. For busy professionals, this means less ramp-up time and deeper processing — often creating meaningful shifts in days instead of years.
Some clients also use intensives alongside their regular therapist, coming to me for the specific issues talk therapy hasn’t been able to resolve. Both approaches can work beautifully.
Is EMDR safe? Is it backed by research?
Yes. EMDR is one of the most extensively studied trauma therapies, and it’s recognized by the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, and the VA. Like any deep therapeutic work, it can bring up emotion, which is why we spend time on preparation and grounding first and confirm that an intensive is a safe fit for you before anything is scheduled.
Who is a good fit for an intensive?
Intensives work well for adults who are generally stable in daily life, motivated to do focused work, and ready for preparation and integration. They’re especially helpful for executives, founders, medical and legal professionals, and Black leaders carrying compounding stress.
That said, not everyone is a fit. If I think weekly therapy or a higher level of care would serve you better, I’ll be honest with you. Our consultation call confirms fit before anything is scheduled.
How do I prepare for an intensive?
After your consultation, you’ll complete intake paperwork and a pre-intensive assessment so we can map your history and identify targets. In the days before, prioritize sleep, hydration, and lighter commitments. Clear your calendar for the intensive day(s) and the evening after — your nervous system will be doing real work and needs rest.
Will I feel worse before I feel better?
Some people feel tender, tired, or emotionally activated for a day or two after intensive processing. That’s normal and usually short-lived. You’ll leave with grounding and integration tools, and follow-up support is built into every package so you’re not navigating that window alone.
Is this confidential?
Absolutely. All sessions are protected by therapist-client confidentiality and HIPAA. Intensives also minimize your scheduling footprint, which many high-profile clients prefer over a recurring weekly appointment on their calendar.
What are your fees?
I charge $175 per hour. A 90-minute appointment is $225.
3-Hour EMDR Therapy Intensive
A structured 3-hour EMDR for High Achievers Intensive is $925 and includes 5.5 hours of care:
- A comprehensive intake session focused on the issue you want to address
- The 3-hour specialized EMDR Intensive for High Achievers program
- A specialized workbook
- A follow-up check-in with referrals as needed
6-Hour EMDR Therapy Intensive
A structured 6-hour EMDR for High Achievers Intensive is $1,450 and includes 8.5 hours of care:
- A comprehensive intake session focused on the issue you want to address
- The 6-hour specialized EMDR Intensive for High Achievers program
- A specialized workbook
- A follow-up check-in with referrals as needed
Because I reserve the day for you, I require a 50% deposit to hold your intensive dates. Full payment is collected at the end of your final intensive day.
Do you take insurance?
Intensives are private-pay. If you’d like, I can provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement. We’ll walk through pricing and logistics during the consultation call.
Hello, World!
Let's See If We're a Fit
EMDR intensives are currently offered to Michigan residents. Tell me a little about what's going on, and I'll be in touch within 24 hours to schedule your free 20-minute consultation.
Virtual & In-Person Sessions Available