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 yearsEvidence-basedCompletely confidential
Violeta Donawa wearing a sage green headwrap and denim shirt, posed thoughtfully with hand near chin against a warm gray background
A woman sitting on the floor of a living room reading a book beside a stack of books

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.

Brain scans showing depression and anxiety activity before and after EMDR therapy

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.

Smiling therapist with gray curls in conversation with a client

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.

Smiling professional in glasses journaling at his desk beside a laptop

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.

Virtual consultation
01

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.

02

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.

03

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.

04

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
Most Popular

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
Team meetingMan tending to lush indoor plants in a bright, peaceful spaceBright modern office hallway with glass-walled workspaces

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, MA

www.violeta-emdr.com
Violeta Donawa standing by a tree in a lush garden

Questions?

What Folks Usually Ask Before Reaching Out

No pressure. Just honest answers.

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.

Ready When You Are

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.

donawa@violeta-emdr.com
Virtual & In-Person Sessions Available

Your information is confidential and will never be shared.