Why Choose a Therapy Intensive Over Weekly Sessions?
Let’s face it—life moves fast. Between work, family, and trying to remember to hydrate and do your skin care routine, finding time for weekly therapy sessions can feel like just another thing on a never-ending to-do list. And if you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, relationship issues, or unresolved trauma, waiting months to chip away at those challenges week by week can feel exhausting and totally unrealistic. Enter therapy intensives: a different kind of therapy experience that’s designed to dive deep, make progress faster, and create lasting change.
So, why choose a therapy intensive over weekly sessions? Let’s break it down.
The Benefits of a Therapy Intensive
1. Fast-Tracked Progress
Weekly therapy sessions are great, but sometimes they’re not enough when you’re stuck in a cycle of pain or frustration. Therapy intensives allow you to focus deeply on the issues that matter most to you without the stop-and-start of traditional sessions. For those of you who have been to therapy before, you know exactly what I mean when I say this….traditional 50-minute sessions go by so fast!!
2. Space to Focus Without Distractions
In an intensive, you’re not squeezing therapy into an already-packed schedule. You’re stepping away from the daily grind and dedicating focused time to your mental health. It’s like pressing pause on life so you can get to the root cause of what’s really going on.
3. Tailored to Your Unique Needs
Sessions are designed to address your specific struggles, whether you’re wrestling with unresolved trauma, navigating relationship challenges, or trying to pull yourself out of the grip of anxiety or depression. This isn’t one-size-fits-all therapy; it’s customized care at its best.
4. A Deep Dive Into Healing
Traditional weekly therapy often has a “start-and-stop” rhythm. You check in, make some progress, then hit pause until the next session. Intensives provide the time and space to dig deeper, process more thoroughly, and leave feeling lighter and more empowered. Weekly therapy sessions have a typical structure that involves 5-10 minutes of checking in, 30 minutes to attempt to get some deep work done, and another 5-10 minutes to wrap up. Therapy intensives allow for MUCH MORE deep work.
5. Results That Stick
Let’s be honest: sometimes it’s hard to maintain momentum between weekly sessions. Something is bound to come up and disrupt your flow- kids getting sick, your spouse going out of town for work, or the much anticipated family vacation. Therapy intensives provide a concentrated burst of work, helping you to see and feel results more quickly. That kind of immediate progress can be incredibly motivating as you move forward.
Who’s a Good Fit for a Therapy Intensive?
Therapy intensives aren't just for people with a shit ton of unresolved childhood trauma. Intensives are actually beneficial for a variety of people and a variety of concerns. They’re perfect for anyone who:
Feels like traditional therapy isn’t moving fast enough
Has a busy schedule that makes weekly sessions difficult to commit to
Wants to focus on a specific issue, like healing from trauma, navigating grief, or improving a relationship
Is looking for a jump-start to their healing process
Prefers to see meaningful progress in a shorter period of time
Whether you’re dealing with anxiety that feels like it’s running the show, depression that has stolen your spark, or lingering grief or trauma, a therapy intensive can help you get to the root of the issue and start creating the life you've worked so hard for.
How Does a Therapy Intensive Work?
The idea of a therapy intensive might sound…intense (hahaha see what I did there?). And it is definitely intense but in the best way possible. Each therapist likely has their own way of structuring intensives, but in my practice, here’s how it typically works:
1. Initial phone Consultation
We’ll start with a conversation to understand your needs, goals, and challenges. This helps us design a plan that’s tailored to you.
2. Focused Sessions
Depending on the format you choose, a therapy intensive might involve several hours of therapy over one day or spread out over a few days. During this time, we’ll dig deep into the issues you want to address and work on practical tools and strategies to help you move forward.
3. EMDR and Other Evidence-Based Techniques
If you’re working through trauma, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) may be part of your intensive. This powerful approach helps you process and reframe painful memories in a way that reduces their hold over you. If EMDR isn’t the best choice for you, I have also been trained in (and utilize) Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), which is another approach that is extremely effective in treating unresolved trauma.
4. Post-Intensive Plan
When the intensive wraps up, you won’t be left hanging. We’ll create a clear plan for next steps, whether that’s transitioning to weekly sessions, practicing new tools on your own, or scheduling periodic follow-ups to check in on your progress.
Why Choose a Therapy Intensive?
If you've been feeling like you just can’t find the time to prioritize your mental health, a therapy intensive could be the game-changer you need. It’s not about cramming years of therapy into a weekend (let’s keep realistic expectations), but it is about creating a powerful, focused opportunity for immediate relief. We all understand that it is much easier to commit to (and prioritize) something when we notice quick results.
Therapy intensives can help you gain clarity, build momentum, and finally tackle the issues that have been holding you back—all in a safe and supportive environment.
Feeling Frisky and Ready to Take the Leap?
If you’re ready to stop neglecting your own mental health and start making meaningful progress, a therapy intensive might be exactly what you need. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, grief, or unresolved trauma, you don’t have to face it alone.
Reach out today to schedule a consultation or learn more about how therapy intensives can help you move forward. Your mental health deserves this kind of attention—and so do you.
Looking to connect with a therapist who specializes treating trauma and offers therapy intensives?
Take the first step towards faster healing.
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