What Is a Therapy Intensive? A Guide for Deep Healing in Less Time
Sometimes, an hour just isn’t enough.
You come to therapy carrying so much: memories you’ve tried to outrun, the weight of doing it all alone, the deep knowing that something in your body still hasn’t exhaled. And just as you start to feel the threads of a breakthrough... the clock runs out.
That’s exactly why therapy intensives exist.
A therapy intensive is a longer, immersive session—usually 2 to 3 hours—designed to help you move through more in one sitting than traditional weekly therapy often allows. It’s like giving your healing journey a quiet, focused retreat. One that’s fully centered on you.
What Makes an Intensive Different?
In weekly therapy, there’s a natural rhythm: check in, warm up, maybe touch something tender… and then it's time to close the door again. For some people and certain seasons, that’s perfect. But if you’re working with trauma, burnout, ADHD, anxiety, or a big life transition, you may find yourself craving something more spacious. More fluid. Less rushed.
That’s what a therapy intensive offers: time to arrive, time to feel, time to stay.
My virtual intensives based in Oregon are trauma-informed and body-based. Together, we work through your stuck places using approaches like EMDR, Brainspotting, somatic therapy, and yoga therapy, blending science and presence in a way that respects your whole self—mind, body, and nervous system.
Photo by Docusign via Unsplash
Who Are Therapy Intensives For?
I work with women and sensitive, deep-feeling adults who are tired of circling the same stories. Many of my clients are cycle-breakers, creatives, therapists, and high-functioning professionals who are exhausted beneath the surface. They’re navigating trauma, transitions, or late-diagnosed ADHD and feel like they’re holding too much for too long.
Therapy intensives can be especially supportive if:
You feel like weekly therapy isn’t going deep enough
You want faster progress but in a grounded, embodied way
You struggle with focus, transitions, or emotional overwhelm
You’ve hit a stuck point and are ready for a shift
You simply need space to land, feel, and be held without watching the clock
What Happens in a Therapy Intensive?
During an intensive, we’ll have the space to listen deeply to what’s ready to move. This might include:
Resourcing and grounding practices
EMDR or Brainspotting for trauma processing
Integrating parts work, or IFS informed work, into the session
Somatic and mindfulness-based practices
Nervous system support and integration
Time to reflect, rest, and leave with next steps
No two intensives look the same. This is your space. And it’s shaped to support what’s real and relevant for you.
Why Do Therapy Intensives Work So Well?
When we give ourselves time and space to stay in the work, something powerful happens. Our nervous system has time to regulate instead of react. The body feels safe enough to reveal the layers beneath the surface. We’re not just talking, we’re transforming.
Many clients say that one therapy intensive helped them shift what months of traditional therapy couldn’t reach. It’s not because weekly therapy doesn’t work. It’s because, sometimes, healing needs more room to breathe, with less interruptions.
I offer somatic, trauma-informed therapy and consulting for sensitive, neurodivergent women and femme cycle breakers who are ready to realign with their rhythm, reclaim sacred embodiment, and live in alignment with who they truly are.
✨ You’re invited to book a session, subscribe at the bottom of this page to stay up to date on other offerings, or join the Sacred Becoming community on Substack for reflections, resources, and ritual support.
FAQ’s
What’s the difference between a therapy intensive and regular therapy?
Traditional therapy is usually 50 minutes once a week. A therapy intensive is a longer session (2-4 hours) that allows for deeper, uninterrupted healing work in less time.
Do I need to be in weekly therapy first?
Not necessarily. Some clients come in just for an intensive. Others use it to complement ongoing therapy. We’ll decide together what makes the most sense for your needs. I may be your regular weekly therapist, but you may have a different therapist you meet with for weekly sessions.
Can therapy intensives be done online?
Yes. Therapy intensives are available virtually for clients located in Bend, Oregon and throughout the state of Oregon. The virtual format is still deeply effective and accessible, and you get to be at home with all of your familiar comforts.
What kinds of therapy are used in an intensive?
Each intensive is customized and may include EMDR, Brainspotting, somatic therapy, mindfulness practices, and nervous system support techniques.
ways to work with me:
Online counseling and EMDR/Brainspotting for clients located in Bend, Oregon and the state of Oregon. Click here to schedule a free consultation.
Read more about therapy intensives here and my approach to working with cycle breakers here.
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