Intensive Therapy in Minnesota
If you have ever left a therapy session thinking, “We were just getting somewhere when the session time ended,” you are not alone. Traditional weekly therapy can be incredibly valuable. Meeting for 45 to 60 minutes at a time gives you space to obtain support, reflect on your life, develop coping skills, and create meaningful change over time. But sometimes, you need more. That is where intensives can add real value.
A therapy intensive is a focused, extended therapy session designed to give you more time and space to do the work. An intensive involves several hours of therapy in one or two consecutive days. The goal isn't simply to have a longer therapy session. A well-designed intensive is intentionally structured around specific concerns, therapeutic goals, implementation of skills, processing, opportunities for reflection, and integration of what you learned.
A therapy intensive is a focused, extended therapy session designed to give you more time and space to do the work. An intensive involves several hours of therapy in one or two consecutive days. The goal isn't simply to have a longer therapy session. A well-designed intensive is intentionally structured around specific concerns, therapeutic goals, implementation of skills, processing, opportunities for reflection, and integration of what you learned.
What are therapy intensives?
A therapy intensive typically includes three basic components: preparation, focused therapeutic work, and integration
1. Preparation before the therapy intensive begins
This often includes an initial consultation, assessment, discussion of your therapy history, and identification of specific goals. Preparation helps determine whether an intensive is an appropriate format for you and allows the therapist to develop a structure for your time together.
2. Focused therapeutic work
The intensive itself provides an extended period of time for your therapeutic work. Intensives are designed to be organized around one or two specific, defined goals which are determined in phase one.
Depending on the goals, you may spend time on the following:
3. Integration and Follow-Up
Therapeutic work doesn't necessarily end when the intensive is over. After an intensive, you may have new insights, skills, emotions, or questions to process. Follow-up sessions are recommended. However, how many, length, and frequency will be determined based on your response to the intensive experience.
1. Preparation before the therapy intensive begins
This often includes an initial consultation, assessment, discussion of your therapy history, and identification of specific goals. Preparation helps determine whether an intensive is an appropriate format for you and allows the therapist to develop a structure for your time together.
2. Focused therapeutic work
The intensive itself provides an extended period of time for your therapeutic work. Intensives are designed to be organized around one or two specific, defined goals which are determined in phase one.
Depending on the goals, you may spend time on the following:
- Exploring patterns that have been difficult to change
- Developing emotional regulation or grounding skills
- Processing past trauma or adverse experiences
- Attending to grief and loss or life transitions
- Letting go of stress and/or anxieties
- Addressing overwhelm, avoidance, or fear
- Building a greater awareness of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors
3. Integration and Follow-Up
Therapeutic work doesn't necessarily end when the intensive is over. After an intensive, you may have new insights, skills, emotions, or questions to process. Follow-up sessions are recommended. However, how many, length, and frequency will be determined based on your response to the intensive experience.
What are the benefits of therapy intensives?
One important benefit of intensive therapy is continuity. In traditional weekly therapy, you may begin exploring something important during one session and then have to wait several days or weeks before returning to it. An intensive creates a larger block of time in which the work can continue. Concentrated therapeutic work may help you move forward when you feel stuck or have difficulty gaining traction in weekly therapy. An intensive can provide momentum and create opportunities for deeper work and significant change. However, intensives are not a "quick fix" for complex psychological or emotional difficulties. The goal is to create a focused therapeutic experience that supports meaningful progress while recognizing that change continues beyond the intensive.
Is a therapy intensive right for me?
Intensives are not appropriate for everyone. Therapy intensives are most useful for those who leave therapy sessions wanting more. For some people, the most effective approach may involve weekly or biweekly therapy sessions and the occasional intensives to gain traction and momentum when desired. An intensive offers an opportunity to step away from the usual pace of life and devote concentrated time to an issue that deserves deeper attention.
Ask yourself the following questions to further explore if a therapy intensive is right for you.
Ask yourself the following questions to further explore if a therapy intensive is right for you.
- Do you feel stuck or at a plateau in traditional therapy?
- Have you ever left a therapy session and wished you had more time?
- Do you have difficulty scheduling consistent weekly appointments?
- Are you ready for a different approach to therapy?
- Do you want a more concentrated approach to therapy?
- Are you ready and motivated to engage in deeper therapeutic work?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How is an intensive different from regular therapy?
Traditional therapy usually takes place in shorter sessions spaced over time. An intensive provides a concentrated block of therapeutic work, often involving several hours over one or more days.
How many hours is a therapy intensive?
There is no universal standard. An intensive often last several hours, a day or possibly two, depending on your therapeutic goals.
Can I Be in therapy and still participate in an intensive?
Yes, many people find intensives work great as an add on to weekly or biweekly therapy to deepen the work.
Will one therapy intensive solve my problems?
An intensive is not a "quick fix." It can provide focused therapeutic work and momentum for lasting change, but often requires continued reflection, practice, and support.
How do I know if a therapy intensive is right for me?
If you are serious about participating in an intensive, the best way to determine if it is right for you is to schedule an initial consultation.
What should you look for in a therapy intensive?
If you're considering an intensive, ask your therapist the following questions.
- What experience do you have with my specific concern?
- What type of therapy modality do you use?
- How is the intensive structured?
- How are breaks incorporated?
- What happens if the work becomes emotionally overwhelming?
- Is there preparation before the intensive?
- What follow-up support is available afterward?
- Is the intensive intended to be standalone or part of ongoing therapy?
What therapy intensives do you offer?
I offer intensives for trauma, grief, anxiety and stress management at this time.
If I have an intensive with you, do you need to be my ongoing therapist?
Absolutely not! You may already have a therapist you find incredibly supportive. Therapy is conducted in a variety of different settings and your therapist may not be able to provide you with an intensive experience. You are welcome to continue to meet with your current therapist, if you have one and only see me for intensives to accelerate your progress. I may ask you if I can speak with your current therapist to make sure we are on the same page to support you as best as possible. However, if you do not currently have a therapist, we can meet more regularly, if needed.
How do I Get Started?
Ready to explore a different approach to therapy?
Have you ever wished for more time in therapy to really work through something? Unlike traditional weekly therapy, a intensive model provides a concentrated therapeutic experience to do the deeper work. If you've been feeling stuck, have a specific issue you want to address, or simply want more dedicated time to do the work, a therapy intensive may be a good fit. I offer intensives for trauma treatment, grief recovery, and anxiety/stress related concerns. Schedule an initial consultation to explore if an intensive is right for you.
