Why Are Therapy Intensives Becoming So Popular?
If you’ve been searching for therapy options in Maryland, you may have noticed something new. More and more practices are offering therapy intensives. Whether it’s EMDR intensives, trauma-focused intensives, or Brainspotting intensives, these deep-dive therapy sessions are gaining traction fast.
But why? What makes therapy intensives so popular, and more importantly, is a therapy intensive right for you?
Let’s break it down.
What Is a Therapy Intensive?
A therapy intensive is exactly what it sounds like—a focused, extended therapy session or series of sessions designed to help you make significant progress in a short amount of time. Instead of attending weekly 53-60 minute sessions, a therapy intensive might involve:
A full day of therapy (typically 6+ hours with breaks)
A multi-day format (like a 3-day intensive)
Extended sessions designed to help you go deeper, faster to work through experiences that are having a significant impact on your life
Therapy intensives are particularly popular for trauma work, processing grief and loss, deep emotional processing, or when life feels too overwhelming to wait for incremental progress.
Why Are Therapy Intensives So Popular Right Now?
1. People Need Relief Fast
Sometimes, weekly therapy just isn’t enough. If you’re dealing with a major life event, unresolved trauma, or overwhelming stress, waiting to feel better can feel unbearable.
Many people choose therapy intensives because they need real progress and real relief right now. Instead of stretching therapy out over several months, an intensive allows you to focus deeply on an issue in a short period of time. Especially when addressing difficult experiences and emotions, many people appreciate having a concentrated time that’s dedicated to
2. Traditional Therapy Doesn’t Always Fit Busy Schedules
Not everyone can commit to weekly therapy sessions. Some people have demanding jobs, unpredictable schedules, or travel obligations that make it hard to attend therapy consistently.
For these individuals, an intensive can be a game-changer. Instead of fitting therapy into your week, you build your week around a dedicated time to focus on yourself.
3. Specialized Modalities Work Well in an Intensive Format
Certain therapy approaches, like Brainspotting and EMDR, are highly effective when done in extended sessions. These brain-based therapies help people process deep emotional experiences, and longer sessions allow for more breakthroughs in a single sitting.
At LifeSpring Counseling Services, we offer 1-day and 3-day Brainspotting Intensives for individuals who want to experience this powerful therapy in a focused, structured way.
4. People Are Learning That Health Insurance Doesn’t Give you Access to All of the Therapeutic Services That are Out There.
Insurance companies typically don’t cover therapy intensives, but that hasn’t stopped people from seeking them out. In fact, many people are realizing that just because insurance doesn’t cover something doesn’t mean it’s not worth investing in.
Therapy intensives allow you to:
Choose the therapist and modality that’s best for you (instead of whoever is in-network or whichever session duration will be covered)
Get specialized treatment that insurance won’t pay for
Focus on healing instead of insurance rules
Focus on your own growth and well-being even if you don’t have a mental health diagnosis. Stress, low self-confidence, strained relationships, and imposter syndrome, for example, are all valid concerns that are not covered by health insurance.
Is a Therapy Intensive Right for You?
A therapy intensive might be a good fit if:
✔ You feel stuck in traditional therapy or you need more time to process than is afforded in a traditional weekly session
✔ You’re dealing with trauma, grief, or a life crisis and need more focused, extensive support
✔ You have a demanding job or lifestyle that makes weekly therapy difficult or unattractive
✔ You’re someone who wants to see progress sooner than later. The gradual progress that can be made incrementally in weekly therapy is too slow of a pace for you. You want to feel better now!
Many of our Brainspotting Intensive clients include:
Teachers, nurses, and first responders who experience high levels of stress and are exposed to trauma
Therapists and healthcare workers who need deep emotional processing to work through their own lived experiences and current circumstnaces
Busy professionals and parents who want results without a long-term time commitment
People already in therapy who need extra support for a specific issue
Choosing the Right Therapy Intensive
Not all therapy intensives are the same. Before committing to one, make sure you research:
✔ The provider’s experience and training—How long have they been using this modality?
✔ Their experience running intensives—How long have they been offering intensives?
✔ The structure of the intensive—What does a day look like? How is it structured?
At LifeSpring, our Brainspotting Intensives are led by Melissa Wesner, LCPC, a Certified Brainspotter and Brainspotting Consultant with years of experience.
Want to Learn More?
If you’re considering a therapy intensive, it’s important to find the right fit for you. LifeSpring offers 1-day and 3-day Brainspotting Intensives designed for individuals who want to work through a specific topic in a short period of time.
Reach out today to see if a Brainspotting Intensive is right for you.
Call 410-497-8451 during regular business hours to set up a 15 minute consultation with Melissa, or email Melissa directly at melissa@lifespringcounseling.net to set up a consultation.
Search Our Other Blogs!
Interested in Online & In-Person Brainspotting for Trauma and Grief and Loss?
If you’re a Marylander who knows that counseling is the direction you need to take, the therapists at LifeSpring Counseling Services are here to help. We offer online counseling services for mindfulness, depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief and loss. We also offer Brainspotting as a specialized service, and Brainspotting can be done online, too!
Here’s how you can get started! Online and in-person Brainspotting for trauma and grief and loss aren’t the only services offered at our Baltimore, MD office.
The counselors and social workers at our Maryland office also offer counseling services for trauma, grief and loss, boundary setting, communication skills, and difficult life transitions. We also offer specialized counseling services including Brainspotting and spiritually-integrated counseling. Because we are located next to several local universities, we also work with college students and international students.
