Why Are Therapy Intensives So Expensive?
If you’ve been looking into therapy intensives, you’ve probably noticed that they come with a higher price tag than traditional therapy. Understandably, that might leave you wondering—why do they cost so much? And more importantly, are they worth the investment?
The truth is, therapy intensives aren’t just longer therapy sessions. They’re structured, highly focused experiences that require a skilled and experienced therapist, a specialized approach, and extended one-on-one time. Unlike weekly therapy, which spreads progress out over months or even years, therapy intensives are designed to help people see meaningful shifts in a much shorter period of time.
So, what exactly goes into the cost?
Therapy Intensives Are Longer in Duration Than Traditional Therapy Sessions
Most therapy sessions last 53-60 minutes. Therapy intensives, on the other hand, can last an entire day or span multiple days. This means significantly more time spent working on the issues that are most important to you all at one time.
At LifeSpring, our Brainspotting Intensives run from 9 AM to 4 PM, giving you a full day dedicated to making progress on the issue that’s been impacting your life. Instead of making incremental progress week by week, intensives allow you to move through things more quickly.
You’re Working With an Experienced, Highly Trained Provider
Therapy intensives aren’t something that every therapist offers. Intensives require a certain level of skill, sometimes specialized training, and they require the therapist to be able to sit for extended periods of time while still maintaining their focus, presence, and undivided attention. Intensives require advanced skills, specialized training, and experience facilitating longer-format therapy.
For example, at LifeSpring, all Brainspotting Intensives are provided by Melissa Wesner, LCPC, a Certified Brainspotter and Brainspotting Consultant. She has years of experience using Brainspotting with clients and helping them work through trauma, stress, and overwhelming emotions in focused, structured sessions. She is in a position to set other work responsibilities aside in order to dedicate a full 1-3 days to one particular individual.
Therapy Intensives Follow a Different Pricing Model
Unlike traditional therapy, where pricing is based on a per-session hourly rate, intensives often follow a different fee structure. The cost reflects:
The length of time spent in direct, focused therapy
The level of expertise of the provider
The depth of work being done in a short timeframe
Instead of paying for therapy one hour at a time over the course of months or years, you’re investing in an experience that is designed to help you feel better faster.
The Potential Benefits Are Significant
People who choose therapy intensives often do so because they need results sooner rather than later. They’re looking for:
✔ Faster relief from stress, trauma, or overwhelming emotions
✔ The ability to return to work and daily life feeling like themselves again
✔ A way to process difficult experiences without waiting months to make progress
✔ An alternative to weekly therapy that fits their schedule and preferences
Therapy intensives aren’t right for everyone—but for those who want to dedicate focused time to working through something important, they can be an excellent option. Sometimes people want to know what they will get out of an Intensive, and that all depends. Every person’s processing and Brainspotting experience is unique.
Is a Therapy Intensive Right for You?
Deciding whether to invest in a therapy intensive depends on your goals, needs, and financial situation.
If you’re someone who values efficiency and wants to address an issue in a focused way, a therapy intensive may be a great fit.
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or in need of something more than weekly sessions, an intensive can help you move forward faster.
If you know that paying for an intensive would create financial stress or pressure, then this might not be the right time. Intensives are fantastic, but feeling financially stressed is not.
At LifeSpring Counseling Services, we only want people signing up for our Brainspotting Intensives if it feels like a clear yes. If the idea of doing an intensive feels like a natural, aligned decision, we’d love to support you. If it doesn’t, or if this isn’t the right time, that’s okay too.
Interested in learning more? We’re happy to answer any questions you have.
Here are some other resources related to Brainspotting Intensives that you may find helpful.
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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.
