WHAT ARE THERAPY INTENSIVES?
Therapy intensives are growing in popularity and for good reason. This is a model of therapy that is very effective and often gets you results more efficiently than weekly therapy, depending on the type of support you need. This post will provide a summary of what to expect in a therapy intensive, the types of intensives available, and the benefits of formatting your therapy in this way.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Therapy intensives provide an incubator of support that is targeted and focused on a particular topic. It could range from couples counseling to trauma and all sorts of topics in between. The point is that you are going in with a particular focus and working on that category alone for the duration of your intensive. This is different than traditional therapy in that you are exploring a much broader range in week-to-week sessions where you may check in about the previous weeks events, family of origin issues, current mental health status, etc. There is definitely a good use for weekly talk therapy and the more broad net of content that gets covered is helpful in getting a holistic picture of your life and challenges. However, intensives pack a little more punch if you are hoping to tackle a more particular topic in a shorter time period.
I sometimes use the metaphor of a plane ride. When you are doing weekly therapy, your therapist is working to get the plane up off the ground and land the plane safely every single session. That means you are spending 10-20 minutes of every session getting up and down from cruising altitude, where the bulk of the progress is made. When you are in an intensive, you are spending much less time ramping up and down proportionate to the time you are cruising, i.e. working through your stuff. Safe takeoff and landing are critical no matter what format you choose, but it’s nice not to have to take off and land so often for many people. For others, the dose of therapy is better in smaller chunks, so more frequent take off and landing is worth having a measurable dose and knowing there will be consistent support, week-to-week. For others, however; the focus is clear and they would do better with a longer flight, less frequently, opposed to a short weekly flight. You get the picture!
If you do choose to do an intensive, there will likely be an intake or assessment (the takeoff), a clear framework that guides you through the work you have set out to do (cruising), and a takeaway or possible follow up (the landing). This works well for postpartum support, grief work, independent traumatic experiences, couples therapy, and many other issues. It doesn’t work as well for significant ongoing anxiety, depression, etc.
TYPES OF THERAPY INTENSIVES
Just like weekly therapy is not all the same, neither are therapy intensives. There are a few different formats this type of work generally takes on. I will explore three of those: Retreats, Multi-Day, and Multi-Hour formats.
RETREAT INTENSIVES
This format is the most intensive of the intensives. This is geared for someone who wants to do a deep dive into an issue and come away with a broad range of supports. Some therapy retreats are more of a restorative experience with yoga, meditation, and some psychoeducation sprinkled in. Those are wonderful but that’s not what I’m referencing here. An intensive retreat is very focused on your individual therapeutic work alongside clinicians who are meeting with you for multiple hours a day over a week or two. This is increasingly popular for the treatment of complex trauma, addiction, couples work, and eating disorders. These retreats often offer accommodations and provide ongoing access to mental health therapists as you work your way through the program. Many people come away from these programs feeling deeply held and cared for, resourced with new skills, and better able to manage the challenges in their day to day lives.
MULTI-DAY INTENSIVES
This format generally takes place over a weekend and includes roughly 12 hours of therapy. This is a popular format for couples who are looking to work through specific challenges and gain skills to better their relationships. I’ve also heard of people doing this format of intensives for single traumatic events like car accidents or sexual assaults. Having immediate intensive support after a single traumatic event is extremely effective in reducing the long-term impact of such events and therefore is a very useful option for those who are able to access this form of care. This is different from complex or ongoing trauma, which is better treated with the retreat style intensive or ongoing weekly therapy.
SINGLE-DAY INTENSIVES
One-time intensives are single event sessions that run anywhere from 90 minutes to 6 hours. These take place on a single day and are often repeated over time. For instance, an individual might choose to do one 4-hour intensive every month in place of four weekly 1-hour sessions over the course of the month. Others return quarterly. This is a great option for maintaining a relationship with the same therapist and building rapport but also getting the benefit of concentrated time working around a particular concern. Instead of taking up valuable time going over the events of the week that may not seem as important a few weeks out, you are using your time to directly intervene on a particular concern with more of a goal-oriented approach.
INTENSIVE FORMAT EXAMPLES
Reconnect Trauma Treatment Center - Multi-Week
Onsite Workshops - Multi-Day to Week Long
Kaleidoscope EMDR Intensive - Single or Multi-Day
Mother Hunger Immersive Retreat - Weekend
Kellison Couples Workshops - Single Day
Postpartum Intensive - Single Day
As you can see, there are many ways to come to intensive therapy work. For the reasons listed, along with others, it’s a great option for those who find it accessible and relevant to their particular therapeutic needs. It isn’t for everyone though and you should definitely consult with the therapist you are considering to get their assessment as to whether this offering is appropriate for your particular needs. It’s encouraging to me, as a therapist, to see diverse and creative offerings for various people’s needs. No one person is the same and it’s important to expand our reach to better serve those who need more creative solutions. If you would like more information or support along your path, feel free to reach out to me here and I’d be happy to point you in the direction that might serve you best!
Well wishes – Rachael