What Is a Therapy Intensive? (And Why It’s So Transformative)

Written By Steffeny Feld

If you’ve ever wished you had just a little more time to go deep with your clients…

If you’ve felt frustrated watching someone make progress only to get cut off by the clock…

Or if you’ve craved a way of doing therapy that feels more impactful, more flexible, and more aligned with the life you want to live…

Let me introduce you to the model that changed everything for me (and so many of the therapists I work with): THERAPY INTENSIVES.

So… what is a therapy intensive?

A therapy intensive is an extended session—or series of sessions—that creates the space for deep, focused work in a shorter time frame. Instead of the traditional 50-minute hour stretched out over months, intensives give you and your client the time to go all in.

It might look like:

  • A 3-hour EMDR session

  • A 6-hour daylong couples intensive

  • A weekend retreat

  • A week of therapy in nature

  • Or something else entirely…

The beauty of intensives is that you can design them around what actually works—for your clients and for you.

Why intensives are so powerful

When I started offering intensives, I was blown away by how much transformation was possible in such a short amount of time. Clients were leaving those sessions with real relief, breakthroughs, and clarity—not just insight, but integration. And I wasn’t alone.

“My clients make more progress in one day than they did in months of weekly sessions.” – EMDR therapist
“I used to feel stuck in the same loops—intensives gave me a way to help clients move forward faster.” – Somatic therapist
“It helped me fall back in love with therapy again.” – Private practice clinician

Here’s why therapy intensives work so well:

  • No rush. You’re not trying to cram complex trauma or years of hurt into 50 minutes.

  • Real momentum. Instead of starting and stopping, you can stay with the work.

  • Personalized support. You get to craft a premium, deeply attuned experience for each client.

  • True flexibility. You can offer fewer sessions and make a bigger impact—without burning out.

And let’s be honest—clients are ready for this. They’re looking for something more than the traditional model. They want a space where change actually feels possible.

Not sure if clients would really book one?

You’re not alone. There are a lot of myths and misunderstandings floating around about intensives—like:

  • “Aren’t they only for people in crisis?”

  • “Don’t you have to offer EMDR?”

  • “Would anyone actually pay for that?”

Let’s clear those up. Click here for more about Common Myths + Misconceptions about Therapy Intensives and see what’s actually true (and what’s getting in your way).

Ready to explore how to launch your own?

If therapy intensives have been on your radar—or if you’re just now discovering them and feel a little spark—I’d love to help you explore what’s possible.

I created a free How to Launch Therapy Intensives Checklist to walk you through the essential steps—from choosing your format, to setting your fee, to making it all feel doable.

👉 Grab the Free Checklist: How to Launch Therapy Intensives

You don’t have to keep doing therapy the way you’ve always done it. There’s another way—one that supports you while offering profound transformation for your clients.

Let’s design an intensive that works.

Steffeny Feld