What Are Intensive Therapy Sessions and Who Are They For?

When you think of therapy, you probably imagine the “traditional” model: once a week, 50 minutes, sitting across from your therapist. And for many people, that rhythm is exactly what they need.

But sometimes, the traditional pace of therapy feels too slow, or not deep enough, especially when you're experiencing intense anxiety, grief, major life transition, or the impact of past trauma.

That’s where intensive therapy sessions come in.

Intensive therapy is a different model of psychotherapy that allows for longer, more focused sessions designed to create momentum, giving you more time, more space, and more depth, so you don’t have to rush your process.

So, what exactly is intensive therapy?

Think of it as therapy that doesn’t watch the clock so closely. An intensive is longer, extended appointments - 90 minutes, two hours, or even longer. Instead of spreading the work across months of weekly therapy, an intensive format allows you to:

• Go deeper, faster - There’s time to move beyond surface-level conversation and into meaningful exploration.

• Reduce interruptions - No need to stop just as you’re opening up. The extra time allows you to stay with the process.

• Accelerate progress - Focused, immersive sessions can create breakthroughs that sometimes take much longer in traditional therapy.

For some people, intensives are scheduled as a one-time experience. For others, they become part of ongoing therapy - maybe once or twice a month in addition to or instead of weekly sessions.

Why might someone choose intensive therapy?

I hear this a lot from women who reach out:

• “I’ve been in therapy before, but I want something deeper.”

• “I don’t want to spend months circling the same patterns.”

• “I don’t have time for weekly therapy, but I still want support.”

Who are intensives especially for?

While anyone can benefit, here’s where I see them shine:

Women healing from trauma or grief

One hour a week is often not enough time to feel safe, open up, process, and ground again. Longer sessions allow us to move gently and not rush.

Those navigating intense anxiety, panic attacks, or depression

When your nervous system feels overwhelmed, having extra time lets us go beyond coping skills and get to the root of what’s happening.

Life transitions

Whether it’s the grief of divorce, the shifts of perimenopause, or the identity questions that come with career or family changes - sometimes you need focused time to reset and reorient.

Self-pay clients who want privacy and flexibility

With self-pay, we’re not bound to insurance checklists. We can structure sessions exactly how you need them - whether that’s longer sessions, less frequent meetings, or deeper focus.

What are the benefits?

Clients who choose intensives often say things like:

• “It felt like I finally had the time to breathe.”

• “I didn’t leave feeling raw and unfinished. I left feeling settled.”

• “I got more out of two hours than I had in months of weekly sessions.”

Some of the most meaningful benefits clients notice include:

• Depth over time: Space to explore multiple layers of an issue.

• Momentum: Instead of picking up and dropping threads each week, you stay connected to your healing process.

• Choice: As a self-pay option, you get to decide what works best for you.

• Integration: Extended sessions allow time for grounding practices at the end, so you leave feeling supported rather than opened-up and unsettled.

What can you expect in a session?

Every intensive looks a little different, because it’s built around you. But generally, you can expect:

• A grounding and check-in process to settle your body and mind.

• Time for deep exploration, whether through somatic practices, parts work, or trauma processing.

• Opportunities to practice tools for nervous system regulation and emotional resilience.

• A gentle closing process so you leave feeling steady, supported and integrated.

If you're curious about how intensives work, I outline the process in more detail here.

Why Choose Intensive Therapy?

Clients often turn to intensives when they:

• Feel stuck in traditional therapy and want to move through a barrier.

• Are processing trauma or grief that requires more space and gentleness.

• Want to focus deeply on a specific challenge (like anxiety, relationship patterns, or a life transition).

• Have busy lives and prefer fewer but longer sessions instead of weekly appointments.

• Are in a period of life that requires immediate, concentrated support such as a breakup, loss, or career shift.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been curious about whether intensives could support you, consider it an invitation to slow down and go deeper. Sometimes the most healing thing we can do is create space and intensive therapy provides just that.

If you’re looking for extended therapy sessions in Illinois and prefer the flexibility of self-pay psychotherapy, I’d be honored to support you. Reach out today to learn more or schedule a consultation.

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