The top benefits of a Therapy Intensive
Numerous therapists, myself included, are choosing to provide therapy intensive programs that utilize skills such as EMDR and/or Brainspotting. These intensive programs feature extended therapy sessions over a short duration, concentrating specifically on one or two main issues that you wish to explore. Because therapy intensives go beyond the structure of traditional weekly sessions, they offer a range of advantages to the client.
Here's 7 reasons why therapy intensive programs can be particularly beneficial:
1. Deep Exploration
Therapy intensives provide extended time for in-depth exploration of the issue you would like to address. Having this extended time allows you to delve more deeply into root causes of the issue you’re focusing on.
2. Accelerated Progress
The condensed timeframe of intensives often leads to accelerated progress. It can be particularly effective for individuals whose hectic and demanding schedule has made the prospect of committing to a weekly appointment seem more overwhelming than supportive, or for those seeking a more concentrated and impactful experience.
3. Focused Attention
Because therapy intensive sessions are longer in duration than traditional weekly sessions, clients receive extended and focused attention from the therapist. This extended focus can enhance the therapeutic process and create a more immersive and transformative experience.
4. Breakthrough Moments
Because the extended sessions provide more focused attention and potential for more depth in the experience, there is an increased opportunity for breakthrough moments and insights that might take longer to emerge in traditional weekly sessions. In this regard, therapy intensives create an environment conducive to profound shifts in perspective.
5. Building Rapport
Both spending an extended period with a therapist and the depth of work within a therapy intensive can foster a stronger therapeutic relationship between therapist and client. Such an increased connection can enhance trust and openness, which are the foundation for a positive experience in therapy.
6. Tailored Treatment Plans
With extended sessions or an intensive program, therapists can assess deeply held beliefs contributing to the issue being addressed and therefore, tailor treatment plans and interventions to the unique needs and goals of the individual, leading to a more personalized and effective therapeutic experience.
7. Continuity of Focus
Traditional weekly therapy sessions may leave longer intervals between discussions of certain topics. If you miss a weekly session, often the next session becomes a “catch up” session and the issue or goals being addressed become bumped to the following session. Therapy intensives allow for continuity of focus, which reduces the risk of losing momentum or forgetting important details.
Extended therapy sessions and therapy intensive programs are growing more in interest as the time constraints of individuals makes attending therapy on a weekly basis more challenging. Therapy intensives offer many benefits that week to week sessions are not able to by virtue of the extension of session time and concentrated format.
Many can find the healing they seek (or have been putting off) by opting for this format. However, please be aware that therapy intensives may not be suitable for everyone, and the decision to pursue this format should be made collaboratively between the client and the therapist. The intensity and concentrated nature of the experience require careful consideration of the individual's readiness and willingness to engage in an extended therapeutic process.