Who Therapy Intensives Are For (Spoiler: It Might Be You)

You’ve been holding it together, but something hasn’t felt right. If you’ve been wondering whether therapy could help, you’re not alone. And a therapy intensive might be a better fit than you think.

Why People Think Intensives Are Only for a Crisis

Therapy intensives can sound intense. The name alone makes it easy to assume this format is only for people in crisis or dealing with severe trauma. For years, intensives were mostly associated with inpatient or retreat settings, so that assumption stuck.

But intensives have evolved. You don’t need to fly across the country or be in full burnout to access deeper support. Virtual therapy intensives are now available in a way that fits real life—especially for people who want change but don’t have months to spend in weekly sessions.

Who Actually Benefits from Therapy Intensives

Not everyone who signs up for an intensive is in a breakdown. Many are managing daily life just fine on the outside. But inside, they feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected.

My clients often choose intensives when:

• They've been thinking about therapy for a long time but keep putting it off

• They’re in a life transition (breakup, job change, burnout)

• They want focused support without the pressure of weekly sessions

• They’ve done therapy before but feel like something deeper needs attention

• They feel emotionally blocked but can’t explain why

• They're holding onto things from the past they don’t know how to talk about

Intensives give us time to go deeper without rushing or cutting off important insights just because the clock runs out.

Signs You Might Be a Good Fit

Here are some signs this might be worth exploring:

• You feel like there’s too much to unpack in a regular 50-minute session

• You keep putting therapy off because your schedule is full

• You want clarity on something that keeps looping in your mind

• You don’t want to commit to long-term therapy but still want relief

• You’re feeling emotionally overwhelmed and need some structure around it

• You want to process something private in a focused, one-on-one space

You might find yourself saying:

• “I’ve been thinking about therapy for months but haven’t found the right time to start.”

• “I don’t want to go to therapy forever. I just want to feel some relief and clarity.”

• “I don’t know where to start, but I know I need something.”

• “I’m fine on the outside, but I can’t keep holding all of this.”

• “I want something more focused than talking about my week.”

If that sounds familiar, an intensive might be worth exploring. It doesn’t require a long-term commitment, and you don’t need to know exactly what you want to work on to start. Many clients come in unsure but leave with more understanding, more ease, and a clearer direction forward.

Curious If It’s Right for You?

You don’t need to wait until things get worse to get support. A therapy intensive can be a starting point or a reset, depending on what you need. It’s flexible, collaborative, and designed around you.

If you're ready to explore something that feels more focused, more spacious, and more actionable, this could be the right format for you.

📍Book a free consultation to see if an EMDR or art therapy intensive might be a good fit

📍Learn more about therapy intensives and how they work

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About the Author

Attiya Awadallah is a licensed psychotherapist and board-certified art therapist specializing in anxiety, health anxiety, and trauma. She works with adults who struggle with anxiety using evidence-based approaches including EMDR, exposure and response prevention, somatic therapy, and art therapy. Attiya provides virtual therapy for adults in New York and New Jersey through Lenora: Art Therapy and Counseling.

You can schedule a free consultation at lenoratherapy.com.