Trauma Intensives

Understanding Intensives

Trauma intensives provide extended therapy sessions designed to help you move more deeply into your healing process. Rather than spending months working in weekly sessions, an intensive allows us to dedicate concentrated time to understanding, processing, and integrating painful experiences in a supportive environment.

Maintained Momentum

Sometimes therapy sessions end right when we get to the deeper layers that are perpetuating symptoms. Intensives allow us to stay with the process, building momentum over multiple hours of therapy.

Personalized Experience

Every intensive is tailored to your needs. Depending on your goals, we may incorporate EMDR, Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), and parts work. No two intensives are exactly alike.

Focused Goals

Since we’ll be completing 5-8 hours of therapy over the course of 1-2 weeks, we will be focused on specific trauma-related goals, rather than processing week-to-week stressors and concerns.

Intensives FAQs

  • Prior to your intensive, you'll complete intake paperwork and an intensive-specific packet. This packet helps us clarify your goals, gather relevant history, and determine which therapeutic approaches may be most helpful for your specific needs.

    Trauma intensives typically include:

    • A 90-minute pre-intensive session to review your history, clarify treatment goals, develop a plan, and prepare for the intensive experience.

    • One or two extended processing sessions focused on addressing the concerns identified during treatment planning. Depending on your needs, these sessions may incorporate EMDR, Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), parts work, mindfulness-based interventions, or other trauma-focused approaches.

    • A 60-minute post-intensive integration session to reflect on your experience, consolidate insights, discuss next steps, and support continued growth following the intensive.

    I offer 5-hour, 6-hour, and 8-hour trauma intensives. Together, we'll determine the structure and length that best align with your history and goals.

    If you are currently working with a therapist and would like to continue that relationship following your intensive, I am happy to collaborate with your therapist to share relevant information about your experience and progress with your written consent.

  • A trauma intensive may be a good fit if you:

    • Feel stuck in weekly therapy and are looking for a more focused approach.

    • Have an individual therapist you value but would like additional support from a trauma specialist.

    • Have a specific traumatic event, memory, or recurring pattern you would like to explore more deeply.

    • Find that weekly therapy feels too slow or that sessions end just as meaningful work is beginning.

    • Have a busy schedule that makes consistent weekly appointments difficult.

    • Are seeking an intensive experience that may help you make meaningful progress in a shorter period of time.

    • Live outside the area and are interested in a treatment format that can be completed over a few days rather than months.

  • A trauma intensive may not be the best fit if you:

    • Are experiencing active suicidal intent or severe self-harm behaviors.

    • Are currently struggling with unmanaged substance use that would interfere with treatment.

    • Are experiencing symptoms that require a higher level of care, such as inpatient or residential treatment.

    • Do not currently have sufficient emotional stability or support outside of sessions.

    • Are looking for a quick fix or guaranteed outcome.

  • The fee for Trauma Intensives is as follows:

    • $800 for a 5-hour intensive
      (1.5-hour pre-session, 2.5-hour processing session, 1-hour post-session)

    • $950 for a 6-hour intensive
      (1.5-hour pre-session, 3.5-hour processing session, 1-hour post-session)

    • $1,250 for an 8-hour intensive
      (1.5-hour pre-session, 5.5 hours of processing across one or two sessions, 1-hour post-session)

    A non-refundable $300 deposit is required to reserve your intensive on the calendar.

    The remaining balance ($500, $650, or $950, depending on the selected package) is due at the time of the pre-session and is also non-refundable.

  • If you’re interested in exploring whether a trauma intensive is right for you, you can request a free 30-minute consultation by emailing lydia@desertpinecounseling.com.

    During this consultation, we’ll briefly connect, review your goals and current supports, and discuss your history to determine whether a trauma intensive may be a good fit for your needs.

    This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the process, structure, and what to expect so you can make an informed decision about next steps.