Therapy Intensives
If the regular, more exploratory pace of counselling and psychotherapy doesn’t feel like the right fit for what you’re hoping to work on, you might be interested in a therapy intensive.
A therapy intensive is an extended block of time where individuals or couples can work with a specific issue or goal. It offers the opportunity to slow down, go deeper, and dedicate more focused time to the work. While regular counselling sessions support skill-building, exploration, and the gradual integration of what you discover in therapy into your everyday life, an intensive allows you to focus more deeply on a particular concern or goal and make meaningful progress in a shorter period of time.
Therapy intensives can be booked as a one-off or combined with regular counselling sessions, depending on what feels most supportive for you.
Therapy intensives can offer:
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More concentrated time and attention for a particular area of your life
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The opportunity to build momentum and go deeper into a specific issue or goal
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More time to explore, practice, and work through what comes up in the session
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Time to dedicate to the therapeutic work without having to pause and pick it back up a week or two later
Types of Intensives
Individual Therapy Intensive
3 hours, book as a one-off or alongside regular counselling sessions
Individual clients can book a three-hour therapy intensive, either as a one-off session or alongside regular counselling sessions.
An individual intensive provides dedicated time to focus more deeply on a particular concern, challenge, or goal. Individual intensives can be helpful when there is something specific you would like to focus on, or when you want to build momentum around work you’ve already begun in counselling.
A follow-up individual counselling session is recommended within 2–4 weeks of the intensive. This provides an opportunity to reflect on what you’ve learned, talk about what has shifted, and identify what will help you continue carrying the work forward.
Couples Therapy Intensive
2 days, 6 hours each day, 10 hours of therapeutic time
A couples intensive provides dedicated time and space to work together on a specific issue or goal within your relationship. The intensive takes place over two days, with each day consisting of six hours together, including a one-hour break. This provides ten hours of focused therapeutic time in total.
Before the Intensive
Couples begin with an initial couples counselling session, followed by individual sessions with each partner. This preparation gives us an opportunity to understand what is bringing you in, explore the patterns you may be getting stuck in, and clarify what you hope to work toward.
The Two-Day Intensive
The first day focuses on developing a deeper understanding of the patterns within your relationship. We’ll explore each partner’s experience, underlying needs and emotions, and begin working toward new ways of responding to one another.
The second day builds on this work through deeper exploration, practice, and integration. We’ll continue working toward your specific goals and develop strategies that you can carry with you beyond the intensive.
There will be a one-hour break each day. The intention is not to spend six hours talking without pause, but to create enough space for meaningful therapeutic work, reflection, and rest. Because of the depth and pace of this work, both partners are expected to come to the intensive prepared to engage openly and fully in the process.
Follow-Up
A follow-up couples counselling session is recommended within 2–4 weeks of the intensive. This provides an opportunity to reflect on what you’ve learned, talk about what has shifted, and identify what will help you continue carrying the work forward.
Fees
Individual Therapy Intensive
3 hours: $550
A three-hour individual intensive can be booked as a one-off session or alongside regular counselling. Follow-up couples counselling sessions are booked separately at the applicable counselling rate.
Couples Therapy Intensive
Two days: $1,950
The couples intensive includes two six-hour days, with a one-hour break each day, for a total of 10 hours of therapeutic time.
Initial and follow-up couples counselling sessions are booked separately at the applicable counselling rate.
Extended health coverage for therapy intensives varies between insurance plans. I recommend checking with your provider before booking to confirm whether extended counselling sessions are eligible for reimbursement and what limits may apply.
Is a Therapy Intensive Right For You?
Therapy intensives aren’t intended to replace regular counselling and are not for everyone. They can be a good fit when you have a particular issue you want to focus on, feel ready to engage more deeply with the therapeutic process, or want dedicated time to build momentum around something you’ve already been working on.
If you’re interested in booking a therapy intensive, book a free, no-obligation consultation today.
Leah Baker, MC, RCC
Registered Clinical Counsellor
BCACC registration #XXXXX
I raise my hands in respect to the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples on whose unceded territories I live and practice.
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