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    • Starling Hathcock, LCSW-C
    • Abby Jacobsen, LMSW
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    • Home
    • About Us
      • Starling Hathcock, LCSW-C
      • Abby Jacobsen, LMSW
      • Ashley Pereira MSW Intern
      • Mission Vision & Values
    • Services
      • Walk & Talk
      • Intensives
      • Therapy for Therapists
    • Professional Development
      • Consultation/Supervision
      • SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
    • Rates & Insurance
    • Contact Me
    • Blog
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Starling Hathcock, LCSW-C
    • Abby Jacobsen, LMSW
    • Ashley Pereira MSW Intern
    • Mission Vision & Values
  • Services
    • Walk & Talk
    • Intensives
    • Therapy for Therapists
  • Professional Development
    • Consultation/Supervision
    • SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
  • Rates & Insurance
  • Contact Me
  • Blog

INTENSIVES

What are they?

Intensive Therapy Sessions

Sometimes healing needs more space than a traditional 53-minute session can provide. Intensives offer extended time to go deeper, move through stuck places, and create lasting change without the stop-and-start of weekly therapy.


EMDR Intensives

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) intensives are extended sessions designed to accelerate the processing of painful memories. This approach can help reduce distress around traumatic or adverse experiences while giving you tools to regulate your nervous system. Some people feel nervous about the idea of intensives, and that is completely normal. We move at your pace, always with care and safety at the center.


IFS Intensives

Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy brings us back to the wisdom of our core Self. In an intensive format, there is room to listen deeply to the parts of you that have been carrying the weight of past trauma. As those parts release their burdens, they can return to their natural supportive roles, freeing your Self to lead with clarity, balance, and compassion. IFS intensives are especially powerful for caregivers and mental health professionals, who often neglect their own inner worlds while giving so much to others.


Brainspotting Intensives

Brainspotting intensives allow for a deeper dive into unresolved issues that need time and space to surface. With extended sessions, you do not have to worry about running out of time or rushing back into daily life immediately after. This format creates a safer container to explore sensitive topics and process them fully.


Why Choose Intensives?

If you need help now and do not want to spend months in a traditional weekly therapy model, intensive treatment may be the right fit. This approach often brings faster relief, greater efficiency, and meaningful change in a shorter period of time.

What to Expect From IFS, EMDR or Brainspotting Intensives

Longer Sessions

Intensives are usually scheduled as either one day of 3 hours with breaks or two days of 3 hours each. The time is structured to give you space without feeling overwhelming.

You will not be processing trauma the entire time. We pause as needed to focus on nervous system regulation through practices such as grounding, gentle movement, or breathing exercises. Sometimes a break simply means stepping outside for fresh air, stretching, or enjoying a cup of tea.

The goal is to create a safe, balanced experience that supports healing while respecting your body and mind’s natural rhythm.

Preparing for an Intensive

Before beginning an intensive, we schedule a preparation session. This helps us determine if an intensive is the right fit for you, and it gives us time to set intentions and clarify your specific goals. This preparation ensures your intensive is customized to meet your needs and focused on what matters most to you.


  • IFS: Preparation for IFS intensives creates space to connect with the parts of you that have been carrying burdens from past trauma. We identify what those parts need most—whether to be heard, supported, or released—so your Self can step forward with greater clarity, confidence, and compassion.


  • EMDR: In preparation for an EMDR intensive, we work together to identify the traumatic memories and negative core beliefs that may be blocking you from your goals. For example, if your intention is “I want to have better relationships with people,” we would explore and process the experiences that interfere with connection and trust.
     
  • Brainspotting: Preparation for Brainspotting intensives allows us to map out the issues you want to target and identify how they show up in your body and nervous system. This gives us clear direction during your intensive while still leaving space for your brain and body to guide the process in the moment.
     

By setting intentions in advance, each intensive is tailored to your specific goals and designed to create meaningful, lasting change.

Unlock Your YOUniqueness

In traditional talk therapy, much of the focus is on exploring your thoughts and feelings about current and past situations. While this can be valuable, progress often takes time.

In an Intensive, you can move more quickly. These approaches help you make rapid connections between present symptoms, past experiences, and the core beliefs you have carried throughout your life.

Many clients describe the process as eye-opening. You may leave an intensive feeling as if you have unlocked parts of yourself for the first time, with a deeper understanding of your reactions, patterns, and the way your past has shaped your present.

FIERCE

  • Freed mental space to feel calmer and with newfound strength and resilience..
  • Improved mindset with a greater sense of hope and inspiration.
  • Enhanced relationships because you’re able to just be.
  • Release your burdens and worries.
  • Connection to your authentic self.
  • Energetic sense of empowerment and renewal.

Less Time in Therapy

IFS, EMDR, or Brainspotting intensives can often shorten the healing process, reducing weeks or even months of living with trauma symptoms.


In weekly therapy, time is limited. Sessions may be spent problem-solving, safety planning, or working through the emotions of daily life. These are important parts of healing, but they do not always create direct relief from trauma symptoms.

In an intensive, the extended time allows you to stay with the EMDR or Brainspotting process without interruption. This depth and focus can accelerate healing and give you the space to fully engage in the work without the pressure of the clock.

Intensive Therapy Investment

One-Day Intensive – $1250

  • Total of 5 clinical contact hours
  • 60-minute pre-intensive assessment and consultation
  • 3 hours of therapy (half-day format)
  • 60-minute post-intensive therapy session
     

Two-Day Intensive – $2500

  • Total of 10 clinical contact hours
  • 60-minute pre-intensive assessment and consultation
  • 4 clinical hours of therapy each day (8 hours total)
  • 60-minute post-intensive therapy session
     

Deposit and Payment

  • A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required to schedule your consultation.
  • If it is determined that an intensive is not the right fit, your payment will be refunded minus the deposit.
  • Sessions must be prepaid before the intensive begins.
     

Important Notes

  • Intensives are designed specifically for individuals with trauma and/or PTSD. Other concerns may be better suited for ongoing individual therapy.
  • Follow-up sessions (if desired) are billed at $205 per hour.
  • Insurance does not cover the cost of intensives. This is a cash-pay service and is not reimbursed by insurance providers. HSA and FSA cards are accepted.

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Consideration

Who is a Good Fit for Intensives?

To benefit from an intensive, it is important to have certain supports and skills already in place. This helps ensure the work feels safe, manageable, and effective. Clients who do well in intensives generally have:

  • The ability to recognize and manage strong emotions
  • A stable support system outside of therapy in addition to the therapist
  • A clear commitment to their own safety and healing process
  • The ability to ground or self-soothe when needed
     

For safety reasons, intensives are not a good fit if you are:

  • Currently in active addiction
  • Experiencing suicidal thoughts or have had a recent hospitalization
  • Experiencing major dissociative symptoms that make it hard to stay present in session


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