What to Expect in a Therapy Intensive Session with Me
Starting something new can bring up a lot of emotions—excitement, nervousness, even doubt. If you’ve been considering a therapy intensive, you might be wondering what it will be like to step into such a deep-dive experience. Those feelings are completely normal. Trying something new, especially in the realm of healing, can stir up uncertainty. My goal in this post is to walk you through what to expect in a therapy intensive session, so you can feel prepared, grounded, and supported every step of the way.
Preparing for Therapy Intensives: What to Expect Before the Session
The process begins with a free consultation call, where we’ll talk through your goals and what’s been bringing you to therapy. This call is a chance for us to connect, answer questions, and see if a therapy intensive is the right fit for your needs.
If you live in a state where I’m licensed (TX, LA, FL, VA), we’ll also schedule a 90-minute initial session before your intensive. This time allows us to explore your story in greater depth, clarify your intentions, and set the foundation for the work ahead. If we aren’t able to have this session before your intensive, we will use the first 90 minutes of the intensive for this.
We’ll also take care of the simple but important logistics—like where we’ll meet, what to bring, and how to structure breaks—so that when you arrive, you can focus fully on yourself and the healing process.
What Happens During an EMDR Therapy Intensive Session
A therapy intensive session is designed to give you space and time that traditional weekly therapy can’t always provide. Rather than working in short 50-minute increments, we have the opportunity to dedicate a half-day or even several full days to your healing journey.
The flow is structured but flexible. We’ll use evidence-based tools tailored to your needs, whether that involves trauma processing methods, grounding techniques and resources, or relational healing approaches. At the same time, there’s room to adjust based on how you’re feeling in the moment. This balance of structure and flexibility allows us to go deeper, stay with the work longer, and build momentum for meaningful change.
Many people describe EMDR intensives as creating a breakthrough experience—a sense of moving past the places they’ve felt “stuck” and stepping into new clarity and relief.
After a Therapy Intensive: Healing and Integration
Healing doesn’t end when the session does. Integration is a key part of the process, and I’ll support you in that. After your intensive, you’ll receive resources for reflection and tools to help you continue the work on your own. We may schedule follow-up sessions to check in, reinforce the progress you’ve made, and ensure you feel steady moving forward.
It’s also important to know that the emotional processing continues beyond our time together. That’s part of the natural unfolding of trauma healing. You may notice new insights, more energy, or a greater sense of connection with yourself in the days and weeks after your session.
Is a Therapy Intensive Right for You?
If you’ve been considering a new approach to therapy and want to experience deeper healing in a focused, supportive environment, a therapy intensive may be a powerful option. Whether you’re navigating trauma recovery, feeling stuck in weekly sessions, or simply ready for a different pace of growth, this type of work can create meaningful shifts.
If you’d like to explore whether a therapy intensive session is right for you, I invite you to schedule a consultation. Together, we can decide if this path of healing feels like the right next step for you.
Michelle Spurgeon is a licensed therapist with over 15 years experience supporting clients in Dallas, Texas. She specializes in relational trauma, anxiety, and divorce and uses evidence-based treatments like EMDR to help clients feel unstuck and steady again. At Steady Healing, she is committed to providing compassionate, expert care both in-person in Dallas and online for clients across Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and Virginia.
