Is a Therapy Intensive Worth It? Let’s Talk About Cost and Value
If you’ve ever felt stuck in therapy—like you’re talking about the same patterns week after week without much movement—you’re not alone. For many people navigating trauma, anxiety, or life transitions, weekly sessions can start to feel like a slow crawl toward relief. And if you’re someone juggling a demanding job, a busy family life, or simply a full plate (hello, lawyers, doctors, creatives, entrepreneurs, and caregivers), carving out time for therapy every week might feel more stressful than supportive.
This is where therapy intensives come in—and why they’re worth a deeper look. As a trauma therapist offering EMDR intensives and psychotherapy in Washington, DC and Virginia, I often hear one big hesitation:
“It sounds powerful… but is it really worth the cost?”
Let’s dive into that question honestly—exploring both the financial and emotional value of therapy intensives, and why they might just be the best mental health investment you’ll ever make.
What Is a Therapy Intensive?
A therapy intensive is a focused period of therapeutic work—typically ranging from 90 minutes to 6 hours in one day, and sometimes over several days. Instead of spreading sessions out weekly over months or years, you commit to doing deeper, immersive work in a shorter span of time.
In my practice, I integrate brain- and body-based modalities like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), IFS (Internal Family Systems), and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. These approaches are especially effective for trauma recovery, because they go beyond traditional talk therapy and work directly with the parts of the brain and body where trauma lives.
How Is This Different From Regular Talk Therapy?
Traditional talk therapy is incredibly valuable—but it mostly engages the thinking, verbal parts of your brain. That means progress can be slower, especially when you’re dealing with deeply rooted emotional patterns or trauma responses that live in your nervous system, not just your thoughts.
By contrast, EMDR, IFS, and somatic (body-based) therapies help process emotional memories, release trauma stored in the body, and rewire the nervous system. These methods often lead to faster breakthroughs—especially when you’re not limited by the 50-minute session clock.
Let’s Talk Numbers: The Cost of Therapy Intensives
One of the most common concerns I hear about intensives is the price tag. It’s true—therapy intensives require a bigger upfront investment. But let’s compare:
A standard 50-minute therapy session may cost around $250/week.
Over six months, that’s approximately $6,000.
And that assumes you don’t miss weeks due to vacations, illness, or schedule changes.
Meanwhile, an in-depth therapy intensive might cost $550 to $3,000+, depending on the length and structure. While it’s more upfront, the concentrated nature of an intensive means you may accomplish in even a couple of sessions what 6 months of weekly stop-and-start therapy might take to unpack.
💡 Think about it this way: What’s the cost of staying stuck for another six months?
The Value of Therapy Intensives: More Than Just the Cost
Here’s the thing—the value of a therapy intensive isn’t just financial. It’s about what you walk away with.
In a therapy intensive, you can:
Break through long-standing emotional blocks that traditional therapy may have only skimmed.
Reconnect with parts of yourself that have been shut down due to trauma, burnout, or survival mode.
Gain clarity and relief in days instead of months.
Walk away with practical tools and embodied strategies that you can use immediately.
And for my clients—especially the busy professionals, high-functioning creatives, parents, and caregivers—weekly therapy just isn’t realistic.
You don’t want surface-level support. You want deep, meaningful change, and you want to make the most of the time you do have. That’s exactly what an intensive offers.
Why This Might Be the Most Ethical Choice
As a trauma therapist practicing in Washington, DC and Virginia, I believe in offering clients the most effective care possible—not just the most convenient.
Intensives using EMDR, IFS, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy allow for:
Trauma to be processed at a pace that actually matches the nervous system’s natural healing rhythm.
Clients to access healing while minimizing reactivation or destabilization (something that can happen when therapy is rushed or fragmented).
A more holistic approach that honors the body, mind, and internal emotional system—not just thoughts or behaviors.
For some clients, this might mean a one-time intensive to kickstart healing. For others, it could be part of a broader plan alongside ongoing therapy. Either way, the flexibility and depth of intensives make them one of the most ethical, trauma-informed offerings available.
Investing in Your Mental Health
Let’s be honest for a second: Most of us are willing to spend thousands on vacations, gyms, skincare, and career coaching. These things matter—but so does your mental health.
What would it be worth to feel emotionally grounded, connected, and confident again?
When you invest in a therapy intensive, you’re not just paying for hours. You’re investing in:
Reclaiming your creativity and confidence
Breaking painful cycles of self-doubt, perfectionism, and avoidance
Strengthening your relationships
Building emotional resilience that lasts a lifetime
It’s not just therapy—it’s transformation.
Is a Therapy Intensive Right for You?
You might be a good fit for a therapy intensive if:
You’re feeling stuck in weekly therapy and want to go deeper
You have limited time and need focused, high-impact support
You’ve experienced trauma, burnout, or a recent life transition
You’re ready to make real changes and reclaim your energy and direction
You want to feel more connected to yourself and your goals—but don’t know how
Still Not Sure? Let’s Talk.
Starting something new can feel intimidating—and therapy intensives are no exception. But that doesn’t mean they’re not meant for you.
In our intake consultation, we’ll talk about:
Whether an intensive is the right fit for your needs
How to structure the intensive to fit your schedule and energy levels
What modalities (like EMDR, IFS, or Sensorimotor) might support your goals best
Every intensive I offer is tailored to you. This is not cookie-cutter therapy—it’s focused, intentional, and powerful.
Read more about therapy intensives here!
Take the Next Step
If you’re tired of feeling stuck and ready for real change, a therapy intensive might be exactly what you need. Whether you're based in Washington, DC or Virginia, I'm here to help guide you through the process.
✨ Schedule your free consultation to explore whether a therapy intensive is right for you.
You deserve more than survival. You deserve to feel alive, connected, and empowered again. Let’s get you there—together.
Looking to connect with a therapist who specializes in one of the most convenient, ethical, and effective therapy offerings?
Reach out today to talk about how therapy intensives with me can help expedite your healing.
(Washington, D.C. and Virginia residents only)
About the author
Margot Lamson, LICSW, is a licensed psychotherapist offering in-person and virtual therapy in Washington, D.C. and Virginia. She is trained in multiple trauma-focused approaches, including EMDR, IFS, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to support clients seeking meaningful and lasting healing. Margot also provides intensives, combining evidence-based and holistic techniques, to help clients achieve significant progress and feel better faster in a focused, supportive setting.
