When considering an intensive, there is often prep work that can help you get the most out of the intensive. . Whether you're seeking help for a specific issue or simply looking to enhance your overall well-being, intensive therapy can be a life-changing opportunity. In this article, we will provide you with practical advice on how to make the most out of your intensive therapy sessions.
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Understanding Intensive Therapy
Before we can go in-depth into how to get the most out of an intensive, it's important to understand what a EMDR intensive is. Intensive therapy, also known as immersion therapy or intensive outpatient therapy, is a highly focused and concentrated form of therapy that involves multiple sessions in a short period of time. Unlike traditional therapy, which typically consists of one session per week, intensive therapy offers a more frequent and intensive approach to treatment. This condensed format allows individuals to delve deeper into their issues and make significant progress in a shorter amount of time.
The intensives I offer often focus on the following concerns: those who are stuck in therapy, who feel the traditional 50-minute sessions aren't giving them enough time; those who can sense they want to work with some developmental concerns and those who are simply trying to increase their ability to function in their interpersonal lives.
One of the key benefits of intensive therapy is the ability to address complex issues more effectively. It provides an opportunity to explore the underlying causes of your challenges and develop a deeper understanding of yourself.
The Benefits of Intensive Therapy
Intensive therapy offers several advantages over traditional therapy formats. Firstly, the concentrated nature of the sessions allows for a more thorough exploration of your concerns. With more frequent sessions, you can delve deeper into your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, leading to a greater understanding of yourself and your challenges. You know that sense that you get with traditional therapy, where at least 15-minutes of the session is spent playing catch up to the areas of your life that feel important? Yea, well with intensives you don't need that because of how the work is spaced out.
Secondly, intensive therapy provides a supportive and structured environment for personal growth. The intensive nature of the therapy allows you to fully immerse yourself in the therapeutic process, facilitating faster progress and lasting change. Additionally, the increased frequency of sessions enables you to build a stronger therapeutic alliance with your therapist, leading to a more collaborative and productive therapeutic relationship. I often see clients who feel like having more time, beyond the traditional 50-minutes, gives them space to really drop into the deep end of the pool.
Lastly, intensive therapy offers a higher level of accountability. With more frequent sessions, you are more likely to stay focused on your goals and make consistent progress. This level of accountability can be particularly beneficial for individuals who struggle with motivation or have difficulty maintaining consistency in their therapeutic journey.
How to Prepare for Intensive Therapy
Getting prepared for an intensive is a little bit different, depending on the intention you have for your intensive. Here are a couple of things I tend to see that really help people do well with intensives.
Research and choose the right therapist: Take the time to research therapists who specialize in the specific issues you want to address. When people come to work with me, they often have done the research to really get a sense of who I am as a therapist, and feel like they can drop in with me in the ways they need to. .
Set clear goals: Reflect on what you hope to achieve through intensive therapy and set clear, realistic goals. Having a clear understanding of your goals will help you and your therapist stay focused and track your progress throughout the process. I am often happy to help clients refine this, but putting some thought into it, and writing a bit about it, can be super helpful. I'll also talk a bit about how to do this more in the next section.
Prepare mentally and emotionally: Intensive therapy can be emotionally challenging, so it's important to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally. Take some time to reflect on your motivations for seeking therapy and be open to exploring difficult emotions and experiences. This also means getting good rest prior to the intensive, giving yourself at least two to three days of not drinking alcohol and really taking care of yourself to whatever feels best for you.
Setting Goals for Your Intensive Therapy Experience
Setting goals is a crucial step in maximizing your intensive therapy experience. Having clear and actionable goals can provide a roadmap for your therapy sessions and help you stay focused on what you want to achieve. Here are some tips for setting effective goals for your intensive therapy experience:
Be specific: Instead of setting vague goals like "improve my mental health," be specific about what you want to achieve. For example, you could set a goal to learn coping skills to manage anxiety or improve your communication skills in relationships.
Make them measurable: It's important to have a way to measure your progress. Set goals that can be quantified or tracked over time. For example, if your goal is to reduce symptoms of depression, you could track changes in your mood using a mood journal or a mood tracking app.
Set realistic expectations: While it's important to have ambitious goals, it's equally important to set realistic expectations. Be aware of your limitations and what is achievable within the timeframe of your intensive therapy experience. Setting unrealistic goals can lead to frustration and disappointment.
Break them down into smaller milestones: Breaking your goals down into smaller, achievable milestones can make them more manageable and increase your sense of progress. Celebrate your accomplishments along the way, as each milestone brings you closer to your ultimate goal.
Tips for Maximizing Your Intensive Therapy Sessions
Once you've gotten these things aligned, now how to you put them into practice in an intensive session?
Come prepared: Before each session, take some time to reflect on your experiences and any insights or challenges you've encountered since your last session. Write down any questions or topics you want to discuss with your therapist. This will help you make the most of your time together.
Be an active participant: Actively engage in your therapy sessions by asking questions, sharing your thoughts and feelings, and providing feedback. Remember, therapy is a collaborative process, and your active participation can enhance the effectiveness of your sessions.
Be open and honest: Honesty is crucial in therapy. Be open and honest with your therapist about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This will allow your therapist to better understand your unique needs and tailor their approach to best meet your specific goals.
Take notes: Taking notes during your therapy sessions can help you remember key insights, strategies, and coping skills discussed. It can also serve as a helpful reference point between sessions, allowing you to reinforce what you've learned and apply it to your daily life.
Practice self-reflection: Intensive therapy can be an intense and transformative experience. Take the time to reflect on your therapy sessions and how they are impacting your life. Journaling or engaging in other forms of self-reflection can help deepen your understanding and facilitate personal growth.
While intensives are powerful, and can for many people be a life-changing experience, putting these steps into practice prior to an intensive will make them all the more effective in helping you get where you want to go.
