Trauma Intensives or Regularly Scheduled Therapy - which is right for me?
Updated: Jan 6
When it comes to addressing deep-seated trauma and emotional distress, finding the right therapeutic approach can be transformative. Therapists that offer both regularly scheduled therapy sessions as well as intensives are often asked the question: "Is a trauma intensive or more traditional therapy right for me?" The answer to this question will be different for each individual, and sometimes the answer might be both.
Woven Wholeness Services offers traditional therapy services (generally weekly or biweekly appointments) as well as intensives. Intensives can be a handful of hours (virtual) to multi-day (in-person.) Specializing in developmental trauma treatment, brainspotting and other somatic techniques are the primary modalities utilized in both settings. In developmental trauma treatment, the healing journey is complex, prickly, often hard to articulate, and resolution is not rapid. Choosing the method of healing is also not an easy process, so the intention of this blog is to help those on their healing pursuits determine what is most right for them.
The Traditional Route: Weekly or Biweekly Sessions
Many people choose to engage in therapy through regularly scheduled sessions. This traditional approach has its own set of advantages:
Steady and Gradual Healing
Regular sessions, whether weekly or biweekly, provide a consistent pace that allows clients to gradually work through their issues. This slow and steady approach can be particularly beneficial for integrating the therapeutic work into daily life and ensuring that insights and changes have time to take root.
Ongoing Support and Stability
Frequent sessions offer a reliable source of support, which can be comforting for those dealing with complex or chronic issues. The regularity of these appointments helps maintain a stable therapeutic relationship, which is crucial for effective healing. The brain and the body begin to consciously and subconsciously trust the therapist as the relationship develops over time, ultimately leading to greater outcomes down the road.
Adaptability
Scheduled sessions provide the flexibility to address immediate concerns and adjust the focus of therapy as needed. This adaptability ensures that therapy remains relevant and responsive to the client's evolving needs.
The Intensive Experience: Multi-Hour or Multi-Day Brainspotting and other Somatic Techniques
On the other hand, some clients may benefit more from a concentrated therapeutic experience. Trauma-centric intensives offer a different set of advantages:
Deep Dive into Healing
An intensive format allows for a focused and immersive experience. By dedicating several consecutive hours or days to therapy, clients can dive deeply into their issues without the usual interruptions of daily life. This can lead to more profound breakthroughs and a swifter resolution of deeply ingrained trauma.
Accelerated Progress
For those looking to make significant strides in a shorter amount of time, an intensive can be highly effective. The concentrated nature of the sessions can accelerate the healing process, making it possible to achieve in days what might take months in a more traditional setting.
Intensive Support
During an intensive, the therapist's continuous presence provides a high level of support and guidance. This can be particularly beneficial for navigating the intense emotions and memories that may surface during deep therapeutic work.
Is a Trauma Intensive or the More Traditional Route Right For Me?
Choosing between a multi hour or multi day intensive and scheduled weekly or biweekly sessions depends on your personal circumstances and therapeutic needs. Here are a few considerations to help guide your decision:
Nature of the Trauma: If your trauma is complex and deeply rooted, an intensive may offer the concentrated focus needed for significant breakthroughs. Conversely, if your issues are more recent or less entrenched, regular sessions might provide a more sustainable pace.
Availability and Commitment: Consider your schedule and ability to commit to either format. An intensive requires a significant block of time but can lead to faster results, while regular sessions require ongoing commitment but offer flexibility.
Personal Preference: Reflect on your preferred pace of therapy. Some people thrive with gradual, ongoing work, while others benefit from an immersive and focused approach.
Both intensives and regularly scheduled sessions offer unique benefits. Understanding these advantages can help you choose the therapeutic format that best aligns with your needs and goals. Whether you opt for the deep dive of an intensive or the steady support of regular sessions, profound healing and transformation is on the other side for you.
Woven Wholeness Services provides both virtual and in-person intensives that are tailored to meet your specific needs and preferences. Each one is unique because we truly believe that the road to healing is not one-size-fits-all.
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