Therapy Intensives for OCD, Trauma & Kink/Ethical Non-Monogamy
Make Bigger Strides with Extended Therapy Sessions in Chicago
It’s not uncommon for folks to walk out of their weekly therapy session feeling like they finally cracked something open, only to have the clock run out. Often, having just a little more time and space is what’s needed to fully lean into these moments and make the breakthrough they’ve been looking for.
As an OCD, trauma, and kink/ENM therapist in Chicago, I’m excited to offer therapy intensives for folks seeking accelerated healing. These are extended, intentionally-focused therapy sessions (typically 2 to 6 hours in length) designed to give you the time and space to actually move through what you're processing, instead of just touching the surface of it week after week.
This isn't a more intense version of regular therapy. It's a different format, built for people who want concentrated, uninterrupted time with a therapist who specializes in OCD, trauma, and /or non-monogamy and kink.
What Is a Therapy Intensive?
A therapy intensive is an extended therapy session that allows for deeper, more sustained therapeutic work than a standard weekly appointment can offer. Intensives last anywhere from 2 to 6 hours. These sessions are sometimes scheduled across consecutive days, though many people find that one longer day of therapy is plenty of time to achieve real progress.
Instead of building momentum and then losing it between sessions, you get a longer period of uninterrupted, focused time that allows for deeper processing and healing.
Intensives are especially well-suited for:
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OCD treatment, using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) or Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT), where extended exposure work often benefits from more than a single 55-minute block.
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EMDR processing, which is an entirely different healing experience when afforded longer blocks of uninterrupted time. This extended experience may allow some folks to move through a full reprocessing cycle and complete the process, rather than having it broken into multiple sessions across multiple weeks.
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People navigating non-monogamy or kink-related relationship challenges who want
focused time to work through a specific conflict, disclosure, or decision with their therapist.
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People who are stepping down from higher levels of care, such as IOP for OCD or trauma, and who need a supportive bridge between those higher levels of care and weekly therapy.
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People who are traveling to Chicago specifically for specialized OCD, trauma, or non-monogamy/kink processing and want to maximize a short window of time.
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Anyone who feels stuck in weekly therapy and wants a concentrated push forward.
How Does a Therapy Intensive
in Chicago Work?
Before scheduling, we'll talk through what you're looking to address and whether an intensive format actually makes sense for you. Sometimes weekly therapy is the better tool, and that's a conversation I am happy to have.
From there, if we decide together that an intensive is the right next step, we’ll schedule your intensive session. These sessions are typically scheduled in blocks of 2 to 6 hours, with built-in breaks for longer meetings. Some clients do a single intensive day; others prefer a few consecutive days with longer blocks of time.
The format of the intensive flexes around the therapeutic work, rather than the other way around. I will work with you to figure out what type of pacing and scheduling will be the best option for your needs.
What to Expect from an Intensive Therapy Session:
● A collaborative planning conversation before your intensive begins, which includes understanding your area(s) of concern, establishing goals for the intensive, and planning for pacing, breaks, and post-intensive integration.
● Evidence-based therapy grounded in ERP, I-CBT, EMDR, or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), depending on what you're working on.
● A pace set by you, so the therapeutic process is immersive and complete, not rushed.
Who Are Therapy Intensives For?
A therapy intensive could be the right fit if you:
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Have tried weekly therapy and want to accelerate your progress
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Are dealing with OCD symptoms that respond well to concentrated exposure work
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Need a bridge between higher levels of care, such as an IOP, and weekly therapy sessions
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Live outside Chicago and want to make the most of an in-person visit with a specialist
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Are processing a specific trauma and need extended time with EMDR to complete the reprocessing work
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Are working through a relationship rupture, disclosure conversation, or decision point in a non-monogamous or kink dynamic and want dedicated time to explore it
Your Investment
Intensives are offered on a private-pay basis (not billed through insurance) at $150 per hour, with sessions ranging from 2 to 6 hours depending on your needs. Because intensives offer the space for accelerated healing, many clients find that they save both time and money in the long-term, as compared to ongoing weekly care.
Haven Therapy and Wellness accepts cash, credit, and FSA as payment for therapy intensives. We’re happy to provide a bill for you to include the cost of your intensive on your taxes as an out-of-pocket medical expense.
FAQs about Therapy Intensives in Chicago
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Intensive schedules are customizable and dependent on the type, intensity, and priority of concerns you’re bringing to the space. Intensives typically run between 2 and 6 hours, either in a single session or across a few consecutive days, depending on what you're working through and what your schedule allows.
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Intensives are $150 per hour and are private-pay, meaning they are not billed directly to insurance. Because intensives provide the space and time for accelerated healing, many clients find that they save both time and money in the long-term, as compared to paying for ongoing weekly or every-other-weekly therapy sessions.
Cash, credit, and FSA are all accepted as forms of payment for therapy intensives. Please let your therapist know if you’d like a bill to include the cost of your intensive on your taxes as an out-of-pocket medical expense.
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No, intensives are not billed through insurance and are offered on a private pay basis only. We can, however, provide you a bill to include the cost of your intensive on your taxes as an out-of-pocket medical expense.
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Yes! As part of our commitment to anti-oppressive and liberatory practices, we’re happy to offer sliding scale and payment plans to folks with marginalized identities. Please let your therapist know if this is something you’d like to explore.
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Intensives are commonly used for OCD treatment using ERP or I-CBT; EMDR processing for trauma; and focused work on non-monogamy or kink-related relationship challenges. If you have a specific concern you’d like to discuss—or a combination of several concerns—I encourage you to reach out for a consultation.
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Nope, therapy intensives can be scheduled for new clients, or for those who want a single-day (or multi-day, highly focused) session to address a specific concern. It’s not uncommon for clients to start with an intensive, including those traveling to Chicago specifically for specialized OCD or trauma-focused care.
Intensives can also be beneficial for folks who are coming from a higher level of care, such as an IOP program for OCD or trauma. An intensive session can act as a bridge between higher levels of care and ongoing weekly therapy sessions.
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It depends on your goals, symptoms, and schedule. Part of the intake process involves talking through both formats so you can choose the one that actually fits your needs. The best way to figure out if an intensive or ongoing, weekly therapy would be best for you is to discuss this directly during a free consultation.