Christina Janiga Psychotherapy - Blog

This blog is not a substitute for therapy, but provides evidence-based education for the purposes of self-help and information

A Pathway to Transforming the Root of Trauma and Pain: Therapy Intensives in Burlington, Ontario, and Online Across the Province

Healing from trauma is deeply personal, and the path looks different for everyone. While traditional weekly therapy sessions provide steady, consistent progress for many, others may thrive with a more concentrated therapeutic approach. This is where therapy intensives can make a transformative difference.

In this blog, we’ll explore therapy intensives—what they are, how they work, who benefits most from them, and why they may be a powerful alternative to conventional therapy sessions.

What is a Therapy Intensive?

Therapy intensives involve an intensive, focused approach to treatment, typically delivered over several days to a week. Unlike traditional therapy, where sessions are spaced over months, intensives offer extended time for deep exploration and processing.

During a therapy intensive, you’ll spend multiple hours each day with your therapist, delving into the root causes of emotional distress, anxiety symptoms, or trauma. This immersive approach fosters breakthroughs and insights that may take longer to achieve in a traditional 50 minute weekly therapy format. Therapy intensives can be offered in individual or small group settings.

What Can You Expect From A Therapy Intensive?

Participating in a therapy intensive is a unique and deeply engaging experience. Here’s what you can typically expect:

  • Initial Consultation/Pretreatment Assessment: Before beginning, your therapist will conduct an assessment to understand your goals and challenges, tailoring the intensive to your specific needs.
  • Extended Sessions: Expect multiple sessions for a duration of 90 minutes or more with multiple sessions throughout a week or two, interspersed with breaks for reflection. The extended focus allows for deeper exploration of emotions and experiences.
  • Integrative Modalities: Many therapists incorporate a variety of therapeutic approaches, such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), Internal Family Systems or Ego State Parts work, or Brainspotting to address trauma from multiple angles.
  • Supportive Environment: Therapy intensives take place in a compassionate, safe space where you can fully immerse yourself in the process.
  • Post-Intensive Support: After the intensive, follow-up sessions help integrate the progress into your daily life, ensuring long-term benefits.

Who Can Benefit From Therapy Intensives?

Therapy intensives are especially valuable for individuals who have experienced trauma (single incident or complex childhood trauma) or face persistent emotional challenges such anxiety symptoms. Some groups that may benefit include:

  • Trauma Survivors: Those recovering from abuse, accidents, or other traumatic events  or adverse childhood experiences, often find that the focused attention of a therapy intensive facilitates profound healing.
  • Individuals with Persistent Mental Health Concerns: People managing symptoms of anxiety, depression, or PTSD may achieve significant breakthroughs with the deeper focus an intensive provides.
  • Those Navigating Life Transitions: Major changes, such as loss, divorce, or career shifts, can be addressed effectively in a concentrated format.

Why Choose a Therapy Intensive over a Traditional Talk Therapy?

Both talk therapy and intensives can have lasting positive effects for individuals. Therapy intensives offer several advantages over traditional therapy methods. A primary benefit is the ability to achieve significant progress in a shorter period of time. 

Some reasons why therapy intensives may be more helpful than traditional methods include:

  1. Accelerated Progress: The immersive format fosters rapid healing, ideal for those eager to move forward in their journey.
  2. Deep Exploration: With extended time, clients can uncover and process layers of emotions and experiences.
  3. Tailored Approach: Intensives are customized to your unique needs, ensuring a highly personalized experience.
  4. Breakthroughs and Insights: Many clients report achieving significant insights and shifts during the concentrated focus of an intensive.

How to Find a Therapist Who Offers Therapy Intensives

If you’re interested in exploring therapy intensives, it’s important to find a therapist who specializes in this type of therapy. Here are some steps to help you find the right therapist:

  1. Research: Start by researching therapists in your area who offer therapy intensives. Look for therapists who have experience working with trauma and who use modalities such as Brainspotting, EMDR, and DBR.
  2. Ask Questions: When you reach out to a potential therapist, ask about their experience with therapy intensives and what you can expect from the process. It’s important to find a therapist who is a good fit for your needs.
  3. Consider Credentials: Ensure that the therapist is licensed and has specialized training in the modalities used in therapy intensives.
  4. Check Your Insurance Coverage: Each person’s insurance coverage in Ontario for psychotherapy can be different and unique. Call your insurance company and see if you are covered for sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist AND for extended sessions that are longer than 50 minutes.

Next Steps

Therapy intensives provide a powerful opportunity for deep healing and transformation. Whether you’re recovering from trauma, seeking clarity during a life transition, or navigating persistent emotional challenges such as anxiety symptoms, this focused approach can help you achieve your goals more quickly and effectively.

If you’re ready to explore therapy intensives, the team at Christina Janiga Psychotherapy offer personalized, evidence-based programs designed to meet your unique needs. Together, we can create a pathway to healing and lasting change.

Therapy Intensives offered at Christina Janiga Psychotherapy:

EMDR Intensives – Learn More

DBR Intensives – Learn More

Brainspotting – Beginning in May, 2025 

Take the next step toward rapid healing today—schedule your consultation to learn more.

Book a free 15 minuted consultation call.

If you are interested in Therapy Intensives in Burlington or virtually across Ontario, we encourage you to reach out to us for a free 15-minute consultation. During the consultation, we will answer any questions you have about our practice and our psychotherapists, and help you determine if we are the right fit for you. We believe that feeling comfortable with your therapist is essential for a successful therapeutic relationship.

Image of Christina Janiga, psychotherapist and certified EMDR therapist

About the Author

Christina Janiga, BSc, MACP, RP is a registered psychotherapist providing in person and virtual psychotherapy and therapy intensives in Burlington, ON and across Ontario. She is a Certified EMDR Therapist and a EMDR Consultant. She is trained in multiple modalities of trauma-focused healing to best support individuals who are looking to feel better faster.