Online therapy intensives with a licensed psychologist: 443.333.1175
Gentle Intensives, LLC
IFS Intensives & EMDR Intensives
Gentle Intensives are available for people in a PsyPact state: including Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Texas and over 25 more United States
Thinking about having a therapy intensive?
You might be wondering if a therapy intensive is right for you. A therapy intensive is a long block of time spent on a single issue of your choice. At Gentle Intensives, we take three-hours at a time. More time lets us go deeply, but gently, each day of your intensive. One, two, and three day IFS intensives and EMDR intensives–they can be a great addition to your regular therapy.
Does this resonate with you?
- You might get a lot out of your weekly therapy, but you want to take a deep dive into a single issue.
- You don’t have the time for weekly therapy, and you just want to focus on one key area of importance to you.
- You may feel stuck in an old behavior (like people pleasing, shame spiraling, or the overwhelm-avoid cycle) and feel ready to try a new approach to make some change.
- Maybe you want time to slow down the therapy pace without worrying the session will end right when you start getting to the good stuff.
Therapy intensives can focus on attachment issues, over-empathizing, people pleasing, the overplan-overwhelm-avoid cycle, boundary-setting … and more. There are lots of options, personalized for you.
How could a gentle intensive help you?
IFS Therapy Intensives
IFS intensives use a body-based (somatic) parts approach to healing. In IFS intensives, we take time to gently connect with young inner parts (holding old anxiety, anger, dissociation, shame, etc.) and increase awareness of your core Self. With Dr. Bike, IFS therapy intensives begin by strengthening internal structures of safety and comfort. With those in place, the IFS intensive focuses on healing inner relationships and burdens the parts hold.
Family and Systemic Constellations can be combined with IFS work, for people who want that as part of their intensive.
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Dr. Bike is a Level 1 & 2 trained IFS psychologist who began doing parts work in 2010. She co-leads two international IFS consultation groups for mental health professionals. Dr. Bike began training in Constellations in the early 2000s, including workshops with Bert Hellinger.
Here’s a video introducing IFS by Dr. Tori Olds. Her philosophy and approach are like Dr. Bike’s.
EMDR Therapy Intensives
EMDR intensives don’t require talking in detail about old trauma. In EMDR intensives, you stay grounded in the present while we gently unpack small pieces of emotion and sensation to process. Just like IFS intensives, EMDR therapy intensives begin by strengthening your sense of inner safety and resources. With resources as a foundation, EMDR intensives can stay gentle by processing a small piece of your past at a time.
EMDR 2.0 offers a more interactive and responsive approach that many people find more grounding and enjoyable in their intensive work.
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Dr. Bike is a fundamentals-trained, flash-trained, and attachment-focused EMDR-trained psychologist who has participated in an ongoing EMDR consult group for mental health professionals since 2019. Read this page from the Cleveland Clinic.
Here’s a video introducing EMDR and a short video on EMDR 2.0 (used by Dr. Bike).
Gentle Intensive Packages
At Gentle Intensives, we start with a free 30-minute phone consult. So you and Dr. Bike can clarify goals and check for fit. And we tailor your intensive to meet your needs. With therapy in general–and with a therapy intensive in particular– it’s so important to make sure our styles, expectations, pace, and approach are a good match.
What happens in the free 30-minute consult?
- You’ll discuss your history (related to your therapy intensive focus area)
- You’ll ask and answer questions
- You’ll learn regulation skills–a benefit for your daily life and a foundation for a gentle intensive.
If we agree there’s a fit,
- We’ll collaboratively set goals (based on time, topic, and your history)
- You’ll pay for the intensive (with the credit card on file or through Zelle).*
- And we’ll schedule your intensive.
* No-regrets Policy: Committing to a therapy intensive is a big decision. If within 48 hours of paying for an intensive you change your mind, you may cancel for a refund of the intensive cost, minus a $25 administrative fee.
Mini Intensive
A great place to begin
$750
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3-hour intensive
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Short breaks each hour
✓
Weekday or Saturday
✓
8-11a or 12-3p (EST)
Full Intensive
When you’re ready for more
$1800
✓
6-hour intensive
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Short breaks each hour
✓
Two days, the same week
✓
Morning or afternoon
✓
Transition time the last hour your last day
Extended Intensive
Offers additional time
$2700
✓
9-hour intensive
✓
Short breaks each hour
✓
Three days, the same week
✓
Morning or afternoon
✓
Transition time the last hour your last day
Micro-intensives (90 minutes, $300) are also available, as the schedule allows.
Learn more about the Time & Fee Structure of intensives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are therapy intensives a good fit for everyone?
No. Therapy intensives at Gentle Intensives are designed for when a person is in a stable life situation. If you are in crisis, had a disruptive life change in the past 6 months, have a history of self-harm or suicidal thoughts, and other de-stabilizing circumstances, a therapy intensive would not be a fit. Programs called “intensive outpatient” (or IOPs) can help during those times.
What issues do people focus their therapy intensives on?
Dr. Bike provides intensives for anxiety, people pleasing, shame & self-blame, perfectionism, early trauma, grief & loss, boundary-setting, support for HSPs or empaths, parentification, and time compression (the past feeling present and/or the future weighing down on the now).
Can past relational issues be the focus of an intensive?
Yes, relational topics include rejection sensitivity and other attachment issues, grief & loss, a break up or ex you struggle to get over, infidelity or emotional abuse in a past relationship, and being raised by emotionally immature parents.
How is payment handled?
Payment is made at the time of scheduling by credit card through the patient portal or via Zelle.
Can I get a receipt for my intensive package?
You will receive a receipt for all services paid in full and completed. Gentle Intensives, LLC, services are self-pay and not covered by insurance. The receipt cannot be used toward insurance reimbursement, deductible, HSA, or other insurance-related benefits.
Read more about what makes a good initial fit for someone interested in having an intensive.
Gentle Intensives are available to people in a PsyPact state including Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Texas and over 25 more United States.
Have more questions about therapy intensives?
Call 443.333.1175 or send an email to gentleintensives [at] gmail.com
About Dr. Bike
Clinical Background
Since 2007, Dr. Denise Bike (she, her) has treated adults in a variety of settings. Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) at Sheppard Pratt Hospital and Boone Hospital. The Counseling Centers at Mizzou and Ball State. At the Chesapeake ADHD Center, she treated neurodiverse adults. Dr. Bike began specializing in anxiety and early trauma in 2010. Her primary modalities are somatic-focused Internal Family Systems and EMDR.
Academic Work
From 2013-2015, Dr. Bike was on the faculty in Loyola Maryland‘s Psychology Department. She taught counseling skills, assessment, career counseling, and diversity courses. From 2015-2019, Dr. Denise Bike taught graduate diversity courses online at Mizzou. She continues to teach a Wellness course online in the Graduate Educational Leadership Program at the University of Missouri.
Scholarship & Service
Dr. Bike joined the American Psychological Association in 2005. From 2017-2019, she served on the Board of the Maryland Psychological Association. Dr. Bike’s scholarly works are published in peer-reviewed journals including The Journal of Clinical Psychology, The Journal of Black Psychology, and Psychotherapy. Her chapters appear in The APA Handbook and The SAGE Handbook of Multicultural Counseling.