Online intensives with a licensed psychologist: 443.480.5999
Gentle Intensives, LLC
IFS Intensives & Family Constellations
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 an intensive?
You might be wondering if an intensive is right for you. An intensive is a block of time spent on a single issue of your choice. At Gentle Intensives, more time lets us go deeply, but gently, as we engage with the dynamics that could be holding you back from the life you’re ready to live.
Does this resonate with you?
- You get a lot out of your weekly psychotherapy.
- You’ve done many hours of parts work or other forms of self-engagement, in and out of session.
- You’ve read the books, meditated, and journaled your way through countless insights — yet the same patterns keep circling around and holding you back.
How could a gentle intensive help you? Call or text 443.480.5999
IFS Intensives
IFS intensives use a body-based (somatic) approach to gently connect with parts of you stuck in old strategies like people pleasing, care-taking, overthinking, and overworking. With Dr. Bike, IFS intensives begin by strengthening internal structures of safety and connection. With those in place, we focus on inner relationships and integrating protectors. Can include EMDR, upon request.
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Dr. Bike began doing parts work in 2010. She is Level-3 trained in IFS and her work is also influenced by Peyton, Riti, Ruppert, & Assagioli’s work with parts. Dr. Bike co-leads a twice-monthly international IFS consultation group for clinicians.
Here’s a video introducing IFS by Dr. Tori Olds. Her philosophy and approach are like Dr. Bike’s.
Family Constellations
Family Constellations are an experiential process that explores patterns in your internal system (as well as in your broader family system) that may be shaping your current life and relationships. Through guided exploration, you can see how belonging, love, and loss flow within you and across generations. Specialty constellations focus on taking steps from where you are in the present to where you long to be.
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Dr. Bike began training in constellations in the early 2000s, including workshops with Bert Hellinger. She completed intensive training programs at ZIST (2004) and the International Family Constellations Training Institute (2023).
Here’s a video by Mark Wolyn discussing constellations.
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. It’s important to make sure our styles, expectations, pace, and approach are a good match before proceeding to an intensive together.
What happens in the free 30-minute consult?
- You’ll briefly outline your history (related to your focus area)
- You’ll ask and answer questions
- We’ll discuss the support system you have in place that will help you continue to work on your goals following the intensive.
If we agree there’s a fit,
- We’ll collaboratively set intensive 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 an 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.
Call or text schedule an intensive: 443.480.5999
Extended intensives (9 hours over 3 days, $2700) are available to returning people, as the schedule allows.
Micro Intensive
A great place to begin
$300
✓
90-minute intensive
✓
Weekdays or Saturdays
✓
Morning or afternoon
Mini Intensive
When you’re ready for more
$750
✓
3-hour intensive
✓
Short breaks each hour
✓
Weekdays or Saturdays
✓
9-12p or 1-3p (EST)
Full Intensive
Offers additional time
$1800
✓
6-hour intensive
✓
Short breaks each hour
✓
Two days, the same week
✓
Morning or afternoon
✓
Transition time the last hour, your last day
Call or text: 443.480.5999 to discuss what you seek and to schedule your intensive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are intensives a good fit for everyone?
No. 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, an intensive at Gentle Intensives would not be a fit. Programs called “intensive outpatient” (or IOPs) can help during those times.
What issues do people focus their intensives on?
Dr. Bike provides intensives on many topics. They can focus on abandoned dreams, future-focused goals, releasing a need for control, clearing blocks to success, longing to belong, carrying others’ burdens, 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 may include rejection sensitivity and/or other relational barriers, complicated family dynamics, a break up or ex you struggle to get over, infidelity in a past relationship, and inter-generational patterns that you see repeating in your own life.
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’ll receive a receipt for all services paid in full and completed. Services are self-pay and not covered by insurance. The receipt cannot be used toward insurance reimbursement, deductible, HSA, or other benefits.
IFS intensives and Family Constellations are not a replacement for psychotherapy—they are an adjacent, integrative experience for those on a path of self-actualization. Guided by an experienced facilitator.
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 intensives?
Call 443.480.5999 or send an email to gentleintensives@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 and Boone Hospitals. 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. In her private practice, Baltimore Minds, she provides psychotherapy to weekly patients.
Academic Work
From 2013-2015, Dr. Bike was on the faculty in Loyola Maryland‘s Psychology Department. She taught counseling skills, assessment, career counseling, research methods, 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.