What's Holding You Back?

Overcoming the Barriers to Offering Intensives in Your Practice

There’s something about the idea of offering intensives that just clicks, isn’t there? Intensives give you ample space:

• to go deep with clients 
• to provide lasting transformation in a matter of days instead of months
• to have more freedom and flexibility in your schedule

So why haven’t you taken the leap?

If you’ve been circling the idea of offering intensives but haven’t quite committed, you’re not alone. We’ve worked with many coaches and counselors who felt the same way—until they identified what was really standing in their way.

Let’s take a look at five common experiences in mental health practices and what it takes to overcome them to be able to offer intensives.

1. “I Don’t Know How to Structure It.”

Barrier: Uncertainty about Logistics and Session Flow

Ruth is a seasoned trauma therapist with a full caseload and a six-month waitlist. She loves the idea of offering intensives to help clients move faster, but she freezes every time she thinks about how to structure a 3-day experience. 

“What would I even do for six hours a day?” she wonders.

Like Ruth, many clinicians are confident in weekly sessions but unsure how to scale that work into a multi-hour format. The key is recognizing that intensives are not just stretched-out versions of weekly therapy. They require a thoughtful arc, intentional pacing, and room for breaks, integration, and flexibility. Using frameworks like the ones we teach in The Intensive Method, you can build a customized flow that works for your niche—and your style.

2. “I’m Afraid No One Will Pay for It.”

Barrier: Pricing Fears and Doubts about Client Willingness

Carlos is a life coach who helps professionals navigate burnout. He knows a weekend intensive could be life-changing for his clients, but every time he thinks about pricing it at $2,000, he talks himself out of it. 

“What if no one wants to pay that much?” he asks.

Here’s the truth: people will pay for transformation. The value of an intensive isn’t just about time—it’s about results. When you position the experience as a breakthrough opportunity that saves months of time and emotional exhaustion, the investment makes sense. 

(And with the right marketing and payment structures, it becomes more accessible too.)

3. “My Schedule Is Already Full.”

Barrier: Time Management and Burnout Concerns

Alyssa, a marriage and family therapist, has back-to-back clients four days a week and uses the fifth day for admin and notes. She loves her work but feels stretched thin. The idea of adding intensives feels impossible—where would she even put them?

What if you didn’t have to work more to offer intensives… just differently? Many clinicians shift from weekly sessions to fewer, higher-impact intensives, giving them more income and more breathing room. 

You don’t have to overhaul your practice overnight, but you can start small—with one intensive per month—and watch how your schedule open up.

4. “I Don’t Have the Right Space or Tools.”

Barrier: Practical Concerns about Setting, Materials, or Platform

Ben is a trauma-informed coach who works virtually. He worries that an intensive requires a retreat center, a whiteboard, and fancy materials—things he doesn’t have. “I’m not set up for that,” he tells himself.

Intensives can be in-person or virtual. They can happen in your office, your living room, or a rented space one weekend a month. You don’t need anything elaborate—just a structured process, a safe environment, and clarity on what your client will walk away with. 

With creativity and intentional design, your space becomes a strength, not a limitation.

5. “Who Am I to Offer Something Like This?”

Barrier: Imposter Syndrome

Dana has been in private practice for eight years. Her clients trust her, and she’s great at what she does. But when it comes to intensives, she feels like an imposter. 

“Other people have advanced certifications, retreats, published books… What makes me qualified to lead something so big?”

Imposter syndrome is often the final barrier, and it’s the most sneaky. It tells you that you’re not ready, not good enough, or not credible enough. 

But here’s the truth: you already have what it takes. Your experience, your training, and your heart for this work is enough. With the right tools and support, you can turn that fear into confidence.

We created a special resource to help you walk through this barrier and come out the other side confident and ready to launch your intensive.

Download our free Guide to Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

It’s a gentle, empowering guide to help you shift your mindset, reclaim your authority, and step fully into your calling.

You Don’t Have to Wait

Offering intensives isn’t reserved for the elite, the famous, or the ultra-confident. It’s for everyday professionals—like you—who are ready to serve more deeply, work more sustainably, and create lasting impact.

Which of these barriers are standing in your way?

And more importantly…what’s your next brave step?