Brainspotting and Internal Family Systems

Intensive Therapy in San Diego, CA

Efficient, Impactful Therapy to Help you Heal

and Grow Quickly


Are weekly 50-minute therapy sessions leaving you frustrated and feeling stuck, unable to live the life you want?


• If you’ve been in traditional therapy for a while, you might feel like every session is spent filling in the gaps for your therapist instead of making real progress. Weeks or months may have passed, yet you still feel the same as when you started therapy.


• Perhaps you’ve considered starting weekly therapy, but your busy schedule makes appointments feel stressful rather than supportive. Long waitlists for traditional therapy can leave you waiting weeks or even months to get the mental health support you need.


• Maybe you need faster results and more intensive help now, without committing to months or years of standard weekly therapy sessions. Intensive therapy programs can provide focused, personalized support to accelerate healing and growth.


• Or you’re new to therapy and prefer a concentrated, results-driven approach to make meaningful progress quickly.


  • What is a Brainspotting/IFS Intensive?

    Brainspotting and IFS Intensives provide personalized therapy plans that give faster access to treatment by bypassing traditional waitlists. These intensives are designed to accommodate your preferred schedule and align with your unique treatment goals.


    With Brainspotting and IFS Intensives, you can work through your symptoms and challenges in a more focused, streamlined way, without the limitations of a standard 50-minute session. Each intensive consists of 2–4 hours of therapy per day (split into 1.5–2 hour segments) over multiple days, allowing for concentrated, results-driven work.


    This intensive therapy format can reduce overall treatment time by minimizing:


    • Time spent checking in at the start of each session


    • Addressing current crises or distractions


    • Focus on coping strategies that may no longer be needed after healing


    • Re-centering at the end of sessions, since this is integrated into the therapeutic process


    Brainspotting and IFS Intensives are ideal for clients seeking accelerated healing, trauma recovery, and a personalized, focused approach to therapy that produces meaningful results in less time.

  • How does intensive therapy work?

    Before starting your Brainspotting & IFS Intensive, we’ll have a Pre-Intensive Consultation to clarify your goals and outline the focus of our time together. During this session, we’ll explore your current life situation, including sources of stress, your support system, coping strategies for overwhelming emotions or physical sensations, and the areas where you’re seeking relief, growth, or meaningful change.


    During the Intensive, we work on reducing the pain and discomfort you’re experiencing while simultaneously increasing your ability to access positive emotions, thoughts, and memories. Using deep-level brain processing techniques in Brainspotting and IFS therapy, we identify which coping strategies work best for you and help you integrate them effectively.


    Your intensive therapy sessions are fully personalized based on your goals and life circumstances. This may include processing challenging events or relationships from the past, addressing current stressors, or exploring concerns about the future. Each session is customized to ensure meaningful, results-driven progress.


    After the Brainspotting & IFS Intensive, a Post-Intensive Consultation allows us to reflect on what you processed and learned. We’ll discuss the insights gained, the meaningful changes experienced, and how to apply these breakthroughs to enhance your emotional well-being and daily life moving forward.

  • Why do a Brainspotting/IFS intensive?

    • You’re ready for deep, results-driven therapy that can create meaningful change quickly.


    • You’ve experienced a painful or challenging event that continues to affect your life today.


    • You have some time off from work or school and want to dedicate it to focused mental health care—a “mental wellness retreat” for yourself.


    • You’ve tried Brainspotting or IFS therapy before and found it helpful for processing emotions and moving forward without feeling weighed down.


    • You want to prepare emotionally for a major life transition, such as a wedding, relocation, parenthood, a new job, or starting school.


    • You already attend weekly therapy but feel stuck or on the verge of a breakthrough; an intensive therapy session can supplement your current work and accelerate progress.

  • Is there clinical research supporting the effectiveness of intensive therapy?

    Intensive trauma-focused therapy has been shown to be well-tolerated in clients with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. This approach allows for faster symptom reduction while achieving equal or even better outcomes, and it may reduce the risk of premature therapy dropout. Learn more here and here.


    Research on intensive Brainspotting therapy demonstrates that it is feasible and effective, producing significant improvements in PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other mood disorder symptoms within a short time frame. Learn more here.


    An intensive Brainspotting program offers a potentially safe and effective treatment option for complex PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders, providing focused, results-driven therapy in less time. Learn more here.


    The efficiency of the intensive therapy format is compelling: compared to traditional trauma-focused therapy, intensives may reduce overall treatment time while maintaining or enhancing therapeutic outcomes. Learn more here.

  • Conclusion

    I hope you enjoyed reading about the example I provided and were able to see how these interventions worked together to help someone heal through a difficult breakup. It is important to be aware when this type of work is being done that it can take a few sessions to process these situations along with the difficult emotions that come up. I summed up this example very briefly and tried to put it in simplistic terms so you can have an idea of how this process works. If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to reach out and I will be happy to explain further.

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Description of Therapies

  • What is Brainspotting?

    I trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Therapy, and this is an approach I very much enjoy using with clients. This type of therapy can help us to reduce stress in our lives by using meditation and mindfulness techniques. Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present with the awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, while using a gentle, nurturing lens. It involves using acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them, and without believing, for instance, that there is a "right" or "wrong" way to think or feel in a given moment. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we are sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future. Mindfulness is a quality that every human being already possesses, it is not something you have to conjure up, you just have to learn how to access it. Per the example I gave above, we first noticed the part of us that was feeling sad, accepted that part just as it was, and allowed it to be there without criticizing it in any type of way. We were then able to understand why the sadness was there and how it was affecting us. When we are practicing mindfulness regularly when our thoughts and emotions come up, this can help us to connect and be more present with ourselves, others and our surroundings. Therefore, we can start to have deeper, richer and more meaningful experiences within our everyday lives. 

  • What is Self-Compassion Therapy?

    This is one of my favorite therapies to do with clients because of how easy it is to teach and to learn. I had the privilege to train with the founder of Self-Compassion Therapy, Kristen Neff,and I have been using this therapy with clients and with myself for many years. I believe this therapy is essential in order to heal and recover from whatever we are going through and is a necessary foundation to feeling better long term. This type of therapy is exactly what is says it is, which is, learning how to be compassionate towards ourselves. Often times we can be hard on ourselves with many different things that are going on in our lives. We might do this by using harsh language in which we may call ourselves names and/or beat ourselves up for making mistakes. While we think this type of language might motivate us to do better, it often does the exact opposite, and can leave us feeling much worse, which in turn, can make us feel more depressed and more anxious. The good news is, there is a lot of research done on self-compassion therapy that shows the more compassionate we are towards ourselves the better we will feel in the long-term. If you are interested in learning how to use self-compassion therapy, feel free to read through an article I wrote, which can be found in "Articles" under the Resources tab.

  • What is Internal Family Systems Therapy?

    I was fortunate to have trained in internal family systems therapy (IFS) over the course of a year when I was completing my masters degree, and I was trained by a clinical therapist who was well versed in this therapy. This type of therapy helps clients to identify, relate to and understand that there are different parts that make up each individual. With the example I gave above, this therapy would say that "Not all of you are sad, but only one part of you is." There will be other parts of you that will have difficult emotions attached in addition to the sadness, which might be anger, frustration, disappointment and so on. One of the goals with this therapy is to understand that all of these parts is what makes a person whole, not just one part. After this is understood, the goal is to take each of those parts you are going through and to help you explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviors in relation to how they are affecting you. Once this is completed, the next step is to help you to build a friendship with each part, and to help you to get to know each part in an intimate way. As you begin to spend time getting to know each of your parts and how they operate in your life, you can then begin to create a healthy and positive change. 

  • What is Cognitive Behavior Therapy?

    Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is one of the most popular and most effective treatments for numerous mental health issues. This is a therapy I learned when I first started training as a clinician. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to go to the CBT institute where I learned first-hand how to use CBT with clients who have depression and anxiety. To break down CBT in simple terms, this therapy is about how our thoughts affect our feelings and how our feelings affect our behaviors. Per the example I gave above, CBT can help us reframe negative thought patterns into healthy thought patterns. This can be done by helping you to step out of a situation you are in and to look at it in a more objectionable way without your emotions being involved, which is often done through reframing situations. Once you can reframe a situation and look at it in a healthier way, you will then begin to think and feel better. One of the reasons why CBT works so efficiently and rapidly is because it points out inaccurate negative thinking patterns very quickly, and challenges us to make immediate changes. Often times we can see progress within just a few weeks. 

How do These Therapy Approaches Work Together


Intensive therapy combining Internal Family Systems (IFS), Brainspotting, and self-compassion techniques provides a highly personalized and results-driven approach to mental health and trauma recovery. IFS helps clients understand and harmonize the different “parts” of themselves, uncovering the underlying causes of emotional distress. Brainspotting supports deep-level brain processing, allowing clients to release stored trauma and emotional pain more efficiently. Self-compassion therapy enhances resilience and promotes emotional regulation, helping clients cultivate a kinder, more supportive relationship with themselves. Together, these therapies create a synergistic intensive program that targets both emotional and physiological aspects of trauma for faster, long-lasting healing.


Research and clinical evidence support the effectiveness of these intensive approaches for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. Studies indicate that combining trauma-focused interventions like Brainspotting with IFS and self-compassion techniques can accelerate symptom reduction, improve emotional regulation, and increase overall well-being in a shorter time frame compared to traditional weekly therapy. Clients often experience breakthroughs in self-awareness, trauma processing, and emotional resilience, making intensive therapy an evidence-based, time-efficient alternative for those seeking meaningful, accelerated personal growth.

The Benefits of Intensive Brainspotting & IFS Therapy: Efficient Healing at a Lower Overall Cost

Weekly Therapy Typically Includes:

• 10–15 minutes for session check-in, reviewing progress since your last therapy appointment


• 30–40 minutes of focused Brainspotting or IFS trauma processing


• 10–15 minutes to close the session and integrate insights


• Traditional weekly therapy often focuses on one specific stressor per month, costing around $1,000 for four sessions.

Life and unexpected stressors can interrupt progress, making it difficult to stay focused on the issues that matter most


• Session goals can shift week-to-week, meaning it may take multiple months, and significant expense, before feeling fully resolved


• Many clients find that traditional weekly therapy extends over months ($1,000 × number of months) without achieving complete relief from the stress or trauma they’re experiencing


• Intensive therapy offers a more efficient, results-driven approach by consolidating focused sessions into a shorter time frame, helping clients achieve faster symptom reduction and emotional healing

Intensive Therapy Typically Includes:

• 10–15 minutes for check-in and establishing session goals


• 160–210 minutes of focused Brainspotting or IFS trauma processing


• 10–15 minutes to close the session and integrate insights

Fully resolve one or multiple stressors in just half a day, with an investment of around $2,000


• 2–3 hours of intensive Brainspotting/IFS processing is equivalent to at least double the work of standard talk therapy sessions, helping you achieve more in less time and reducing overall therapy needs


• Experience faster symptom relief and emotional healing, allowing you to feel better sooner


• Reduce spending on medications that were not fully effective in managing symptoms


• Save time and hassle by minimizing missed work or childcare costs typically associated with weekly therapy sessions.


• Intensive Brainspotting & IFS therapy is a cost-effective, results-driven approach that accelerates healing and supports long-lasting mental health improvements.

What Are The Fees

Personalized Brainspotting & IFS Intensives are designed as half-day to multi-day programs, tailored to your unique goals and therapeutic needs. Each intensive includes a customized treatment plan to maximize healing and progress. Program fees are based on your specific plan and are provided upfront in compliance with the No Surprises Act, ensuring transparency and peace of mind.

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Costs

Intensive sessions are typically $400-500/hour, and may be eligible for partial reimbursement using out-of-network benefits.


Initial one hour intake session plus two hours of intensive session together, starts at $600. Intensive packages that include 2-3 days start at $1,100.


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Consultations

I offer free 30 minute phone or Zoom consultations to discuss your needs and interest in a personalized intensive program.


During this consultation we will discuss what you would like support with, what the therapies will entail, and what the costs will be and include.


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Current Clients

For current clients looking to add on therapy intensives to your care, please note your rate may be different and you are welcome to get in touch if you have questions.

FAQs about Brainspotting & IFS Intensives

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Still have a question, feel free to get in touch!



Book My Free Consultation
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Open Dialogue and Sharing

Intensive sessions are typically $400-500/hour, and may be eligible for partial reimbursement using out-of-network benefits.


Intensive packages (intake session, 3hr intensive session) start at $1,550.*


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Explore Expectations and Preferences

I offer free phone or Zoom consultations to discuss your needs and interest in a personalized intensive program.


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Build Trust and Rapport

For current clients looking to add on therapy intensives to their care, please note your rate may be different.