My Intensive retreat with Dr. Jerome was the best investment in myself that I will ever make. She helped me to find my sense of self and be comfortable with who I am and how I got there. [My intensives] were truly life-changing for me... I walked out feeling as though I had broken through barriers I had not been able to previously... I find I’m more comfortable in my own skin and compassionate toward myself and others. I will be forever grateful to Dr. Van Brunt for the impact she’s made on my life ... Being in the care of a seasoned professional like Dr. Jerome made the experience of the intensive session even more meaningful. I would highly recommend Dr. Jerome’s intensive session! Life-changing |
Intensive Therapy RetreatsIntensive Therapy is a condensed treatment model that can offer more immediate, efficient relief from symptoms in a format that is less disruptive to your daily life. Instead of weekly sessions over a period of months, you will attend 1-5 full days of personalized, one-on-one therapy with a psychologist with specialized training in EMDR. During your personalized intensive retreat, your psychologist will meet with you individually for the entire day/week to help you focus on achieving substantial and lasting changes in your life. Intensive Therapy Retreats can be done in collaboration with your regular therapist, and you will return to your regular therapist after the retreat.
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Advantages of Intensives: |
Although traditional weekly therapy can be very effective, there are some specific advantages to the intensive therapy model, including:
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How it works: |
The process begins with a personal consultation with the psychologist to determine whether an Intensive Therapy Retreat is an appropriate fit, and whether this model can adequately address your concerns. After the initial consultation, we will develop a personalized plan, including the recommended length of the retreat. Generally, intensive retreats will last 1-5 days. Some people prefer to schedule multiple one-day retreats over a period of time. We will work with your schedule to develop a plan that helps you meet your goals. Your therapist will typically meet with you during a 6 hour block (usually 9am-3pm) per day with a lunch break and other breaks as needed. Your therapist may also suggest activities for you to do on your own. In addition, your therapist will work with you to develop a longer-term plan which may include follow-up services with your regular therapist or other providers in your area, interventions to put in place at home to help you reach your goals, or additional readings or practices to help you achieve your goals over time. Our package includes one follow-up check-in 2 weeks after the intensive. Prior to the retreat, out of town guests will receive a packet of information suggesting lodging, restaurants, things to do in the area, and other local amenities, as well as more specific information on what to expect during your retreat.
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Treatment modalities and providers: |
Intensive therapy retreats focus on treating the underlying experiences, relationship patterns, or past events that are causing or contributing to your present symptoms. Rather than focusing on building skills to help you manage current symptoms, intensive retreats are aimed at targeting the underlying causes. Therapeutic techniques such as EMDR and FLASH - empirically supported interventions for trauma - are generally the predominant treatment modalities. Although these interventions were originally developed as trauma treatments, they work well for a wide variety of presenting concerns. We may also incorporate techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness Based Techniques, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) and other empirically supported techniques.
We understand that an intensive therapy retreat is a significant investment into your wellbeing, and we take great efforts to ensure that you receive excellent treatment. Our providers must meet specific criteria in order to provide intensive therapy retreats. Our providers are experienced clinicians with a minimum of 10-years post-licensure experience, a specialization in their area of interest, and often advanced certifications in EMDR (e.g., EMDR Certification or Approved Consultant status). Additionally, all intensive therapy providers have received training in how to conduct intensive therapy retreats. Many of our intensive providers have experience as consultants, trainers, or supervisors for other professionals in the field. |
Out of town guests: |
We encourage out of town guests to use their intensive therapy retreat as an opportunity to create a therapeutic experience. Once you book your intensive dates, we will provide information on local accommodations, auxiliary services (e.g., yoga, spa services), dining, and other local and regional activities. We encourage you to create a relaxing, rejuvenating experience that will help you to fully benefit from the work you will be doing with us. Your day may start with a relaxing cup of coffee at the local favorite, Hyperion Espresso and a stroll around downtown before heading over to your first therapy session. For lunch, you may choose to take a walk on the Canal Path (adjacent to our office) or enjoy a relaxing lunch at Foodie. In the afternoon you can extend your self-care with a yoga class at Dragonfly Studio or a top-notch massage or pedicure at Collage Spa (all within walking distance). A short walk back to the Courtyard by Mariott Fredericksburg Historic District and you can settle in to an evening of room-service and relaxation. Not great at planning? Don't worry, we will send you several suggested itineraries, so you can simply enjoy our local favorites (please note: we do not receive any incentives from local businesses, we simply recommend the ones we love).
Downtown Fredericksburg offers a relaxing, historical, and vibrant community with many local and regional activities to enjoy before, during or after your time at WellSpring. Many people enjoy spending a few days after their intensive therapy retreat exploring the area. We are an hour drive/train ride from Washington DC, an hour from the capitol city of Richmond, an hour and a half from Charlottesville and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and about 1 hour and 30 minutes from the beautiful Skyline Drive. Enjoy kayaking or tubing on the Rappahannock River, a day hike in the Shenandoah Mountains, or explore museums in the Nation's Capitol. The nearest major airports are: Richmond International Airport (66 mi) Washington Dulles International Airport (61 mi) Regan National Airport (50 mi) *accommodation, transportation, and meals are not included |
Costs: |
We strive to keep our intensive prices reasonable, and our prices tend to be lower than other comparable services. Insurances do not yet offer a way to bill intensive therapy, so our intensive therapy retreats are paid as out-of-pocket expense and will not be reimbursed by insurance. However, intensive therapy can be cost-effective in that you are accomplishing what would normally take over 6 months of weekly therapy, copays, deductibles, and missed work in just a few days.
The cost for intensive therapy varies depending on the length of treatment. In general, costs for the typical partial-day (5 hours direct therapy; 1 hour lunch) with a Psychologist is $1,000, and for full-day (6 hours direct therapy; 1 hour lunch) is $1,200. Our providers work hard before, during, and after the intensive retreat to make it the best possible experience. You will be quoted a package price based on the number of days you book. The intake process, preparation, provided materials, and the 2 week follow-up call are included in the total package price. Additional days, attendance at meetings, written reports or letters, or other such services are not included in the package. |
