How do you prepare for a therapy intensive?
Most of the preparation is practical: clearing the days, planning lighter days afterwards, and setting up the space, food and support you will need. The clinical preparation happens with your therapist beforehand, through assessment and agreeing a focus. You do not need to rehearse your story or arrive knowing what to say.
Clinical preparation is done with you, not by you
An intensive is not several ordinary sessions placed back to back. Assessment and history are taken before the first day, so the days themselves can begin at working depth. That part of the preparation is led by your therapist. It usually covers your history, what you have tried before, what is happening in your life now, what support you have, and what you would like to be different.
From that, a focus for the days is agreed. You do not need to have the focus worked out before assessment. Working it out is part of what assessment is for.
In the weeks before
- Clear the days completely. Treat them as you would a medical appointment that cannot be moved. Tell work you are unavailable, set an out-of-office message, and hand over anything that might need you.
- Protect the day after. Book at least one lighter day after the intensive ends. Avoid scheduling travel, a demanding meeting or a significant conversation for that day if you can.
- Hold off on big decisions. Concentrated work can bring new clarity, and it is wise to let that settle for a couple of weeks before acting on it.
- Keep medication as it is. Do not stop or change prescribed medication in preparation for an intensive without speaking to your prescriber.
- Decide who to tell. It helps to have one or two people who know what you are doing and can be around in the evenings, even if you do not plan to talk about the content of the work.
Setting up for an online intensive
Online intensives ask a little more of your environment, because the room you work in is the room you stay in afterwards.
- A private room with a door, where you will not be overheard or interrupted, and where others in the house know not to come in
- Headphones, so you can hear clearly and speak freely
- A reliable connection, with a backup such as a phone hotspot, and an agreed plan for what happens if the call drops
- The camera at eye level and enough light on your face
- Water, lunch and snacks prepared in advance, so breaks are breaks
- A blanket, comfortable clothes, and something to look at or hold that helps you feel grounded
- Your phone on do not disturb, with notifications off on the computer
Preparing for an in-person intensive
If you are travelling, arrive the day before so that the first morning is not spent recovering from travel. Stay somewhere close to where the work takes place, and choose accommodation where you can have a peaceful evening. Plan simple meals and avoid filling the evenings with sightseeing or social plans. You will likely want less than you expect.
During the days: what to do in the evenings
The evenings matter as much as the days. The aim is to rest and let the work continue in the background, not to analyse it.
- Eat properly and drink plenty of water.
- Walk, stretch, or have a bath. Something physical and gentle helps.
- Go to bed earlier than usual.
- Keep a notebook by the bed. Dreams, images and memories that come up overnight are often useful the next morning.
- Keep screens, news and difficult conversations to a minimum.
After the last day
It is normal to feel tired, emotionally close to the surface, or unusually clear for a few days afterwards. Dreams may be more vivid. These usually settle within a week or two. The integration sessions arranged as part of the intensive are where any of this can be talked through.
If something feels more than you can manage on your own, contact your therapist rather than waiting for the next scheduled session. If you feel at risk, contact emergency services or a crisis line straight away.
What you do not need to prepare
You do not need to have your history in order, find the right words, or know which parts of you will turn up. You do not need to feel ready. Many people arrive unsure whether they are doing the right thing, and that uncertainty is welcome in the work too.
Common questions
Should I take time off work for an intensive?
Yes, for the days themselves and ideally for at least one day afterwards. Trying to answer emails at lunchtime or join a meeting in the evening pulls attention away from the work and makes the days harder to hold. Most people find a short, clean break easier than a long, partial one.
Can I drink alcohol during an intensive?
It is best to avoid alcohol and recreational drugs during the days and for a day or two afterwards. They make it harder to settle in the evenings, harder to sleep well, and harder to notice what is shifting. Prescribed medication is different, and should be taken as normal unless your prescriber advises otherwise.
Is there homework before an intensive?
There may be some forms or questionnaires as part of assessment, and sometimes a short piece of reflection on what you hope will be different. Beyond that, there is nothing to study. Reading heavily about trauma or going back through old journals in the days before tends to stir things up without helping.
What should I bring?
Water, food you like that is easy to eat, comfortable layers, a notebook, and anything that helps you feel steady, such as a blanket or a familiar object. For online work, add headphones and a charger.
If you are considering an intensive with Lucy Orton, preparation starts with a personalised pre-intensive workbook and a 90-minute pre-intensive session one to three weeks beforehand, where goals are set and the right pathway is agreed.
This page is general information about intensive therapy. It is not a substitute for individual assessment or advice, and reading it does not create a therapeutic relationship. If you are in crisis or at risk of harm, contact local emergency services or a crisis line now. How these articles are written and checked: our editorial standards.