From Burnout to Boundaries: How Intensives Changed My Practice
You became a therapist to help people heal—not to run yourself into the ground.
If your days are packed with back-to-back sessions, you're drowning in admin work, and your weekends are spent recovering instead of living… you're not alone. I was right there with you. Burnt out, exhausted, and wondering how long I could keep going like this.. and I was only a few years in at that point.
That’s when I shifted to EMDR intensives (and now Brainspotting intensives as well)—and everything changed.
Hi! I’m Hannah Ciampini, LCSW, an EMDR/Brainspotting therapist and business coach for therapists. I’m based in Pensacola, FL, and I work with therapists across the world to help them create aligned, profitable, and sustainable private practices. Whether you're in your first year or scaling an established practice, I want to share how transitioning to EMDR intensives brought me back from burnout—and how it could do the same for you.
What Is an EMDR Intensive?
An intensive is a focused, extended therapy session designed to help clients make significant progress in a shorter amount of time. Instead of the traditional weekly 50-minute sessions, intensives offer half-day, full-day, or multi-day options. These sessions allow for deeper work, fewer interruptions, and faster results.
As a trauma therapist, I saw firsthand how powerful these sessions could be. Clients who had felt "stuck" in traditional therapy began to move through their trauma with more clarity, confidence, and momentum. And for me? It was the key to reclaiming my schedule, my energy, and my passion for this work.
How EMDR Intensives Helped Me Avoid Burnout
Before shifting to intensives, I was seeing 20+ clients per week. I was exhausted, emotionally drained, and beginning to lose the spark that had once drawn me to private practice. Compassion fatigue is REAL, ya’ll. Once I started offering EMDR intensives, I was able to:
Reduce my weekly client load
Increase my income without working more hours
Create more space for rest and creativity
Attract motivated clients seeking deep, transformational work
This model gave me my life back. I could finally show up for my clients with presence and energy because I wasn’t running on empty.
Why Intensives Work—for Therapists and Clients
If you’re a therapist who’s feeling stuck in the cycle of burnout, intensives might be the shift you need. Here’s why:
Flexible Scheduling: Fewer sessions per week = more time for yourself, your family, and your business growth.
Increased Revenue: Intensives are priced differently than weekly therapy, allowing for better income with fewer sessions.
Client Results: Many clients prefer the intensive model because it helps them experience real progress, fast.
Thinking About Starting Intensives in Your Practice?
You don’t need to overhaul your entire business overnight. In my business coaching practice, I help therapists integrate intensives in a way that’s aligned, ethical, and sustainable. Whether you’re just starting your private practice or looking to scale without burning out, I’ll help you:
Structure your intensives to fit your lifestyle
Price your offers with confidence
Create marketing that attracts the right clients
Set boundaries that protect your time and energy
Ready to Reimagine Your Practice?
If you’re a therapist or counselor looking to offer a specialty or “boutique” therapy offer like intensives and just need some help with the logistics, getting started, or anything in between, I’d love to connect. I work with coaching clients nationwide and together we will figure out what your practice needs, how to make it happen, and how to draw in your clients.
Let’s build you a private practice that supports your life, not one that drains it.
Book a free discovery call and take the first step toward a more spacious, profitable, and aligned private practice. You deserve it!
