Pricing a therapy intensive can bring up all kinds of feelings—doubt, anxiety, imposter syndrome, and a little bit of panic. You want to offer something impactful and aligned, but you also want it to feel ethical, accessible, and worth your time. And when you're stepping into a new model like intensives, it can be easy to second-guess what your work is actually worth.

Here’s the truth: you deserve to be well-compensated for high-impact work. And your clients deserve a container that supports deep transformation. Let's walk through how to price your therapy intensive offer in a way that honors both so you can feel confident setting those prices.

therapist with imposter syndrome, representing the anxiety and self-doubt therapists often feel when pricing their services

Why Pricing Matters in Private Practice

Therapists building boutique or specialty practices often struggle to shift out of the "session rate" mindset. But intensives aren’t just longer sessions. They’re immersive, high-value experiences that include planning, presence, emotional energy, and follow-up support.

Step 1: Understand the Full Scope of the Offer

When you price an intensive, you’re not just pricing the hours you're in session. You're also including:

Consultation and intake time
Pre-work or client prep
The actual intensive session(s)
Integration or follow-up support
Emotional energy and presence required

This is not a "session." It's a boutique service.

Step 2: Stop Copying Other Therapists

It’s tempting to look at someone else’s website and base your rates off what they charge. But here's the problem: their goals, audience, and energy aren’t yours. And you have no idea what they actually take home after taxes, rent, admin costs, and time spent preparing.

Instead, consider your:

Income goals
Energy bandwidth
Client outcomes and value
Time spent across the entire process

Step 3: Use Value-Based Pricing

Value-based pricing means setting your rate based on the transformation you're providing—not just the clock.

Ask yourself:

What is it worth for a client to move through something that’s been stuck for years?
What’s the cost of staying stuck?
What is the emotional and logistical value of having dedicated space for focused work?

When you frame your intensive as a transformational container, it becomes easier to own your price.

Step 4: Make It Easy to Say Yes

Pricing is one piece—positioning is another. To help potential clients feel confident saying yes:

Offer clear tiers or packages (ex: half-day, full-day, or VIP formats)
Include payment plan options if needed
Explain what’s included so they understand the value
Focus on the outcome, not the hours

Step 5: Gut Check Your Numbers

Here’s a simple equation:

What do you want to earn monthly?
How many intensives can you realistically offer without burning out?
Divide your income goal by your number of intensives. That’s your baseline rate.

You can always refine, but this gives you a grounded starting point that honors your life and your business.