trauma therapy Archives - Christina Russell, LPC

Have you ever left a therapy session feeling like you were just starting to open up—like you’d finally hit something important, only to glance at the clock and realize time was up? As a therapist, I’ve witnessed this many times. I help people do deep inner work that takes time to unfold, often more time than we have in a traditional session. That’s what led me to explore something different: Therapy Intensives.

Top‑down view of a cozy vignette featuring a steaming cup of herbal tea on a wooden tabletop, surrounded by dried florals in glass vases and a softly glowing candle, evoking calm and self‑care.

Over the past year, I began offering these extended, deep-dive sessions that last several hours or span multiple days—and the results have been incredible. Clients are shifting long-held patterns, finding clarity, and making powerful, lasting changes—faster than I ever imagined.

In this first post in a series, I’ll share why I’ve fallen in love with therapy intensives—and why this format might be the missing piece in your healing journey too.

What is a Therapy Intensive?

A Therapy Intensive is an accelerated approach to therapy that allows for deeper, more focused inner work. Instead of the typical 50-minute session—where we often have to pause just as we’re getting somewhere—intensives offer a spacious container to stay with what’s unfolding until it feels more complete.

In my practice, I offer 3- and 5-hour therapy intensives for individuals, along with multi-day options. These spacious containers allow for deep healing, trauma processing, and clarity-building—work that often gets squeezed or fragmented in standard-length sessions.

Click here for more about therapy intensives.

What Surprised Me Most About Therapy Intensives

When I first started trying intensives, I really wasn’t sure how it would go. Would so much time together feel awkward? Would clients be exhausted? Would it feel worth it?

But after just a few sessions, I was hooked. What I witnessed in those early intensives—the depth, the momentum, the real and lasting transformation—was so powerful.

I was amazed at how much could shift in a single 3-hour intensive. Clients were making breakthroughs around long-standing issues—things they’d been circling for years. It often felt like we were gathering months of therapy into just one session—and the breakthroughs reflected that. Therapy intensives help clients reconnect with their true self, resolve inner conflicts, and move forward with more clarity and confidence.

Clients say things like:

“My relationship with this issue has completely shifted.”
“I feel lighter, clearer, more myself.”
“That felt like a breakthrough I’ve been waiting years for.”
“I’m changing lifelong patterns.”

Woman writing in a journal, engaging in reflective self-care and emotional processing

These aren’t just feel-good moments—they’re real, lasting shifts that ripple into relationships, careers, and how clients show up in the world.

The work feels whole. We’re not just scratching the surface or circling something for weeks—we’re healing at the core.

Why It Works (Especially for Highly Sensitive People)

As a sensitive, empathic, and intuitive person myself, I know how much depth lives inside us. And I know it can take time to warm up, feel safe, and drop into the vulnerable places that need healing. Weekly therapy can sometimes feel rushed—or like we’re hitting pause just as we’re getting somewhere meaningful.

With therapy intensives, we don’t have to rush. There’s space to slow down, explore deeply, and be thorough. It’s like a deep cleaning—getting into all the nooks and crannies and tending to what’s hidden. And when those hidden parts are seen and integrated, clients often report feeling lighter, more grounded, and more aligned with their intuition and inner strength.

Two hands forming a heart shape over purple wildflowers, symbolizing love, healing, and nature connection

Many times in weekly sessions, I find myself wrapping up sessions saying things like, “I know there’s more here,” or “Let’s bookmark this for next time.” Not in an intensive. In these longer sessions, there’s a natural sense of completion—a felt experience of resolution and movement. In fact, the sense of completeness at the end tends to be so satisfying.

Is a Therapy Intensive Right for You?

Intensives aren’t for everyone—but for the right person, they can be life-changing.

A therapy intensive might be just what you need if you:

Have a specific issue, trauma, or stressor that needs more space to unpack
Feel stuck or like you’re not making the progress you want in hourly therapy
Want to make a big shift and feel ready to go deeper—now
Struggle to fit weekly sessions into your schedule
Feel drawn to immersive, accelerated healing work

Whether you’re navigating trauma, burnout, a major transition, or simply want to reconnect with yourself, therapy intensives offer a focused and accelerated path forward.

Ready to Go Deeper?

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like your healing journey is calling for more space, a therapy intensive could be the missing piece.

The breakthroughs I’ve witnessed in intensives aren’t just fast—they’re deeply felt, embodied, and often long-lasting. If you’re craving a shift, this might be the path forward.

Ready to explore what’s possible with an intensive?

Let’s talk about what you’re longing for and whether this format could support your next big shift. I offer online therapy anywhere in Georgia and in-person therapy in Carrollton, Georgia. Learn more here or book a free consultation—I’d love to connect.

As a dedicated book lover and aspiring minimalist, I rarely buy hard copies of books. But when a client told me about Past Tense by Sacha Mardou, my interest was piqued. I love books about people’s therapy journeys, and Mardou’s focus on Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy—a core part of my practice for over 20 years—made it especially appealing.

Last fall, I had the privilege of hearing Mardou speak at an IFS conference. Her presence, vulnerability, and courage moved me, and I knew this was a book worth purchasing.

First Impressions: A Graphic Novel About Therapy

The first thing I noticed about Past Tense was its physical weight—common for graphic novels, but surprising to me since I don’t usually read them. It’s a quick read (one or two sittings), yet it carries profound depth.

The book explores Mardou’s therapy journey, which begins with high anxiety and unexplained physical symptoms. After some initial hesitation, she starts working with an IFS therapist recommended by her acupuncturist. The graphic novel format beautifully illustrates her inner parts, bringing her therapeutic process to life in a uniquely visual way.

The Layers Beneath Anxiety

As a therapist, I often see clients come in with anxiety, stress, or physical symptoms without understanding why they are having these symptoms. After some exploration, we can usually uncover deeper layers of pain beneath the surface.

Mardou’s journey mirrors this process. One of the most rewarding parts of being a therapist is witnessing those connective moments when clients begin piecing together their inner experience. It’s a tremendous honor to walk with people through these transformations.

Healing from Trauma Through IFS Therapy in Past Tense

The book weaves together multiple storylines, including Mardou’s childhood trauma—parental neglect, sexual abuse, incest, religious trauma, and domestic abuse. If these topics are triggering for you, it’s helpful to know that going in.

As an empathic therapist, I usually avoid trauma-heavy content in my free time. But despite the intensity of the themes, the focus on healing creates a sense of hopefulness. The graphic novel format also makes it more digestible.

Integrating Trauma Work Into Daily Life

One of the book’s most compelling aspects is how Mardou integrates her healing into her relationships with family members. She grapples with the impact of her trauma on these relationships while working toward growth and change.

Clients often wonder whether revisiting past pain is necessary. “There’s nothing I can do to change it, so why would I want to think about that stuff?” This book beautifully demonstrates how exploring and healing past experiences can shift your present life in profound ways.

Working with Resistance to Therapy

Mardou, who is British, notes the cultural norm of maintaining a “stiff upper lip.” She initially resists therapy, questioning whether it’s necessary or helpful. Unfortunately, this stigma around therapy remains prevalent in many cultures.

I remember my own reluctance to seek therapy in college, believing I should handle things on my own and fearing judgment from a counselor. It wasn’t until I interned at a college counseling center that I realized how many people seek therapy as an act of self-care. I wish everyone could see how many “normal” people benefit from therapy—it would go a long way in reducing the stigma.

Comparative Trauma and the Right to Heal

In a section titled Therapy is for People with Real Problems, Mardou downplays her own suffering by comparing it to the struggles of her family members. Her therapist’s response is powerful: “You have the right to examine your life and heal.”

This is a common pattern among therapy clients, who dismiss their own pain because “others have it worse.” While it can be helpful to keep perspective and be grateful for the ways we have not suffered, comparing our pain to others tends to minimize our real experiences. Your suffering matters and deserves healing, no matter how it compares to others’ suffering. Your healing does not take away from other people’s ability to work on their own healing—it creates more room for healing all around.

Healing Backwards and Forwards

Mardou explores generational trauma within her family, recognizing how past legacies still shape her present. By doing the inner work to heal, she disrupts these patterns, reducing their impact on her own daughter. She also holds hope that her healing might positively influence her mother’s healing process.

How might your children and future generations benefit from your healing? Imagine if your parents and ancestors had done deep inner work, bringing healing to their traumas and wounds—how different might your life be today? Doing your own healing not only frees you but can also create a ripple effect through your family line.

Trusting Your Intuition About Therapy

At one point, Mardou switches from a male therapist, Chris, to a female therapist, Sally, before later returning to Chris. I love how she honors her intuition about what she needs at different points in her journey.

Every therapist brings unique strengths and styles. Sometimes allowing ourselves to receive different therapeutic perspectives can help us grow in complementary ways.

What Makes Mardou an Ideal Therapy Client?

Throughout the book, I kept thinking, I’d love to be her therapist. Why? Because she actively engages in her healing process both in and out of her weekly sessions.

She takes notes after sessions, sketches her insights, reads about trauma, and implements changes in her daily life. This level of commitment leads to real transformation. As a therapist, witnessing clients engage with their inner parts, shift relationship patterns, and embrace their healing is like watching miracles. I never tire of it.

You don’t have to write a book about your therapy journey to benefit deeply. But taking time to reflect, journal, or process with someone you trust can help you get more out of therapy

A Minor Criticism

The book includes some political commentary, which might feel distracting to some readers. I appreciate Mardou’s full expression of her story and believe the therapeutic insights more than make up for these moments.

Final Thoughts: A Powerful Look at Healing Through IFS Therapy

Past Tense is a powerful, insightful graphic novel that beautifully captures the therapeutic journey. It offers a rare, intimate look at the healing process through IFS therapy, making it a fantastic read for therapists, therapy clients, highly sensitive people, and anyone curious about deep inner work.

If you’re looking for a compelling, relatable, and inspiring depiction of therapy and personal transformation, this book is absolutely worth your time.

Inspired to Start Your Own Healing Journey?

Curious about how IFS therapy could help you heal? Whether you’re working through anxiety, past trauma, or patterns of behavior you want to shift, I’d love to support your journey. Learn more about therapy with me or book a free call to explore if we’re a good fit. I offer online counseling sessions in Georgia and in person counseling sessions in Carrollton, GA.

Tag: trauma therapy

What Is a Therapy Intensive? And Why You Might Want One