Current Clients
Current Clients

Therapy Intensives in Milwaukee: Months of Progress in a Few Days

An intensive replaces months of weekly sessions with one to three focused days. Same evidence-based work, no waiting a week between the breakthrough and the next appointment. Shoreside offers two: a Couples Intensive and an EMDR Intensive for trauma.

Book Your Free 15-Minute Consultation

Not sure which format fits? The consult is where we figure that out together. Or call (414) 677-7948.

Weekly therapy vs. an intensive

Weekly therapy works. For many people it is the right choice. But a 50-minute session spends its first ten minutes catching up and its last ten winding down, and the hard middle gets interrupted by a seven-day gap. An intensive removes the gap.

Weekly therapy sessions versus a therapy intensive: 50 minutes once a week over 3 to 6 months, or 3 to 13 hours across 1 to 3 days

Our intensives

For couples

Couples Intensive

For couples stuck on the same fight, recovering from a rupture, or facing a hard season in an otherwise strong relationship. Led by a senior Shoreside clinician trained in the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Relational Life Therapy.

2-Day Intensive · $4,500 13 clinical hours incl. follow-up
1-Day Reset · $2,200 6 hours + 30-min follow-up
  • In person at our Milwaukee (Prospect Ave) office, or on Zoom
  • Includes pre-intensive assessment and a follow-up session about two weeks later
  • Also a fit for premarital couples who want substance over a checklist
Full details, schedule and what to expect →
For trauma

EMDR Intensive

Accelerated trauma work with Kristen Holmes, MS, LPC, an EMDRIA-trained therapist using somatic and polyvagal-informed EMDR. For single-incident trauma, complex or childhood trauma, or a major life transition that keeps pulling old material to the surface.

Half-day · $1,200 3 hours
2-Day · $2,400 6 hours
3-Day · $3,600 9 hours
  • In person at our Whitefish Bay office
  • Every format includes consultation, reprocessing, an integration session, and a resource workbook
Full details, schedule and what to expect →
For feeling stuck

Brainspotting Intensive

Focused Brainspotting with Sam Coulson, LCSW. For people who feel stuck after talk therapy, don't want to talk it all through, carry stress in the body, or hit performance blocks. A good first step for men who are new to therapy.

Half-day · $1,200 3 hours
2-Day · $2,400 6 hours
3-Day · $3,600 9 hours
  • In person at our Milwaukee (Prospect Ave) office
  • Starts with a consultation to confirm fit and set a clear focus
Full details, schedule and what to expect →

Is an intensive right for you?

A good fit if

  • You have one clear problem you want moved, not a general "let's see"
  • Your schedule makes weekly sessions unrealistic, or you've done weekly work and plateaued
  • You're stable enough to do several hours of focused work in a day
  • You're willing to do the prep work before and the follow-up after

Not the right starting point if

  • You're in acute crisis or actively unsafe
  • Substance use is currently unmanaged
  • For couples: there is ongoing violence or coercion, an undisclosed affair, or one partner has already decided to leave
  • You haven't built basic stabilization skills yet — weekly therapy first, then an intensive

If you're in the second column, that isn't a no. It means weekly therapy is the right first step, and we'll match you to the right therapist for that instead.

How it works

How a Shoreside intensive works in three steps: free 15-minute consult, prep and assessment, then the intensive and follow-up
  1. Free 15-minute consult. We talk through what you're dealing with, answer questions, and tell you honestly whether an intensive or weekly therapy is the better fit.
  2. Prep and assessment. Before your intensive you complete a short assessment so the clinician arrives knowing where to start. A 50% deposit holds your dates.
  3. The intensive, then follow-up. One to three focused days, then a follow-up session to lock in what changed and plan what comes next.

Questions people ask

Does insurance cover an intensive?

Shoreside is an out-of-network, private-pay practice. You pay directly and we give you a superbill — an itemized receipt — to submit to your insurer. Many PPO plans reimburse a portion of out-of-network therapy; we'll check your benefits for free before you book. HSA and FSA funds can be used.

Can I come from out of state?

Yes. Clients travel to Milwaukee from other states for intensives. EMDR and Brainspotting intensives are held in person at our Whitefish Bay and Milwaukee offices. The Couples Intensive can also be done on Zoom for couples in Wisconsin, Illinois or Colorado. Weekly therapy is available online across Wisconsin.

How do I choose between formats?

Roughly: a 1-day or half-day format suits one specific issue; the 2- and 3-day formats suit patterns with history behind them. You don't need to decide before the consult — that's what it's for.

What happens after?

Every intensive includes a follow-up. From there, some people are done, some book a second intensive months later, and some step into weekly therapy with a Shoreside therapist to keep building. All three are normal.

Start with a conversation

Fifteen minutes, no pressure, and a straight answer about whether an intensive is right for you.

Book Your Free 15-Minute Consultation

Prefer to call? (414) 677-7948 · Rates & insurance details
In person in Milwaukee & Whitefish Bay · Clients travel in from other states · Couples Intensive also on Zoom

Book Your Free 15-Minute Consultation