IFS Intensives for
People Pleasers
When 'Good at Therapy'
Isn't Enough Anymore
You’ve done the sessions, practiced the skills, and still something feels off.
Not yet complete.
This is where the deeper work begins—at your pace, with care.
A Focused Doorway to What’s Been Waiting
Not every part wants to take its time. Some parts want change, now. Not out of urgency, but because they’re finally ready.
IFS Intensives offer a spacious, immersive container for clients who want to move directly toward transformation — with clarity, structure, and support.
If you've outgrown talk therapy, know your patterns, and are ready to meet them more directly, this work is for you.
This isn’t about more coping strategies—it’s about:
Meeting what you’ve been protecting
Repairing the old wounds quietly running the show
Living from a place that no longer confuses love with accommodation
…so why does
it still feel this hard?
If you’re reading this, you’re not new to the work.
You can see where people-pleasing shows up, heard the loudness of you inner critic, and felt the pressure from your guilt-trippers.
You’ve managed them well — and yet they still feel loud. That’s not a failure. It’s a signal.
A signal that your system might be ready to go deeper.
You’re ready to go beyond managing them — and move into real relationship and repair
You have the emotional capacity and support to move through a deeper process
You want an immersive start to longer work, or a concentrated space to move through something now
This isn’t a quick fix. But it is deep, focused time with the parts of you that are ready to be heard, held, and unburdened.
The Unfolding
When you no longer need to perform calmness.
When your system trusts you enough to rest.
When your protectors stop bracing for impact —
and you begin to live from your center, without apology.
Change doesn’t always feel loud. Sometimes, it feels like soft permission.
The Hidden cost.
People-pleasing isn’t kindness—it’s self-abandonment in disguise. It shows up as:
Exhaustion from carrying emotions that aren’t yours,
Resentment in relationships where you’re the giver,
Imposter syndrome at work (why does success feel like a fluke?),
- The missed opportunity: A version of you who’s bold, unapologetic, and finally at ease!
IFS therapy intensives don’t just help you spot these patterns. We unburden the wounded parts that keep you trapped in them.
Improved relationships
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Reduced stress and potential health care savings.
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Increased overall life satisfaction.
Photo by Getty Images on Unsplash
Potential career advancements due to increased assertiveness.
Photo by Pablo Merchán Montes on Unsplash
Living Beyond the Pleaser: What Becomes Possible…
INTENSIVE
•
FOCUSED
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TRANSFORMED
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INTENSIVE • FOCUSED • TRANSFORMED •
Breaking the Cycle Doesn’t Always Start at the Beginning.
Sometimes it begins with what you already know — and what you're finally ready to stop carrying.
You’re not starting over.
You’re ready to work with what’s underneath the coping.
And this time, the work goes deeper — not harder.
It's time to flip the script
This isn’t about reinventing yourself.
It’s about returning to the self that’s always been here —
beneath the roles, the strategies, the survival responses.
We’re not flipping the script for shock value.
We’re rewriting the relationship between you and the parts of you that have been running the show.
It’s time your self-interest stopped feeling like a betrayal.
It’s time you came home to center stage — for real.
You Don’t Need a New You.
You Need a New Way In.
Picture this:
A Different Kind of Depth.
Instead of stretching your healing thin over months of 50-minute sessions,
you step into a focused container — one that makes space for real movement.
Imagine diving beneath the patterns,
not for an hour a week —
but in a way that finally lets the protection speak.
Your healing shouldn't have to fight for space in your calendar.
IFS Intensives are designed to meet you where life is full —
with one or two immersive days that fit into your schedule without constant rescheduling or delay.
This isn’t about doing more.
It’s about doing it differently — with intention, with protection, with space to go deep and return steady.
Your protectors didn’t arrive out of nowhere.
They’re layered over younger parts, over wounds, over beliefs that once kept you safe.
Like nesting dolls, this work helps you peel back —
not to expose, but to care for what's underneath.
IFS intensives are where we begin tending to the root
instead of trimming what keeps growing back.
Introducing
IFS Intensives :
This isn’t a shortcut.
It’s an entry point — for systems that are ready to move from managing to unburdening.
Immersive. Focused. Protective.
Rooted in respect for your timing, your pace, and what’s been waiting.
A deeper beginning for what’s ready to shift.
The Intensive Process
Let's Connect:
Intake (90 min.)
We'll discuss your goals and see if we're a good fit
You can ask questions and get a feel for how I work
We'll decide together if an intensive is right for you
Diving Deeper:
Pre-Intensive Interview (75-90 min.)
We'll explore your people-pleasing patterns in more detail
You'll set clear, specific goals for your intensive
We'll create a roadmap for your intensive session
You might get some light 'homework' to prepare (like journaling)
The Big Day:
Your Intensive Session (3.5-4 hours)
We'll start with a relaxing exercise to center yourself
Together, we'll explore the different 'parts' of you that contribute to people-pleasing
You'll get to know your authentic self better
We'll use powerful techniques to help you process emotions and memories
You'll practice new ways of handling tricky situations
We'll create a practical plan for you to use in your daily life
Checking In:
Follow-Up Session
(60-75 minutes)
We'll catch up on how things have been going since your intensive
You can share any challenges you've faced
We'll discuss next steps and how to continue your progress
Through our
intensive approach, you'll:
Develop guilt-free boundary-setting skills
Transform your relationships by prioritizing your needs
Amplify your authentic voice and silence your inner critic
Learn to navigate conflicts without compromising your values
IFS Intensives vs. Traditional Therapy:
Why Depth Wins Over Time
IFS Intensives:
Deep Dive Approach: Immerse yourself in 1-2 days of focused work on your people-pleasing patterns. Gain insights and make progress that could take months in traditional therapy.
Rapid Results: Experience significant breakthroughs in your recovery journey in a short timeframe. Address resentment and its root causes head-on.
Efficient Use of Time: Perfect for busy schedules. Dedicate a focused block of time to your personal growth without ongoing weekly commitments.
Cost-Effective Solution: Invest in concentrated work that can lead to substantial progress, potentially saving money compared to months of weekly sessions.
Tailored for People-Pleasers: Each intensive is customized to address your specific challenges with people-pleasing, ensuring targeted and relevant support.
Traditional Therapy:
Weekly Sessions: Attend regular 50-minute appointments, typically spread over several months or years.
Gradual Progress: Work through issues at a slower pace, which may delay addressing core people-pleasing patterns.
Ongoing Time Commitment: Requires consistent weekly scheduling, which can be challenging for busy professionals.
Accumulating Costs: Weekly fees can add up over time, potentially resulting in higher overall costs.
Broader Focus: May cover a wide range of issues, potentially diluting the focus on specific people-pleasing tendencies.
For The Woman who’s Done
‘HEALING’—But Still Feels the GHOST Of Guilt
You’ve set boundaries, read the books, maybe even tried therapy. But when someone’s disappointed, that old flinch returns. IFS intensives help you unburden the parts still whispering: ‘You’re safest small.’
In just one, two, or three focused days, we'll dive deep into your inner world, giving voice to, all parts of you - from the Recovering, and reluctant, people-pleaser to you walking, and connecting within your relationships, in your truth.
We’re aiming for core, root, transformational changes. getting to the bottom of the who, when, where, how, and what is behind you leading your life from this people-pleasing posture. There’s a necessary depth you’re needing to tap into to shift the guilt and fear into you being bold in who you are wherever you are!
Your Options
Choose the right format for you.
I offer intensives in a few formats, depending on your budget, needs, & goals.
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Total: 8 hrs
Face to Face: 6 hrs
Every 60-75 min there will be a 15 min break or as needed.
30 min wrap up at the end to give space for reflection and next steps.
2 hr Workbook
1.5 hr Pre-Intensive Interview (Intake)
3.5 - 4 hr session (1)
1 hr Post-Intensive Interview
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Total: 8 hrs
Face to Face: 6 hrs
Every 60-75 min there will be a 15 min break or as needed.
30 min wrap up at the end to give space for reflection and next steps.2 hr Workbook
1.5 hr Pre-Intensive Interview (Intake)
3.5 - 4 hr session (1)
1 hr Post-Intensive Interview
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Total: 11.5 hrs
Face to Face: 9.5 hrs
Every 60-75 min there will be a 15 min break or as needed.
30 min wrap up at the end to give space for reflection and next steps.
2 hr Workbook
1.5 hr Pre-Intensive Interview (Intake)
3.5 - 4 hr session (2x)
1 hr Post-Intensive Interview
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Total: 11.5 hrs
Face to Face: 9.5 hrs
Every 60-75 min there will be a 15 min break or as needed.
30 min wrap up at the end to give space for reflection and next steps.
2 hr Workbook
1.5 hr Pre-Intensive Interview (Intake)
3.5 - 4 hr session (2x)
1 hr Post-Intensive Interview
1
Pre-Intensive Assessment
After you agree to move forward with intensive, we complete pre-intensive workbook
and interview, identify goals of intensives, and schedule intensive and satisfy the balance
2
Intensive
Session
We start intensive experience and complete the session, schedule follow-up session 1 or two weeks after intensive and send along companion workbook.
3
Post-Intensive Follow-Up
Here we discuss any shifts or insights and consult around next steps and best course of action i.e. practice skills, schedule drop-in single sessions or another intensive or a package (4 week, 6 week, 8 week package) with specific concentrated goals.
Intensive Support Services*
*All sessions are Tele-health (video)*
Life can be too busy for endless therapy. Our brief approach gets to the heart of your people-pleasing.
Real change, real results, on your schedule.
You’ve set boundaries and know *what* to do—but that quiet guilt when you disappoint someone? The exhaustion of overthinking every ‘no’? IFS Intensives target the root system keeping these patterns alive.
In 1-3 immersive days, we’ll:
Interrupt the automatic "yes" that leaves you drained
Repair the hidden belief that love requires shrinking
Embody confidence that doesn’t waver with others’ moods
IFS Intensives
Phone Coaching
After your intensive, I offer a unique 30-day IFS Phone Coaching program to solidify your progress and support your ongoing journey.
This innovative approach provides you with daily access to guidance and support as you navigate your new relationship with your parts.
AND…
It's your chance to make sure the changes stick! We'll address any bumps in the road and celebrate your progress.
This is can also be added onto your
Brief Therapy and Single Sessions.
CONNECTED CONVERSATIONS
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CONNECTED CONVERSATIONS •
“For years, I contorted myself to meet others' expectations, fearing rejection if I didn't comply. Andrieah helped me look at the guilt I was leading with in just 2 days of deep inner work. I have more ease in going against the grain.
-Client
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Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a transformative psycho-spiritual approach that views your inner world as a complex system of parts, each with its own wisdom and purpose. For those recovering from people-pleasing and grappling with resentment, IFS offers a powerful path to healing and self-discovery.
Are you tired of always putting others first and feeling resentful afterwards? I'm here to help you break free from this cycle using IFS. Here's how we'll work together:
Exploring Your Inner Wholeness: We'll get to know the different parts of you - like the part that always says "yes" and the part that feels angry about it. IFS recognizes that you're not just one thing - you're a mosaic of different parts. Don't worry, all your parts are welcome here.
Understanding Your Story with Compassionate Curiosity: Together, we'll uncover why you developed these patterns. Your people-pleasing? It's likely been trying to keep you safe or loved. Your resentment? It's fighting for your needs to be heard. We approach each part with genuine interest, understanding that even challenging behaviors come from a place of trying to help or protect you.
Connecting with Your Inner Wisdom (The Self): I'll guide you to access your core Self - the calm, compassionate part of you that can lead the way to healing. IFS believes this wellspring of calm, clarity, and compassion is already within you, waiting to be accessed.
Healing Relationships, Not Just Coping: We won't just manage your people-pleasing or try to silence your resentment. We'll work to truly heal these parts of you, helping them find new, healthier ways to support you. IFS aims to transform these parts, allowing them to take on new, healthier roles in your life.
Practical Change and Empowerment: As we progress, you'll find yourself naturally setting better boundaries, expressing your needs, and feeling more authentically you in your relationships. You'll develop the capacity to honor your own needs and create more authentic relationships - all without the burden of guilt that often plagues recovering people-pleasers.
Spiritual Growth and Connection: Many clients find this process deeply meaningful, often describing it as coming home to themselves. Connecting with your Self can feel profoundly spiritual, tapping into a sense of inner wisdom and universal connectedness.
Remember, your people-pleasing and resentment aren't the enemy - they're parts of you that need understanding and care. Through IFS, you'll discover that the key to moving beyond these patterns isn't about getting rid of parts of yourself - it's about healing and integrating all aspects of who you are.
Through our work together, you'll learn to lead your inner world with compassion, creating lasting change from the inside out. It's a journey of coming home to your full, authentic self.
Ready to transform your relationship with yourself and others? Let's embark on this IFS journey together.
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What's the difference between an intensive and a regular therapy session?
A: Great question! While intensive and regular therapy sessions share core therapeutic principles, they differ in structure and pacing. Let's break it down:
Similarities:
Both are grounded in evidence-based therapeutic approaches
Both aim to promote healing, self-understanding, and personal growth
Both involve a collaborative relationship between therapist and client
Both require your active participation and commitment to the process
Now, let's look at the key differences:
Regular Therapy Sessions:
Typically 50-60 minutes long
Usually occur weekly or bi-weekly
Progress can be gradual, spread over months or years
Allow for ongoing support and processing of day-to-day issues
Can be integrated more easily into your regular routine
Intensive Therapy Sessions:
Extended sessions, usually 3-4 hours in a day
Can be a single day or spread over 2-3 consecutive days
Allows for deep, uninterrupted exploration of issues
Promotes rapid insights and breakthroughs
Maintains momentum throughout the process
Ideal for those with busy schedules or who struggle with consistent weekly appointments
Intensives offer a concentrated, immersive experience that can accelerate your healing process. They provide the space to dive deep into your internal world, make connections, and create significant shifts in a shorter overall timeframe. This approach is particularly beneficial for those who:
Have limited time for regular therapy
Feel stuck in their current therapeutic progress
Need to address a specific issue quickly
Prefer to work intensively on their personal growth
While regular therapy offers ongoing support and gradual change, intensives provide a powerful catalyst for transformation. The best approach depends on your individual needs, goals, and lifestyle. Some clients even find a combination of both approaches to be most effective, using intensives to kickstart change and regular sessions for ongoing support.
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Our intensive therapy sessions are perfect for you if you're someone who's ready to take a deep dive into your personal growth and healing journey. You might be at a point where you recognize that your past experiences, particularly traumatic ones, have significantly impacted your life and relationships. You're aware that these experiences have led to patterns of people-pleasing, feelings of resentment, and difficulty setting boundaries.
If you find yourself nodding along to statements like: "I know my tendency to put others' needs before my own stems from the emotional neglect I experienced growing up." "I want to understand how my past has shaped the way I see myself and interact with others." ... then you're probably in the right place.
You might also be someone who has a clear idea of the changes you want to make in your life. Perhaps you're ready to invest in yourself and do the deep, inner work needed to build healthier relationships, strengthen your sense of self-trust, and prioritize your own needs.
If you catch yourself thinking: "I'm ready to learn how to set boundaries and communicate my needs assertively." "I want to explore the different parts of myself and understand how they contribute to my patterns of people-pleasing." ... then our intensive therapy sessions could be the perfect fit for you.
Our approach focuses on helping you process and heal from past experiences, understand your inner world, and develop practical strategies for creating lasting change. If you're ready to commit to your personal growth and invest in your emotional well-being, we're here to support you every step of the way.
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The short answer is no, I don't provide diagnoses as part of these intensive therapy sessions. Here's why:
My approach is focused on addressing the specific challenge of people-pleasing, not on labeling or categorizing your experiences into a diagnostic framework. I believe that you're the expert on your life, and our work together is about exploring and transforming your patterns, not fitting them into a medical model.
These intensives are designed to provide a safe, focused space for you to process, explore, learn new skills, and gain insights about your people-pleasing tendencies. We'll be looking at the 'symptoms' or manifestations of people-pleasing in your life, but not with the goal of diagnosing a mental health condition.
If you're seeking a formal diagnosis for any reason (like insurance purposes or personal understanding), I'd recommend connecting with a psychiatrist or a therapist who specializes in diagnostic assessments. They can provide that service for you.
My role is to support you in your journey of recovery from people-pleasing, focusing on the relational patterns and internal dynamics that contribute to this behavior. We'll work together to understand and shift these patterns, but without the framework of medical diagnosis.
Remember, not having a diagnosis doesn't make your experiences any less valid or important. Our work together is about understanding, growth, and transformation, tailored specifically to your unique situation and goals.
Does this help clarify my approach? If you have any more questions about this, feel free to ask!
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Absolutely not!! Do not abandon or leave the the therapist you are currently working with. Yall are doing great work so far!
Think of me as an additional support system to you (and low-key, to your therapist too). They may not have the bandwidth via scheduling and/or life priorities to do such an intensive with you..but I can. It's all I do; intensives.
You and I can do the intensive and you can take back what we did together to your primary therapist, and you all continue where you picked up at for the continuity of your care. Never missing a beat.
This type of support is called Adjunct Therapy where your primary therapist and I support you as a team. And your primary therapist is the lead therapist. NO need to leave them. And anyway, I don't do long term ongoing care. We get in, do the work, and get out!
FAQs
Other intensive questions? I’ve got answers.
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Let's chat about who might want to think twice before jumping into intensive therapy.
Look, intensives can be amazing, but they're not everyone's cup of tea. If you're in the middle of a tough mental health crisis, intensives might not give you the consistent support you need right now. It's like trying to run a marathon when you need regular check-ups – not the best timing, you know?
If you're more of a "let's take it slow" kind of person when it comes to emotions, intensives might feel like drinking from a fire hose. No shame in preferring to process things bit by bit!
Also, if you're counting on therapy to keep you steady week to week, the gaps between intensives might feel a bit too wide. It's cool if you need those regular check-ins – lots of people do.
Here's the thing: intensives need you to be pretty self-motivated between sessions. If follow-through isn't your strong suit (hey, we've all been there), weekly sessions might be more your speed.
If you're looking for therapy that's more like a long, winding chat about whatever pops up, intensives might feel a bit too focused for your taste. And if you're dealing with substance use issues that aren't under control, let's tackle that first before diving into the deep end.
Oh, and if you're still on the fence about making changes, or if talking about tough stuff tends to really throw you off balance, intensives might be a bit much right now. Same goes if you're mainly looking for medication management or need your therapist to be your go-to support person.
Remember, it's all about finding what works for you. There's no one-size-fits-all in therapy. If you're not sure where you stand, why don't we hop on a call and figure it out together? No pressure, just a friendly chat to see what's best for you.
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Our intensive therapy sessions are designed to provide a deep, transformative experience, particularly for those struggling with people-pleasing tendencies. Here's what we can address:
Breaking the people-pleasing cycle and building authentic confidence
Processing emotions, especially around resentment and anxiety
Developing healthy boundaries and communication skills
Exploring past influences on current behavior
Improving decision-making based on your own needs and values
Enhancing self-awareness and self-compassion
During our intensive sessions, you can expect to:
Engage in deep, uninterrupted conversations
Learn and practice new emotional and communication skills
Challenge unhelpful thought patterns
Participate in experiential exercises like role-playing
Develop actionable plans for implementing changes
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Let's chat about prep work for our intensive. Don't worry, I'm not assigning you a dissertation – this is all about setting you up for an awesome, transformative experience.
First up, let's talk reflection. Carve out some quiet time to think about what's really driving you to make a change. What would life look like if you weren't always putting others first? Jot down your thoughts – bullet points are totally fine!
Next, let's get real with some examples. Think about recent situations where your people-pleasing tendencies showed up. What happened? How did it make you feel? These real-life scenarios are gold for our work together. If you're feeling ambitious, try keeping a quick journal for a week or two before our session – but no pressure!
Now, here's a biggie: clear your schedule as much as possible for the day of our intensive and, ideally, the day after. This isn't just another appointment – it's an investment in you. Give yourself the space to fully dive in without watching the clock.
Don't forget about self-care! Think about how you'll decompress after our session. Maybe it's a long bath, a walk in nature, or just chilling with your favorite show. Whatever helps you relax and process.
Lastly, come with an open mind and maybe a list of any burning questions you have. This is your time, and I want to make sure we cover what's most important to you.
Remember, this prep isn't about perfection. Even if you only manage to do one or two of these things, you're already setting yourself up for success. The goal is to start shifting your focus inward – probably not something you're used to as a recovering people-pleaser, right?
Got questions about getting ready? Just give me a shout. I'm here to make sure you feel prepared and excited for this transformative experience. Let's do this!
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My intensive therapy approach is designed for focused, short-term work aimed at addressing specific people-pleasing behaviors. Here's what you can expect in terms of documentation:
I provide:
An intake workbook for your initial reflections
An audio recording and transcript of your intensive session (via Otter AI)
A companion workbook for ongoing self-work
I do not provide:
Clinical progress notes or ongoing psychotherapy notes
Paperwork for court issues or legal proceedings
Disability documentation or assessments
This limited documentation approach aligns with the short-term nature of our work together. Our therapeutic relationship is focused on the intensive session and follow-up, without the ongoing commitment of traditional long-term therapy.
Please note that I don't maintain extensive records beyond these materials. If you anticipate needing detailed clinical documentation for any reason, this intensive format may not be the best fit for your needs.
Remember, our work together is about rapid, focused change - getting in, doing the work, and moving forward with the tools you've gained.
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Beyond the Breakthrough: Integrated Intensive Support
Our intensives don't end when the session does. We pair powerful, focused work with ongoing daily support, ensuring you can apply insights and navigate challenges in real-time. This unique blend of intensive therapy and flexible, responsive coaching helps you anchor new behaviors and thought patterns as you navigate real-world situations.
Unlike traditional intensives that might leave you feeling adrift after a breakthrough, our approach provides a continuous thread of support. You're not alone in implementing changes - we're with you every step of the way, helping you reinforce insights and overcome obstacles as they arise in your daily life.
This innovative combination of intensive work and ongoing guidance bridges the gap between transformative moments and lasting change, setting our approach apart in the field of intensive therapy.
Curious if IFS Intensives are right for you?
Take our brief self-assessment to discover if IFS Intensives could fit you.
It will help you determine if our unique approach to healing people-pleasing patterns is a good fit for your needs and lifestyle, or if another form of support might be more suitable for your current situation.
Remember, there are no right or wrong answers - this assessment is designed to help you make an informed decision about your healing journey.