COUNSELING INTENSIVES.

Gospel Centered • Focused Attention • Supportive Space • Renewed Hope

Exploring Pain. Discovering Hope.

Deep work. Deep Healing.

Find Jesus in your deepest needs and deepest longings.

What is a Biblical Counseling Intensive?

An intensive is a concentrated, multi-day experience designed to help individuals, couples, families, or groups work through their story with the guidance of gospel-centered counseling. It involves deep emotional and spiritual work, focusing on the Word of God and the work of Christ, to promote holistic restoration, and tools and practices that help individuals and couples grow. This takes place within a focused amount of time (we offer 4 and 5-day Intensives), allowing counselees to tend to their hearts and the work they need to do in an undistracted, supportive environment.

Intensives take us deeper into our hearts to discover the story God is writing.

Experience transformative healing and renewal through a five-day biblical counseling intensive for individuals, couples, and families, where the gospel guides our journey, focused attention fosters deep connection, a supportive environment nurtures growth, and renewed hope restores hearts and relationships.

The typical schedule is 3 hrs of counseling per day in the morning or afternoon. Your remaining time is spent doing assignments given in counseling, resting, and enjoying your time away.

Some of the things we cover are:

• Deep listening to an entire life story and issues.
• Address root causes, not just symptom relief.
• Evidence-based treatment methods.
• Specific gospel application.
• Practical assignments and homework.
• Tools to take home.

LOCATION
Our counselors are located throughout the US and Canada. We provide intensives in Northern and Southern California, Colorado, Minnesota, Iowa, and Texas.

COST
The fee for an intensive is $2500 - $3000 (this does not include lodging, meals, or transportation). To reserve your spot we require $500 deposit. For an additional fee, our counselors are willing to travel to your location of choice.

AFTERCARE
In an effort to care well for you, we will guide you to develop an aftercare plan. Intensives can be very disruptive; therefore, we plan for a 6 month and 12 month followup. Depending on the issues and needs we may also recommend further sessions in between.

Renewed Hope

As you journey through these five days, the light of renewed hope begins to dawn. The intensive is not merely about uncovering pain but about discovering the hope that springs from the gospel. In our brokenness, we encounter the healing power of Christ. Through Scripture, prayer, and community, we find that hope is not a distant dream but a present reality. The hope we gain is deeply rooted in the promise of God’s faithfulness, assuring us that even in the midst of our struggles, there is a future filled with His ever-present grace and restoration.

Gospel-Centered

At the heart of our intensives lies the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, which speaks directly to our deepest needs and longings. In these five days, we immerse ourselves in the story of God’s redemptive love. Every session, reflection, and prayer is rooted in our Savior’s life, death, and resurrection. You are reminded that your worth and identity are found not in your achievements or failures but in God’s unchanging love. In the sacred space of rest, we are gently led into a process of creation, where God reshapes our hearts, renewing us with His life-giving presence and restoring the beauty of our true selves.

Undistracted Attention

In our everyday lives, distractions abound, pulling us in countless directions. Our intensives offer a rare gift: focused attention. For four or five days, we step away from the noise and enter a sacred space to explore our hearts and listen deeply to God. Here, you are invited to be fully present, to engage with your thoughts and feelings without hurry. This focused attention allows for a profound encounter with God, facilitating breakthroughs that often elude us in the busyness of life, creating a space where our souls can breathe and find rest in the presence of God. This attentiveness opens the door to creation, as we are gently guided to rediscover the divine image within us and participate in the ongoing work of renewal and transformation.

Supportive Space

Healing flourishes in a supportive environment; this intensive is designed to be just that. Our counselors seek to mirror Christ’s compassion and acceptance to our counselees. The presence of compassionate counselors offers a tangible reminder that you are not alone. In a supportive space, we feel safe to let go of our defenses and open ourselves to the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit, finding true rest in God’s presence. As we trust in this sacred partnership, the Spirit begins to create within us, renewing our hearts and guiding us toward the fullness of life and purpose we were meant to embody.

You’ll find our counselors who provide intensives below.

Click on their photo to be taken to their profile page, where you can learn more. Then, contact them directly to begin your intensive journey.

Jason Kovacs

Southern California (Temecula)

Doug Wolter

Iowa

Christie Lacy

Houston, TX Area

Pamela Cubas

Colorado Springs, CO

Kevin Stratton

Missouri

Carissa Early

Northern California

Emily Kleiber

Minnesota

Matt Noble

Raleigh, North Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an intensive?

A biblical counseling intensive is a concentrated, multi-day experience designed to help individuals, couples, families, or groups work through past wounds or trauma with the guidance of biblically-based counseling. It involves deep emotional and spiritual work, using the healing truths of Scripture to promote holistic restoration along with tools and practices that help individuals and couples to grow.

Who can benefit from a biblical counseling intensive?

Individuals, couples, or families who have experienced emotional wounds, relational struggles, or spiritual disconnection can benefit from an intensive. It’s particularly helpful for those seeking a focused time to address unresolved issues, break free from destructive patterns, and experience renewal in their faith journey.

Individuals seeking deep inner-healing, couples facing relationship challenges, families navigating difficult dynamics, and individuals or groups in ministry are all good candidates for biblical counseling intensives.

What kind of intensives do you offer?

We offer intensives for individuals, couples/marriages, families, and groups. Below are a few possible focuses of our intensives:

Individual Intensives
- Trauma-Focused Counseling Intensive: Concentrates on helping individuals process and heal from past trauma.
- Spiritual Renewal Intensive: Focuses on re-establishing a deep connection with God and addressing spiritual struggles.
- Emotional Health Intensive: Targets emotional challenges such as anxiety, depression, or stress through a biblical lens.
Couples Intensives
- Marriage Restoration Intensive: Designed for couples seeking to rebuild trust, communication, and intimacy in their marriage.
- Pre-Marital Counseling Intensive: Helps engaged couples prepare for marriage by addressing potential challenges and establishing a strong biblical foundation.
- Infidelity Recovery Intensive: Specifically for couples working through the aftermath of infidelity, focusing on healing and rebuilding trust.
Family Intensives
- Family Reconciliation Intensive: For families dealing with significant relational conflict, aimed at restoring harmony and understanding.
- Parent-Child Intensive: Helps parents and children navigate complex dynamics, improving communication and relational bonds.
- Blended Family Intensive: This intensive focuses on the unique challenges of blending families, fostering unity and love within the new family structure.
Leadership and Ministry Intensives
- Pastoral Care Intensive: For pastors or ministry leaders needing renewal, addressing personal and spiritual challenges that affect their ministry.
- Ministry Relationship Healing Intensive: For groups of men or women working through shared struggles, such as addiction, grief, or identity issues.
- Missionary Restoration Intensive: Helps missionaries recovering from burnout, trauma, or moral failure, guiding them back to a place of spiritual and emotional health.
- Leadership Crisis Intensive: This intensive program is for leaders facing significant personal or professional crises. It offers a space for deep reflection, healing, and strategic planning for the future.
Other Intensives
- Grief Recovery Intensive: A group setting where participants work through the grieving process together, supported by biblical counseling and shared experiences.
- Addiction Recovery Intensive: Tailored for individuals in recovery from addiction, providing a biblical framework for healing and growth.

What is different about a trauma-recovery focused intensive?

Trauma-recovery-focused intensives are specifically designed to help individuals who have experienced significant trauma, such as abuse, violence, loss, or other life-altering events. The focus is on processing and healing from these specific traumatic experiences.

The approach is more targeted and intensive, often involving deep work around the trauma itself. This may include identifying and processing traumatic memories, understanding the impact of trauma on one’s emotions, behaviors, and relationships, and addressing the spiritual and psychological wounds caused by trauma.

The goals of trauma-recovery-focused intensives are to facilitate deep healing from trauma, break free from the patterns and behaviors that have developed as coping mechanisms, and help individuals re-establish a sense of safety, trust, and connection—with themselves, others, and with God. The focus is on assisting participants to reclaim their lives from the grip of trauma and move toward a place of healing and restoration as they trust God more deeply with their lives and story.

Where do intensives take place?

Our counselors are located throughout the US. Each counselor will provide you with options for lodging in their area.

The cost of our intensives does not include travel, lodging, meals or transportation. However, each counselor can provide suggestions and recommendations if needed.

Our counselors are available for travel, though this would incur an additional fee for travel and lodging.

What can I expect during an intensive?

You can expect a combination of individual counseling sessions, group work (if applicable), and guided personal reflection. The intensive will explore areas such as past trauma, relational dynamics, spiritual growth, and emotional health. Through the integration of Scripture, prayer, and therapeutic practices, participants are guided toward deeper understanding, healing, and transformation.

We often incorporate embodied practices such as recreation and exercise or gentle walks. You may be prompted to create using art supplies or journaling. We also suggest listening to songs, writing and speaking prayers, and more.

How do I schedule and confirm an intensive?

As you read through the counselor profiles above, select the one who is the best fit for you.
Send an email inquiring about intensives. It is helpful to provide 2-3 different dates/weeks you hope to schedule. Our counselors are often booked weeks in advance, so we hope you can be a bit flexible.
Once you’ve connected with your counselor, he or she will send you some intake and consent forms. You’ll also receive an email with an invoice for the $500 deposit.
Your counselor will also provide you with some options for AirBnBs in their area or other lodging accommodations. You’ll book and reserve these as soon as possible, then share the location once you have reserved it with your counselor.
Your counselor might want to schedule a pre-intensive call to learn more about your needs, goals, and hopes for the intensive. They may also send you some resources on preparing for the intensive.

How should I prepare for an intensive?

Preparation involves setting aside time for prayer, reflecting on your goals, and being open to God’s leading. It’s also helpful to complete any pre-intensive materials provided, bring personal items like a journal, Bible, and comfortable clothing, and mentally prepare yourself for deep, introspective work.

Is it normal to feel nervous before starting the intensive?

Yes, feeling nervous or uncertain is completely normal. Entering into an intensive process can bring up feelings of vulnerability, but these emotions often signal the importance of the healing work ahead. Trust that this is a safe space designed to support you, and that the counselors are there to walk with you through every step.

What is the spiritual focus of the intensive?

The spiritual focus of the intensive is rooted in the belief that true healing comes from God. The process involves seeking God’s guidance, exploring your relationship with Him, and understanding how His love and grace can bring restoration and redemption. Scripture, prayer, and spiritual reflection are key components of the intensive, offering a biblical foundation for all counseling work.

How is an intensive different from regular counseling?

Unlike regular counseling, which typically involves weekly sessions, an intensive is a concentrated experience that takes place over several consecutive days. This allows for a deeper and more focused exploration of your emotional and spiritual needs, creating space for significant breakthroughs in a shorter period of time. This allows you to stay engaged with the heart work you are doing, something that weekly counseling does not always permit.

What if I struggle to express my emotions or share my story?

It’s okay to struggle with expressing emotions or sharing your story—this is a common experience, and our counselors are trained to help you navigate these challenges gently. The environment is designed to be non-judgmental and supportive, giving you the freedom to move at your own pace while feeling safe and heard.

Will I receive follow-up care after the intensive?

Yes, follow-up care is often recommended to help you continue the healing process after the intensive. This may include additional counseling sessions, spiritual direction, or participation in a support group. The goal is to ensure that the insights and healing you experience during the intensive are sustained and integrated into your everyday life.

What outcomes can I expect from an intensive?

While outcomes vary for each person, many participants experience significant emotional and spiritual breakthroughs, a deeper understanding of their personal story, and a renewed sense of connection with God. The intensive is designed to equip you with tools for ongoing healing, greater self-awareness, and a stronger foundation in your faith.