Services · Intensive Therapy
Intensive Online Therapy for Muslim Women
When you are ready for change now, weekly therapy can feel slow. Intensive therapy gives you longer, more frequent one-on-one sessions over a few weeks, so you can build momentum, practice skills every day and see progress sooner, while keeping more of your everyday life in place.
Dr. Aisha Chaudhry, PsyD, LMHC, LPC, a Muslim female therapist and Aalimah, offers individual intensive therapy online for OCD and religious waswasa, trauma and PTSD, panic, anxiety and depression. It is not group therapy, and every plan is designed around you.
How intensive therapy is different
Same evidence-based treatments, delivered in a more concentrated format.
| Weekly therapy | Intensive therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| Session length | About 50 minutes | 100 minutes |
| How often | Once a week | Four times a week |
| Typical length | Several months | About 3 to 6 weeks |
| Pace | Gradual, with a week between sessions | Focused daily momentum and practice |
| Format | One-on-one, online | One-on-one, online (no group sessions) |
| Best for | Steady, ongoing support | Motivated clients who want faster progress |
Concerns that respond well to intensive care
OCD & Religious Waswasa
Intensive Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), with exposures designed to stay within Islamic boundaries.
Trauma & PTSD
Concentrated trauma-focused therapy with EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy or Written Exposure Therapy.
Panic & Phobias
Focused exposure-based CBT to break the cycle of fear and avoidance quickly.
Social & Generalized Anxiety
Daily skill-building and practice to reduce worry and avoidance.
Depression & Low Self-Esteem
Behavioral Activation and CBT to rebuild energy, routine and self-worth.
Procrastination & Habits
Structured plans and daily accountability for patterns that keep you stuck.
What happens during an intensive
Assess & Plan
A full evaluation and clear, shared goals for your intensive.
Prepare
Coping and regulation skills so you feel steady before deeper work.
Focused Treatment
Concentrated ERP, trauma processing or CBT, with practice between sessions.
Maintain
A relapse-prevention plan and, if helpful, step-down sessions afterward.
Research shows concentrated formats of ERP and trauma-focused therapy can work as well as weekly treatment, in much less time.
What a typical intensive looks like
Per session
Longer sessions leave room for deeper work and in-session practice.
Sessions per week
Frequent sessions keep momentum and accountability high.
Typical length
Based on your treatment needs, determined at your intake.
This is our most common model. Your schedule is designed around your goals.
Who intensive therapy is for
A good fit
- You feel stable and ready to work hard for a few weeks
- You want faster progress than weekly sessions allow
- You can attend by private video and practice between sessions
- You have OCD, trauma, panic, anxiety or depression that limits daily life
- You prefer one-on-one care without group sessions
- You want to keep your own psychiatric provider or doctor
Not the right fit
- A current crisis or a need for hospital-level care
- Detox or active substance dependence
- Wanting group therapy
- Not able to attend by video or practice skills between sessions
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (in the US), call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.
Three simple steps to begin
Free meet & greet
A 15-minute call to talk about your goals and whether an intensive fits.
Intake evaluation
A 100-minute intake ($374) with a full evaluation and shared goal-setting.
Your intensive
Schedule your sessions and begin your personalized program.
Questions about intensive therapy
What is intensive therapy?
Intensive therapy provides longer and more frequent sessions over a shorter period to speed up your progress. At Manara Counseling it is one-on-one, not group therapy, and it is tailored to your individual needs.
Is intensive therapy as effective as weekly therapy?
For many people, yes. Research on concentrated formats of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and trauma-focused therapy for PTSD shows they can work as well as weekly treatment, in much less time. Your fit is assessed during your intake.
Is this the same as an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)?
Not exactly. Traditional IOPs usually involve a set treatment team and group sessions. Manara’s intensive therapy keeps the most helpful parts, more frequent and longer sessions, but is fully one-on-one and more flexible. It is not a substitute for crisis services or hospital care.
How many hours does intensive therapy involve?
The most common model is 100-minute sessions, four times a week, for about 3 to 6 weeks. Your exact schedule is based on your treatment needs, which are determined during your intake.
Can I do an OCD or trauma intensive online?
Yes. All intensive sessions are held by secure video from a private space of your choosing. Research supports online delivery of ERP for OCD and trauma-focused therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy, and doing exposures at home can make them more relevant to daily life.
How do I start intensive therapy, and what does it cost?
Begin with a free 15-minute meet & greet with Dr. Aisha. If an intensive seems like a good fit, the next step is a 100-minute intake evaluation ($374), where you set your treatment goals together. Session fees are listed on the appointments page.
Does insurance cover intensive therapy?
Manara Counseling is an out-of-network provider and has opted out of Medicare. Many insurance plans include out-of-network mental health benefits, and Dr. Aisha can provide a superbill you can submit for possible reimbursement. Please ask your insurance company whether they reimburse multiple hours of outpatient therapy per day.
What happens after the intensive ends?
You leave with a relapse-prevention plan for keeping your progress. Many clients step down to weekly or every-other-week sessions for a short time to strengthen new skills.
Who can attend intensive therapy?
Dr. Aisha works with women and teen girls ages 13 and older who are located in Florida, Texas, Virginia, Michigan, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Vermont or Saudi Arabia. Clients should be stable, motivated and able to attend by video and practice skills between sessions.
Ready for focused, faster progress?
Book a free 15-minute meet & greet to ask your questions and see whether working with Dr. Aisha is the right fit.
Book a Free Meet & GreetNotice: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended to assess, diagnose or treat any condition. Using this site does not create a therapist–client relationship. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (in the US), call your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.