Accelerated Therapeutic Intensives
High- Impact, Concentrated Therapy Intensives for High-Performing Individuals in Maine, North Carolina and Virginia
At Harborlight Counseling, we recognize that there are highly successful professionals and other groups of folks who are extremely busy. They want to start therapy but don’t know where to begin. They don’t want to go through the seemingly slow ramp-up process. They are determined individuals who recognize that there is something in their life they want to change, and are looking for a relaxing, therapeutic, bespoke way to accomplish this.
That’s why we created the Accelerated Therapeutic Intensives. We meet you where you at mentally, while meeting you at an amazing destination physically. Our three-day experiences are hand-crafted and set in specific scenic & relaxing locations that will evoke the work we will be accomplishing.
The intensives begin with a 60 minute assessment consultation call, along with a pre-intensive intake and custom itinerary mapping session. Once this is done, the client will book lodging near the location of the intensive. We hold our intensives everywhere from the peaceful island town of Bar Harbor, Maine, to the serene Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, to the relaxing shores of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We plan the location of the intensives to facilitate growth and progress. We also offer the intensives remote!
We offer many different tracks:
OCD & Anxiety Disorders: Using ERP ACT and CBT
Burnout & Executive Wellness- designed for founders, executives and high earners. This addresses chronic nervous system overload, sustainable boundaries, deconstruct work stress
ADHD & Executive Functioning- moves beyond basic time management hacks. Cover psychoeducation of neurodivergence, building personalized executive functioning workflows, and reframe shame patterns
Eating Disorders & Body Image- targeted meal exposures, somatic body image work, cognitive restructuring designed to interrupt eating dis behaviors and improve psychological flexibility
Couples & Families
3 Phase Intensive Framework
Day 1- foundation, mapping and cognitive restructuring
Day 2- heavy exposures, role play and active processing
Day 3- integration, boundary design and relapse prevention
- follow up 2-3 weeks following intensive
- Format- secure, confidential, HIPPA compliant telehealth
- Investment and Superbills- Self pay, Superbly on request to submit to HSA/FSA for approval.
Additional possibility of reimbursement for out-of-network benefits with insurance provider
FAQs
How do I know if an intensive is right for me instead of weekly therapy?
A:An intensives may be right for you if you are a high-functioning professional who feels as if they have hit a wall. The tricks you once used to stay organized no longer work, you can’t seem to get ahead and you constantly feel burnt out. You’re very busy and may not have time for weekly therapy, or you might be hesitant to start therapy. Maybe you’ve suspected you may be neurodivergent but you’re not sure where to start. You want to work with someone who can meet you where you are at, someone who can work with you to give you a space to explore your mental health journey and then gives you the tools to succeed.
Can I do intensive if I already have a primary weekly therapists?
A:yes! And Shelby can collaborate with them if you prefer!
What are the modalities used in the intensives?
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): Identifies distorted thought patterns and unhelpful behaviors, re-examining and reframing them with logical evidence to improve emotional responses.
REBT (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy): Focuses on directly confronting and disputing rigid, absolute beliefs (the "musts" and "shoulds") that cause emotional distress.
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): Teaches you to stop fighting uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, instead observing them with distance while taking action aligned with your core values.
ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention): Systematically exposes you to anxiety triggers while intentionally preventing the usual protective ritual or avoidance behavior, retraining the brain's alarm system.
Somatics: Uses physical sensations, body awareness, and movement to release trapped stress or trauma stored directly in the autonomic nervous system.
Mindfulness: Trains intentional, present-moment awareness without judgment, helping interrupt automatic emotional reactions and cognitive rumination.
Can this intensive work for groups, families or couples
A: Yes, absolutely. The intensives can be tailored and customized to any needs you or your group may have!
What happens after the 3 days are complete
A: Shelby will provide you a debrief packet which will give you the custom tools and exercises you all discussed in your specific sessions. She will also schedule 2 follow up meetings after the intensives are over.
Sample of a 3-Day Intensive:
This specific itinerary is designed for high-earning professionals, founders, or executives experiencing severe burnout and ADHD/Executive Dysfunction. The intensives can be designed based around the client’s specific needs.
Day 1: Deconstruction & Structural Mapping Focus:
Identifying root causes of burnout, mapping neurodivergent traits, and deconstructing shame loops around productivity.
09:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Block 1: The Anatomy of Your Burnout
• Unpacking the cycle: High achievement vs. nervous system exhaustion.
• Executive dysfunction deep-dive: Mapping where energy drains occur (working memory, initiation, decision fatigue).
• Identifying masked ADHD behaviors in high-pressure work environments.
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Nervous System Reset
• Guided somatic decompression
11:30 AM – 01:30 PM | Block 2: Cognitive Restructuring & Value Alignment
• Uncoupling personal worth from professional output.
• Deconstructing the "over-commitment trap" and internal hyper-responsibility.
• Mapping core values vs. current daily reality.
01:30 PM – 02:00 PM | Closing & Daily Integration Assignment
• Debriefing the day's insights.
• Evening Task: "Energy Audit" – Tracking energy drains during off-hours.
Day 2: Heavy Role-Play, Boundary Setting & System Design
Focus: Active behavioral intervention, high-stakes communication role-play, and custom external workflow scaffolding
09:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Block 1: High-Stakes Boundary Role-Play
• Real-time role-playing: Practice saying "no" to clients, stakeholders, and board members, or being assertive/other specific scenarios.
• Managing the emotional discomfort/anxiety of boundary enforcement.
• Establishing strict digital & communication boundaries (email, Slack, off-hours access).
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Nervous System Reset
• Somatic grounding and progressive muscle relaxation
11:30 AM – 01:30 PM | Block 2: Custom Executive Function Scaffolding
• Designing an ADHD-friendly workflow system (lowering friction, managing dopamine hits).
• Time-blocking strategies for high-cognitive-load vs. low-cognitive-load tasks.
• Creating operational delegation frameworks to reduce fatigue.
01:30 PM – 02:00 PM | Closing & Daily Integration Assignment
• Debriefing system designs.
• Evening Task: Draft a real-world boundary communication to send or implement.
Day 3: Integration, Sustainability & Relapse Prevention
Focus: Consolidating gains, building a long-term sustainability playbook, and planning for crisis management
09:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Block 1: Somatic Integration & Emotional Regulation
• Developing acute emotional regulation toolkits for high-stress work triggers.
• Somatic practices for real-time panic, overstimulation, and sensory overload.
• Establishing morning and shutdown routines that protect executive capacity.
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Nervous System Reset
• Guided mindfulness and grounding exercise focused on self-compassion.
11:30 AM – 01:30 PM | Block 2: The Sustainability Blueprint
• Creating your personalized "Burnout Early Warning System" (recognizing red flags).
• Drafting your post-intensive 30-60-90 day sustainability plan.
• Communication hand-off plan for your primary weekly therapist (if applicable).
01:30 PM – 02:00 PM | Final Wrap-Up & Prep for Follow-Ups
• Final reflections, grounding, and setting expectations for the follow-up calls