The One‑Barrier Intensive
If you have a big day coming up, like a keynote, a board presentation or a final‑round interview, we spend one long session getting you ready for it. Before it there’s a free call and a short note from you, and after it there are two follow‑ups.
How it goes
You bring one specific thing, ideally with a date attached, and we take it through every step of the process in one long sitting.
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15 minutes, free, on video
A first call
We talk about what’s in the way and whether the Intensive suits it.
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Before the session
A short note from you
You write down the barrier in your own words, what it’s costing you, what you’d like to be able to do and what you’ve already tried.
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About five hours, breaks included
The long session
We start with the part you’re dreading and use EMDR tools, like eye movements or tapping, on your body’s reaction to it until you can think about it without tensing up. We build on what you already do well under pressure. Then we rehearse the day itself out loud, standing up if it’s a talk, hard parts included, and finish slowly so you’re steady when you leave.
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At two and six weeks
Two follow‑ups, and notes in between
Sixty minutes each, to talk about how it went and what comes next. In between, you can send me a voice note or email whenever something comes up, and I’ll reply within a business day.
What it can look like
Say you’re giving the keynote at your company’s annual conference in five weeks. The last time you spoke on a big stage, you lost your place two minutes in, and you’ve found reasons to turn down every invitation since.
In the session we start with the moment you’re most afraid of, maybe walking out under the lights and seeing the first row, and work on it until you can picture it without your throat tightening. Then we rehearse the first two minutes out loud, standing up, several times, including what you’ll do if you lose your place. You leave with a plan for the next five weeks, and your first follow‑up falls before the conference.
An illustration of the work, not a client story.
When the Intensive helps
It tends to help when
- There’s one specific thing in the way, ideally with a date, like a keynote, a board meeting or an interview.
- You can do it well in practice or on a good day, and struggle when it counts.
- You’d rather spend a few hours on it at once than an hour a week.
I’d point you elsewhere when
- You’re in crisis or don’t feel safe right now.
- You’re looking for ongoing weekly therapy.
- You want to work through specific past traumas.
- You need assessment, diagnosis or insurance coverage.
If you’re not sure which applies, we can work it out on the free call.
Questions people ask
When should I book it?
Three to four weeks before the day itself. The first follow‑up comes two weeks after the session, so it lands before your talk, board meeting or interview. If your date is sooner, ask anyway.
Why one long session?
In a 50‑minute session we often run out of time just as you’ve settled in. With a few hours, we can stay with whatever comes up and still finish without rushing. The follow‑ups are there to see how it’s holding up in real life.
What if more comes up than we can finish?
It often does. We keep the last part of the session for slowing down, and then we talk about what came up and what to do with it.
Do I need to live in Toronto?
No. Everything happens online, and we’ll find a time that works across time zones.
How do payment and rescheduling work?
The first call is free. If we both want to go ahead, you pay for the Intensive in full when you book. You can reschedule once for free with at least 14 days’ notice, and you’ll get the full terms with your booking.
What it costs
This covers the prep, the long session, both follow‑ups and the check‑ins in between. The first call is free, and you only pay once we’ve both decided to go ahead.