Bellingham's #1 Choice for Intensive Individual Therapy
IFS Therapy Intensives
For transformational growth and healing in a short period of time.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Intensives
Connect deeply with your inner landscape and find transformative clarity, peace, and healing in a short period of time.
Click on the button above to start today.

Why Choose an IFS Therapy Intensive?
Are you looking for deep healing in a short period of time? Are you craving a personal retreat, some dedicated time in a safe space with a highly skilled guide, who can help you heal in a way that even weekly therapy can’t touch?
Imagine feeling true freedom, deep peace, real internal connection, joy, and security. How would your life be if you felt at home in yourself, no matter what life throws your way?
Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) is a ground-breaking, experiential form of evidence-based therapy developed by Richard Schwartz, PhD. It has been shown to achieve deep and lasting healing for anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem, and more.
Inside Passage Counseling can help you:
- Feel real, internal connection
- Experience more joy
- Gain personal security
- Break negative patterns
- Improve relationships
- Navigate big emotions
- Feel more at ease in your body
- Gain confidence
- Heal from past wounds
- Find personal freedom
– Dan Reed, PhD, IFS Institute lead trainer
Meet your Therapist


Meet Your Therapist
My name is Heather Varnau, MA, LMHC, and I am passionate about helping individuals achieve real and lasting healing from pain and trauma through the Internal Family Systems Therapy model. My IFS intensives are a powerful, effective way to experience 3-6 months of IFS therapy in only 2-3 days.
By working together in an intensive format, we can build momentum in a short period of time to heal hurt parts of you, release trauma and negative beliefs, so that you are free to be your best self. Before you leave, you’ll have a plan to maintain the progress and healing you’ve achieved.
As the founder of Inside Passage Counseling, I am a Certified IFS Therapist and IFS Institute Approved Clinical Consultant with over 20 years of professional experience as a psychotherapist. I’ve offered therapy intensives for over a decade and provide IFS training and supervision for other therapists.
I look forward to seeing how I can support you on your healing journey and would be honored to be your guide.

“There are few words to convey the impact of the IFS therapy and the safe and compassionate space you create. My time with you has shifted my way of “being” in the world to a far more hopeful, authentic, gentle, grateful and peaceful state of “self”. Many thanks to your responsive and positive-spirited team as well!”
When I started my IFS intensive, I was in complete crisis—anxious, overwhelmed, and stuck in patterns I couldn’t break. I had tried therapy before, but this was different. Instead of just talking about my struggles, I actually connected with the parts of me that were holding so much pain. It wasn’t easy, but for the first time, I felt like I understood myself in a way that brought real relief."

Meghan, Chris and Molly: our extraordinary scheduling team.
Call Now
Call now for more information about the IFS Therapy Intensive and available dates.
Free Consult
If you’d like to proceed, our client care coordinators will schedule a free, 30-minute phone call with Heather Varnau, MA, LMHC to find out if an IFS Therapy Intensive is right for you.
Book Your Intensive
What's Included in Our IFS Therapy Intensive?
Airfare and travel costs not included.
Pre-Intensive Interview
60-minute Zoom meeting, structured similarly to an intake session. We’ll use this time to understand your history and get an idea of what parts you are wanting to focus on during your intensive. This will help us identify the goals of the IFS Therapy Intensive and prepare for the experience. We will identify the painful memories, beliefs, emotions, or images from which you are seeking relief. This will be scheduled 2-4 weeks prior to your intensive day(s).
Tailored Therapy Intensive
2-3 consecutive days of 4-hour intensive IFS therapy. During the scheduled days, we will meet either in person in Bellingham, Washington or online via Zoom. Breaks will be taken as needed (at least one 15-minute break per 3-hour session). Longer days may include a 30-60 minute lunch break.
Post-Intensive Interview
A 60-minute session to debrief the experience and reflect on areas of insight, relief, and transformation. We’ll also discuss next steps for continued growth and healing. This will be scheduled within 1-3 weeks of the intensive sessions, along with a consultation follow up with your regular therapist (if applicable).
Instead of attending therapy one hour per week for a year, why not carve out 2 or 3 days for an IFS intensive? Doing IFS Therapy in an intensive format is a cutting-edge approach to help people feel better faster. Many people think of Therapy Intensives like a retreat. For 2-3 days, you can unplug, take time off work, get a babysitter, or even stay in a hotel. This time is completely dedicated to you so you can focus on healing, reflecting, and reconnecting.
Therapy Intensives are perfect for people that are ready for relief now. If you’re ready to see things change (or movement) in your life, your healing, and your relationships but you don’t want to wait for that to happen next year – an IFS Therapy Intensive may be right for you. If you have a specific topic, trauma, or stressor that you want support with – this can be the focus of your IFS Therapy Intensive. The dedicated time will be customized specifically to you and your goals.
IFS Therapy Intensives are more effective and efficient than normal 50-minute therapy sessions. Typically, in a 50-minute session, there are at least 5-10 minutes of “check-in” at the start of the session and usually, 5-10 minutes spent on “closing up” or “checking out” at the end of a session – Leaving only 30-40 minutes for deep therapeutic work. Therapy Intensives are different. A 4-hour IFS Therapy Intensive allows for 3.5 hours of depth work. That’s the equivalent of five 50-minute sessions or more than a month of therapy – in a single day! Doing 2-3 days of this, will allow space to go deep and really connect with your own healing journey.
Great question! This depends on your goals for the Therapy Intensive. Some goals can be reached in a 2 Day Intensive (4 hours each day), but other goals are more complex and may require a 3 Day Intensive (total 12 hours face-to-face intensive therapy). I can help you determine the number of days that would work best for your therapy goals.
Absolutely! IFS Therapy Intensives work very well as an adjunct therapy. I would ask that you sign a Release of Information so that your current therapist and I can collaborate/coordinate to best serve you.
I’m sorry, Therapy Intensives are not covered by insurance.
First, call today and speak with one of our professional client care coordinators. They will answer your questions about cost and availability.
If you are still interested in proceeding with scheduling, the next step is to do a free 30-minute consultation with me, Heather Varnau, MA, LMHC. The consultation will be held by Zoom. You will be asked to fill out a short questionnaire (sent via email) prior to the consultation, which will help me focus the conversation to address your needs.
If we both believe it is a good fit to proceed, I will follow up with an email with my first available dates, and our scheduling team will assist with scheduling your intensive. A deposit of $300 is required at the time of booking and the remaining balance will be charged the day before the first day of the intensive.
Cancellation policy: I require at least 2 weeks’ notice to cancel or reschedule your intensive to receive a refund of your deposit. If you cancel your intensive with less than 2 weeks’ notice, you may use your deposit toward the cost of a future service at Inside Passage Counseling.
Let’s schedule a time to talk! I’m happy to answer any questions and explore your unique situation to see if an IFS Therapy Intensive may be helpful for you during a no-obligation 30-minute Zoom call to discuss any questions you may have.
Frequently Asked Questions about IFS Therapy Intensives
Why Inside Passage?
When you choose Inside Passage Counseling, you’re choosing more than just therapy services – you’re choosing a partner on your path to healing and wholeness.
- Expertise: Our therapists are highly trained professionals specializing in relationship counseling to help individuals, couples and families overcome obstacles and thrive.
- Compassion: We approach each client with empathy, understanding and non-judgement, creating a safe space for healing and growth.
- Personalization: We recognize that every individual is unique, which is why we tailor our approach to meet your specific needs and goals.
- Customer Service: We pride ourselves in providing the highest quality of customer service every step of the way.
- Results: 90% of couples who work with us report more happiness in their marriage, stronger connection and overall better communication.
Take the First Step to a Happier, Healthier Life.
If you are ready to improve your emotional well-being and quality of life, contact Inside Passage Counseling today.
Click on the link above to book a FREE 15-min consult with one of our Client Care Coordinators

Take the First Step to a happier, healthier life.
If you are ready to improve your emotional well-being and quality of life, contact Inside Passage Counseling today.