5 Summer Self-Care Tips: Why Therapy Intensives Should Be #1

For burned out perfectionists, busy professionals, and deep feelers who crave more ease this summer.

Summer often shows up with a lot of excitement—bright, busy, and full of plans. But if you’re someone who’s spent the first half of the year grinding through deadlines, caring for everyone else, and quietly running on empty, it can feel more overwhelming than relaxing. You might notice yourself approaching (or already in) total burnout, and the thought of the upcoming fall busyness probably feels completely overwhelming.

Here’s the truth: You deserve a summer that doesn’t just look good on paper—but one that actually feels nourishing to your nervous system. You deserve a break from the stress, true emotional and physical rest, and time to reconnect with the things and people that bring you true joy.

As a burnout recovery therapist, I help anxious perfectionists, people-pleasers, and deep feelers reclaim their energy and peace. And if there’s one thing I recommend this time of year, it’s this:

Therapy intensives are the ultimate summer self-care.

If your usual self-care routine just isn’t cutting it anymore, let’s talk about how therapy intensives can be the reset you’ve been craving—and how to build a season of care around them.

1. Start with a Therapy Intensive for a True Emotional Reset

Most people wait for burnout to “pass” or assume things will calm down eventually. But if you're honest, summer often ends up just as chaotic—only now there’s heat, travel plans, and emotional whiplash from trying to “relax” while still running on empty.

A therapy intensive offers deep, focused mental health support in just a few sessions. Instead of stretching out your healing week by week (and likely getting caught up in the weeds of daily life), you get a powerful head start with:

• A trauma-focused approach

• Somatic experiences and art therapy directives

• EMDR preparation and reprocessing

• Space to gently understand and shift the roots of perfectionism, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm

In just a few sessions, clients walk away feeling more grounded, emotionally clear, and ready to reclaim their time and energy. It’s like giving your nervous system a reset button before the chaos of summer fully kicks in.

Summer self-care starts with slowing down—just enough to feel like yourself again.

2. Reclaim Your Mornings (Even Just One)

If you're someone who immediately starts thinking about your to-do list the second you wake up, this one’s for you. Reclaim one morning each week to not be productive. That might look like:

• Sitting with your coffee in silence

• Journaling before the emails begin

• Going for a walk without headphones

I know, as a perfectionist who’s constantly in “go” mode, this feels almost impossible. But I promise, you can do hard things and challenge yourself in this way. You’ll quickly notice a shift in your energy as you take on the day.

Therapy intensives help clarify what you truly need—so this quiet time becomes less about checking a box, and more about real self-connection.

3. Say “No” So You Can Say “Yes” to What Matters

Boundaries are a form of self-care, not selfishness. This summer, give yourself permission to not RSVP to every invitation, volunteer for every task, or keep showing up for others at the expense of yourself. As a perfectionist or people-pleaser, you might feel the pressure to overcommit and agree to everything. But summer can be your break and emotional reset if you let yourself finally start saying “no.”

In our therapy intensive, we explore how burnout and people-pleasing patterns can make “no” feel scary—and how to build self-trust as you practice protecting your energy.

4. Connect to Creativity (Even if You’re Not an Artist)

Creative expression is a powerful way to regulate emotions and reconnect with joy and play. It doesn’t need to be intricate or advanced, let’s start small! Some ways to get started:

• Doodling while you’re on hold

• Creating a small digital collage (I love the app Shuffles for this!)

• Revisiting that childhood hobby you forgot you loved

Art therapy invites you to express what words sometimes can’t. In your intensive, you’ll reconnect with this part of yourself—and be reminded that play is productive, too.

5. Take a Real Break

Burnout recovery requires real rest. That means rest that your body and brain can actually feel. It might be unplugging from work, setting your phone on do-not-disturb, or simply giving yourself an hour with no expectations.

After completing a therapy intensive, clients may find it easier to rest—because they’re no longer carrying the invisible emotional weight that used to follow them everywhere.

You can’t pour from an empty cup. But you can refill it—with intention.

Ready for a Summer Reset?

If you’re feeling exhausted, emotionally disconnected, or stuck in perfectionism cycles, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to wait to feel better.

A therapy intensive can help you reconnect with yourself, get clarity around what’s not working, and build a foundation for more joy this summer.

📅 Now booking summer therapy intensives in Baltimore and virtually throughout Maryland and Colorado. Read more here.

👉 Click here to schedule a free consultation and take the first step toward a more grounded, joyful season.