Rediscover calm, clarity, and connection… even after reproductive trauma

Intensive Therapy for Perinatal Trauma in St Paul, Minnesota

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Intensive support for women navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, and birth trauma.

You've been doing weekly therapy for months. Maybe you've made some progress, but honestly? It feels too slow for the intensity of what you're carrying. You walk into session, start to get somewhere, and then, time's up. See you next week. Meanwhile, you're still replaying the traumatic birth on a loop, still checking if your baby is breathing multiple times a night, still feeling disconnected from your body after your loss.

Here's the thing: perinatal trauma doesn't always heal well in 50-minute increments spread across months. Sometimes you need concentrated, focused time to actually process what happened instead of constantly starting and stopping.

Intensive therapy offers a different path, one where we can dive deep and stay there long enough for real healing to happen.

You're Exhausted From White-Knuckling Your Way Through This

Maybe your experience included infertility treatments that broke you down month after month. Or a pregnancy loss that shattered the future you'd already imagined. Maybe it was a traumatic birth where you feared for your life or your baby's. Or a NICU stay that left you asking strangers for permission to hold your own child.

And now, weeks or months or even years later, you're still struggling with:

Constant anxiety that won't quit: Catastrophizing every symptom, every doctor's appointment, every moment your baby seems off. Your nervous system is stuck on high alert, bracing for the next disaster.

Intrusive thoughts and memories: Your brain replays the worst moments on a loop. Flashbacks hit you out of nowhere. You can't shake the images of what happened, no matter how hard you try.

Disconnection you can't name: Going through the motions of motherhood (or trying to become a mother) but not really feeling present. Like you're watching your life happen from the outside.

Guilt and shame that logic can't touch: You know intellectually it wasn't your fault, but that doesn't stop the relentless self-blame. Your body failed you. You failed your baby. You should have done something different.

Loss of trust in your body: After experiencing your body as a place where trauma happened, you feel betrayed. You can't trust the signals it's sending you.

You're smart, self-aware, and competent. You've read the articles, listened to the podcasts, done all the things you're "supposed to" do. And still, you're stuck.

Not because you're doing it wrong, but because trauma doesn't live in the logical part of your brain. It lives in your nervous system, in your body. And you can't think your way out of it.

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What Is Intensive Therapy?

Intensive therapy is an alternative to traditional weekly sessions. Instead of 50 minutes once a week, intensive therapy involves extended sessions, typically several hours in a single day or multiple consecutive days of focused therapeutic work.

This concentrated format creates space for deep processing without the constant interruption of returning to daily life, then trying to pick up where you left off a week later. For women dealing with perinatal trauma, this sustained focus can create breakthroughs that might take months to achieve in traditional therapy.

During intensive sessions, I use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, evidence-based approaches specifically designed to address trauma where it actually lives: in your brain and nervous system.

Why Intensive Therapy Works for Perinatal Trauma

Your body holds the trauma: Perinatal experiences are deeply physical. Whether it's infertility treatments, pregnancy loss, traumatic birth, or NICU complications, your body was involved. Intensive sessions give us time to address what's stored in your nervous system, not just your thoughts.

Momentum matters: In weekly therapy, you spend time catching up, re-entering the therapeutic space, and then just when you're getting somewhere, it's over. Intensive therapy eliminates that stop-start pattern, allowing your brain's natural healing process to unfold without constant interruption.

The grief has layers: You're not grieving one thing. You're grieving the baby, the future you imagined, the pregnancy experience you didn't get, the innocence you felt before everything changed. Intensive work allows us to process these complex layers without rushing or fragmenting the work.

Hypervigilance is exhausting: That constant checking, catastrophizing, inability to relax even when things are objectively fine? Intensive EMDR work can help calm your nervous system's threat detection so you can actually be present instead of constantly bracing.

How We Actually Address Trauma in Intensive Sessions

Here's the deal: we could meet every week and talk about your feelings. And yes, talking matters. Making sense of what happened matters.

But if you're honest, you've already spent a lot of time thinking about it, talking it through in your head, maybe with friends or past providers, and you're still stuck.

Not because you're doing it wrong, but because perinatal trauma heals by working directly with your brain and nervous system, not just your thoughts.

EMDR: Helping Your Brain Finally Process What Happened

EMDR is specifically designed to treat trauma. It works with how your brain naturally processes memories, except during trauma, that natural process gets interrupted and the memory gets stuck.

Here's what makes EMDR different: you don't have to talk through every horrifying detail or relive the trauma. Instead, we use bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds that stimulate both sides of your brain) while you briefly focus on the traumatic memory. This helps your brain reprocess it so it becomes something that happened to you in the past, rather than something that feels like it's still happening.

In an intensive format, we can work through multiple aspects of a traumatic event or process several related memories in ways that create comprehensive healing. We're not stopping and starting—your brain gets to complete its natural processing work.

I won't lie. It can feel a little weird at first. But most women find that after EMDR, the intrusive thoughts decrease, the anxiety eases, and they can actually think about their experience without being completely overwhelmed.

Internal Family Systems: Working With All Parts of You

Sometimes you've got different parts of yourself that are basically fighting with each other. One part is pissed off about how you were treated. Another part feels crushing guilt. Yet another part just wants to move on already.

Internal Family Systems helps you understand that these aren't conflicting problems—they're different parts of you trying to protect you in their own way, even when their strategies aren't working anymore.

In intensive sessions, we have time to really get to know these parts, understand their protective roles, and help them work together instead of against each other. This is especially powerful for dealing with guilt, shame, and self-blame, because we can help those protective parts realize they don't have to keep punishing you to keep you safe.

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What to Expect in Intensive Therapy

We Start With a Real Conversation

No pressure, no sales pitch. Just a genuine conversation about what you're going through and whether we're a good fit to work together. We'll discuss:

  • Your specific experiences with infertility, pregnancy loss, birth trauma, or NICU complications

  • What intensive therapy involves and what you can realistically expect

  • Your goals for healing, whether that's reducing anxiety, processing memories, reconnecting with your body, or experiencing joy again

The Structure of Intensive Sessions

Intensive sessions are customized to your individual needs. Some women prefer a full-day intensive, while others benefit from multiple half-day sessions over consecutive days. Together, we'll determine what works best for your schedule, childcare needs, and therapeutic goals.

We'll take breaks as needed. This work is emotionally demanding, and it's important to pace ourselves. You might have time for a walk, a meal, or simply some quiet moments to integrate what we're processing.

Available both online throughout Minnesota and in-person in St Paul, you can choose what feels most comfortable and accessible for you.

We Use Approaches That Actually Work

I combine talking and processing with EMDR and IFS therapy to address what's happening in your brain and nervous system, not just your thoughts. These approaches don't typically involve homework, the healing happens during our focused sessions together.

The actual processing can feel unusual at first. During EMDR, you'll focus on the target memory while experiencing bilateral stimulation. You're awake and aware the entire time, not hypnotized, but your brain gets to do its natural healing work. Your job is just to notice what comes up, not control it. We take breaks often to make sure you're okay and can tolerate what's happening.

Processing can continue between sessions. Don't be surprised if you have vivid dreams, sudden insights, or memories that surface after intensive work. This is normal and actually a sign your brain is actively working on healing.

We Focus on Sustainable Change

We're not slapping a band-aid on symptoms. We're uncovering what's going on underneath so you can make real, lasting changes in your life. The changes are often gradual but profound, memories that once felt overwhelming start to feel more distant, anxiety decreases, you feel more connected to your body and present with your baby.

Who Intensive Therapy Is For

Intensive therapy is particularly powerful if you:

Are tired of the slow pace of weekly therapy: You've been doing the work, but the progress feels frustratingly incremental compared to the intensity of what you're carrying.

Want to make significant progress in concentrated time: Maybe you have limited availability due to work and parenting demands, or you just want focused healing without dragging it out over months.

Are highly motivated and ready for deep work: You're willing to dedicate focused time and energy to healing, even though it might feel challenging.

Have tried traditional therapy without enough relief: Maybe talk therapy helped you understand your trauma, but understanding alone hasn't been enough to actually heal.

Recognize that self-awareness isn't enough: You're insightful and competent, but you've realized you can't think your way out of this. You need approaches that address what's happening in your nervous system.

Why Work With a Perinatal Trauma Specialist

Perinatal trauma has particular nuances that general trauma therapy may not fully address. Working with someone who specializes in infertility, pregnancy loss, birth trauma, and NICU experiences means you don't have to explain the specific nature of your pain or defend the validity of your feelings.

I understand the profound grief of pregnancy loss, the terror of NICU complications, the betrayal felt after traumatic birth, and the complex emotions that arise when motherhood differs dramatically from what you expected. This specialized understanding allows us to move quickly into meaningful therapeutic work without you having to educate me first.

Every woman's experience is unique. Your particular combination of experiences, personality, strengths, and challenges requires an approach tailored specifically to you. We'll discover together what serves your healing best.

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Here's What Healing Can Actually Look Like

I'm not going to promise you'll forget what happened or that everything will be perfect. But here's what becomes possible when you process perinatal trauma through intensive therapy:

  • The constant anxiety starts to ease. You can breathe again.

  • Intrusive thoughts become less frequent and less intense.

  • You actually feel connected to your baby instead of just going through the motions.

  • You experience moments of genuine joy, not just exhaustion and worry.

  • You trust yourself instead of second-guessing everything.

  • You can think about your experience without feeling like you're drowning.

  • You feel like yourself again—not who you were before, but an integrated version of who you are now.

You don't have to choose between being grateful and grieving what you lost. Both can be true. Both deserve space.

Honestly? It depends. Every woman's experience is different, and healing doesn't happen on a rigid timeline. Some women find significant relief after a single intensive session, while others benefit from a series of sessions over several days. We'll work at a pace that feels right for you, and I won't rush you through your healing just to check boxes. During our initial conversation, we'll talk about your goals and develop a plan that makes sense for your specific situation.
Nope. One of the benefits of EMDR is that you don't have to narrate every detail of your trauma out loud. While I need to understand generally what happened so we can identify targets for processing, during the actual EMDR work, your brain does the processing. You just notice what comes up. This can be particularly helpful if talking about your trauma feels overwhelming or if you're tired of rehashing the same story over and over.
If you're still struggling with anxiety, intrusive thoughts, disconnection, guilt, hypervigilance, or any of the symptoms we've talked about, your experience counts. Trauma is defined by how you experienced it, not by what happened objectively or whether others think it was "bad enough." I've worked with women who minimize their own experiences because someone else "had it worse." Your pain is valid regardless of how it compares to anyone else's story.
Both work. Intensive therapy can be effectively conducted in online sessions throughout Minnesota or in person in St. Paul. There are lots of ways to adapt intensive EMDR and IFS work to virtual settings, and research shows that online trauma therapy is just as effective as in-person sessions. What matters most is that you feel safe and comfortable in the space we're working together.
You're always in control during intensive therapy. We can pause or stop at any time if you need a break. Before we begin processing trauma, we'll make sure you have tools to manage difficult emotions, and we'll build in regular breaks throughout the day. I'm also trained to recognize when processing is productive versus when it's becoming overwhelming, and I'll help regulate the pace. The goal is effective but manageable healing, not to overwhelm you.
Yes, though we'll talk about timing and pacing based on your specific situation. Some women prefer to process trauma during pregnancy or early motherhood, while others want to wait. We can adjust the structure and intensity of sessions based on what you can manage with childcare, and we'll work together to determine what makes sense for you. Online sessions can be especially helpful for new moms who need flexibility.
It doesn't matter if your traumatic experience happened last month or ten years ago. Trauma doesn't have an expiration date, and your brain doesn't care how much time has passed. If the memory still feels stuck, if it still affects how you move through the world, intensive therapy can help. I've worked with women processing birth trauma from years ago, pregnancy losses that happened decades back, and infertility experiences that are long "over" but still impacting their lives. Your healing isn't less valid because time has passed.
No. EMDR and intensive therapy do not erase memories. What they do is help your brain store them differently so they no longer feel so overwhelming or immediate. You'll still remember what happened, and honoring your experience is important. But the memory won't carry the same emotional intensity or feel like it's still happening to you. You can hold your story without it holding you hostage.
If your previous therapy was primarily talk therapy without specialized trauma treatment like EMDR or IFS, then intensive therapy offers something fundamentally different. These approaches work directly with how trauma is stored in your brain and nervous system, not just your thoughts. Also, the concentrated format of intensive work creates momentum that weekly sessions often can't replicate. That said, if we start intensive therapy and it's not the right fit, we'll talk about it. My job is to help you heal, not to force a specific method that isn't working for you.
Intensive therapy is structured differently than traditional weekly sessions, so pricing varies based on the length and format we design together. The best way to get specific pricing information is to reach out directly. We can discuss your needs during our initial conversation and I'll provide clear information about costs and scheduling options.

Frequently Asked Questions

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You Don't Have to Keep Doing This Alone

Look, I get it. You're used to being the competent one, the problem-solver, the person who figures things out. But healing from perinatal trauma isn't something you can muscle through with sheer determination alone.

Intensive therapy offers something different, a way to address trauma at the nervous system level in concentrated time so you can actually heal, not just manage symptoms. You can feel present in your life again. You can trust your body. You can release the guilt and fear you've been carrying. You can experience joy without constant anxiety lurking underneath.

This isn't about forgetting what happened or pretending it didn't affect you. It's about helping your brain and body process the trauma so it no longer controls your present.

If you're in St Paul or anywhere in Minnesota and you're ready to stop surviving and start healing, reach out. We'll start with a conversation, no pressure, just support and understanding about what you're going through.

Contact me to learn more about scheduling, intensive therapy options, and how we can work together.

You've already survived the hardest part. Now let's help you thrive.

At its core, Jennie Hardman’s practice is a sanctuary for those navigating the most difficult transitions of parenthood and the aftermath of traumatic events. She specializes in perinatal mental health, supporting families through the nuances of fertility struggles, NICU stays, stillbirth, and postpartum grief. Through a trauma-informed lens, she helps survivors of sexual violence, childhood chronic invalidation, and medical trauma rewrite the "scripts" of their past. This dedicated focus ensures that those who have endured silent grief or complex trauma receive specialized, compassionate care tailored to their specific story.