Couples Therapeutic Retreats
Let’s be real. Relationships are hard. Any time you put two (or more) imperfect people together, you’re bound to walk into some imperfect moments. We can be hard on ourselves and our partners when our relationships suffer – is it really supposed to be so hard? Why do other couples seem to be so much happier? How did we lose that early relationship spark? Are we doomed?
You don’t have to be.
What is a couples therapeutic retreat?
You know you need help, but something is in the way, whether you work opposite schedules, struggle for consistent childcare, or feel like your relationship is in need of help now.
A Therapeutic Retreat, also called “intensive therapy” and “marathon therapy,” is a targeted intervention to focus on one or two areas of your relationship.
If this sounds like what your relationship needs, a couples therapeutic retreat may be right for you.
What can we work on?
There are many topics that can be addressed in therapeutic retreats.
Maybe you want to improve your sexual connection, learn more efficient ways to parent together, face down some unhelpful communication patterns, not lose the joy of sex while trying to get pregnant, get a head-start on understanding and healing attachment together, have healthier balance or boundaries, work through a stuck sexual place, or simply get to the bottom of a painful relationship pattern.
My Story
I’ve been working in mental health for the last seventeen years and have been focused specifically on outpatient therapy for the last ten years. You may have noticed that each time you meet with a therapist, it can take a few minutes to warm up: you update the therapist on your life in the last few weeks and decide what to talk about today. There are also a few minutes at the end to wrap up and schedule future sessions. This leaves only about 20-30 minutes each session to dig into the delicious meat of the work, which can feel frustrating for clients and therapists alike. Now imagine, there are two clients in the room!
What if there was another way?
What will we do?
Therapeutic are as individual as the relationships that attend. Each retreat will focus on one or two issues. Some interventions that can be included are:
- Psychoeducation on relationships, the brain, or communication strategies
- Learn or strengthen Meditation tailored to your treatment goals
- Exercises, techniques, and skills to find sexual joy together
- Inner-child work that shows up in relational dynamics
- Parenting skills/attachment work
- Identify core patterns that keep you stuck
- Beginning stages of affair recovery
- Experiential practices during and between sessions to find a new way
- A plan of action moving forward
Assessment
We’ll start with an assessment and treatment planning session. The initial intake is two hours long and will help me get to know your relationship better. Then, each partner will do an additional hour and a half intake alone. The better I know you, the better I can support you. Come prepared with your most honest, authentic, vulnerable self. You’ll also be given a variety of assessments to complete. We’ll follow up with a one-hour session to clarify treatment goals for the retreat.
The Retreat
The Retreat itself can be 1. Full-Day, 2. Two-Day, or 3. Half-Days. Full days are done on Fridays, from 9 am to 3 pm, with a one-hour lunch break (5 hours). Two-day sessions are done on Fridays & Saturdays, and run from 9 am to 3 pm, with an hour break for lunch (10 hours). Half-day sessions are on three days, at least a week apart, from 9 am to 1 pm (12 hours).
Aftercare
Like any good experience, aftercare is necessary. This can be two sessions at 6 weeks and 12 weeks, two sessions at 3 and 6 months, monthly sessions for 3-6 months, or check-ins as needed.
In the end, you’ll be receiving between 12-19+ hours of therapy, depending on the retreat chosen.
Ready to get started?
We start with a free 25-minute consultation to see if we’ll be a good fit and to make sure your hopes are in alignment with what a couples retreat can offer. For more information, feel free to check out the FAQs below.
FAQs:
How much do they cost?
The full-day option is $3,250
The two-day option is $4,500
The 3 half-day option is $5,200
What do they include?
Each retreat includes a two-hour couples assessment session, two hour-and-a-half-long individual assessment sessions, an hour-long treatment planning session, and two one-hour follow-up sessions. Extra follow-up sessions can be added for a fee. Clinical hours are 55 minutes long.
It also includes the time it takes to thoroughly review your assessments and treatment plan and create a plan of action for our time during the retreat. And an emailed or printed packet for you to keep.
Are sessions online or in-person?
Most of my practice is conducted online, including assessments, treatment planning, and follow-up. However, if in-person is important to you, I work with a local therapeutic shared office space. In-person comes with an added cost of $150 for the full day $300 for the two days and $450 for the 3 half-days.
What can I do to prepare?
Reading is a beautiful way to get started. I’d recommend Mindsight by Daniel Siegel for a better understanding of neuropsychology. I’d also recommend The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris to get acquainted with managing thoughts, feelings, and working with values. Say What You Mean by Oren Jay Sofer is a great way to get a leg-up on communication. Other book recommendations specifically for you will be given at the assessment session. Books will also likely be part of your aftercare plan. Reading opens doors, helps us foster empathy, supports self-reflection, develops thicker cortexes (our higher-order thinking), keeps important self-work top-of-mind, and helps us lead more productive lives. Yes, audiobooks, e-readers, and physical books all count. As does reading aloud to your partner!
Some other resources may include YouTube videos, documentaries, podcasts, etc. The more you educate yourself in advance, the less time we’ll need to dedicate to a shared understanding during your retreat.
Journaling is another beautiful way to prepare. You can journal daily or weekly leading up to the retreat to gain a better perspective on what you’re coming in with, what you’d like support working through, and where you get tripped up. I always recommend journaling that is of your physical sensations, emotions, urges, and the quality of your thoughts. This is very different from the “dear diary” version, where we simply regurgitate life’s events. Instead, use journaling to gain insight and go deeper into your experience. Meditation is complementary to this process.
What is the cancellation policy?
You may cancel up to 30 days in advance and will receive a full refund, less a $100 admin fee. After that, no refunds are offered, but we can reschedule with at least 14 days’ notice.
Will this really make a difference in my life?
Like all things, what we get out of this work is directly correlated to what we put into it. I promise to bring my whole self, including my arsenal of understanding of humans, change, interpersonal neurobiology/neuropsychology, healthy sexuality, Buddhist psychology, meditation, healthy relationships, and seventeen years in mental health.
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