Intensives

Couples Intensive

If you need serious change in your relationship, and you want it fast, you may need more than traditional couples therapy.  Consider a high-impact therapy relationship intensive to give your marriage the gift of stepping away from your day-to-day environment and into the focused space of a couples retreat experience to heal your relationship and create the loving and supportive connection you desire. This rapid immersion experience is structured to kickstart growth, gain traction and provide solid ground to create momentum for sustained growth.  Take the first step and contact me to see if a Couples Intensive is right for you.​​

An Intensive is Different from Regular Therapy Because …

• Regular sessions can run out of time before making much progress.  An Intensive is an immersive, private, two-day personalized experience which begins with the early preparation of both partners completing five extensive intake questionnaires about themselves and their relationship.  I carefully review the questionnaires and craft an intensive specifically for you, so we hit the ground running the morning of the first day.

• Working closely over a short, intense period of time helps us get more done in two days than you might get over one year of traditional couples therapy.  The longer format allows the roots of challenges to surface, illuminate a path to healing and creates momentum you can use when you return home.

• With research-based methods you will discover the pieces you have been missing including how your brain is wired to keep you stuck, and what you can finally do about it.  You will build the skills to predict where you get stuck and not only get “unstuck” but create something better.

• Sharing this immersive experience is often a bridge to understanding each other and connecting again. 

• A customized manual is provided full of tools to support lasting change.

Together We Can …

• Quickly get to the heart of recurring arguments so you can understand what sets off anger and keeps the conflict going.

• Move from blame to change—a crucial shift in thinking that will transform the way you relate to one another.

• Learn more about the reactions that are triggered in your brain when you disagree—and how you can master your reactions for clearer, more loving communication.

• Create an effective roadmap to move you toward deeper empathy and understanding. 

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An Innovative Approach

When it comes to investing in a relationship it’s understandable to want to feel confident in making the right choice.  An article published by The Wall Street Journal highlights the benefits of intensives.  According to the article, Couples Intensives bring about incredible transformations in relationships in a very short period of time.  The journalist documented the many ways that intensives provide couples with an opportunity to delve deeply into their issues, achieve powerful breakthroughs in communication, and experience lasting connection and overall improved relationship satisfaction.  Read the full article by clicking here.

Marriage and Relationship Intensive FAQ:

Is this right for us?

It may be if:

• You feel stuck, what you have been doing is not working, and you are tired of banging your head against the wall.

• You’re willing to do the work and both of you desire to feel connected again or to end the constant conflict, and you want to do what it takes to get there.

• You want to move quickly.  If you’re experiencing issues that need to be dealt with soon or just want to share an immersive experience with your partner.

Where does the Intensive take place?

You will meet with me in my office in the Cathedral Hill Neighborhood of Saint Paul which is just over 8 miles from the Minneapolis Saint Paul Airport (MSP) – approximately a 17-minute drive.  Most couples prefer a 2-day Friday/Saturday retreat, but I am often able to schedule sessions during the week to accommodate busy lives.  If you would like to enhance the experience, there are Bed and Breakfasts within walking distance and the area is filled with delightful restaurants. I am happy to provide a list of places for you to explore.

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What’s the schedule like?

Each day begins at 9:00 a.m., with refreshing breaks in the morning and afternoon, plus a 90-minute lunch to give you plenty of time to rest and recharge your batteries.  Our 4:30 p.m. end time gives you a full evening to relax and return feeling refreshed the next day.

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Day 1

9:00 am – Welcome, reflect on yourselves and histories, review the questionnaires

10:00 am – Identify and discuss relationship goals, begin practicing communication skills

11:00 am – Introduction to neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to repair and create new neural pathways to support effective communication and intimacy

Noon – learn about the developmental stages of relationships

12:30 pm – 90-minute lunch break on your own

2:00 pm – Deep dive into a structure to communicate respectfully, effectively and intimately

4:30 pm – End of Day 1

Day 2

9:00 am – Reflect on Day 1

10:00 am – Focused exploration on your specific needs and objectives to support the co-creation of a new relationship

12:30 pm - 90-minute lunch break on your own

2:00 pm – practice new skills

4:00 pm – Discussion of how to keep the healing, growth and momentum going after the Couples Intensive

4:30 pm – End of Day 2

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How can we keep making progress after we return home?

You will leave your Couples Intensive with a manual filled with the powerful exercises we practiced together.  Your personalized guidebook empowers you to continue building new capacities to support the fulfilling and nourishing connection you both want.

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What is the next step?

Are you ready to experience profoundly rewarding work in a fraction of the time?  If this speaks to you, take the first step, and contact me now for a complimentary assessment call.