Couples therapy allows couples to uncover all the vulnerable emotions underneath all the communication problems, in order to understand, instead of react, and learn to respond with empathy, rather than defensiveness. This is facilitated by the therapist using research based methods, like EFT, Gottman and/or SYMBIS, which have high success rates for improving relationship satisfaction, intimacy, and emotional security over time.

Couples intensives are designed to align with your preferred schedule and timeline and tailored to your treatment goals. They allow the couple the opportunity to progress through their relationship concerns in a faster, and targeted manner without the rush and weekly demand of the traditional 50-minute session.

Instead of meeting once a week or every other week for less than an hour, we would meet for a several hours over the span of 2-3 days (see the FAQ for sample schedules).

An intensive format may decrease the overall treatment time because it eliminates the need to check-in at the beginning of each session and start where you remember you left off at the last session, in hopes that you can seamlessly flow into the topic, issue, or challenge that was discussed a week or more ago.

You’ll get more time to dive into what really matters, and practice good communication techniques, as well as, learn about unhealthy patterns, and practice the foundational and advanced methods to use in day to day communication to change your pattern of conflict and disconnection.

Ultimately, you gain the awareness, get the skills you need, and resolution you desire in less time.

Before we get into the intensive (the part where we use Gottman, SYMBIS and/or other combined techniques), we will begin reviewing the areas within your assessments that you both completed separately, prior to your intensive session (this required so that I have time to review, prepare and understand what our work together will entail).

The assessment will be the foundation of our work in regards to education, and tailoring your treatment plan to have the most traction in less time.

We discuss if you expect and need to incorporate faith-based beliefs or values into the therapy, as well as other pertinent details important to your relationship success.

When we enter the intensive portion of therapy, we will tackle both, decreasing the pain, stress and friction in your relationship, and increase your communication skills, in order for you both to increase your sense of connection and harmony.

Toward the end of the intensive, we discuss next steps to staying on track (e.g., connecting for maintenance sessions, scheduling a follow-up intensive within the next month or two, etc). We reflect on what was most impactful, what is most useful, and how you both can translate certain skills and techniqiues into day to day communication and interactions to make the change “stick”.

A variety of techniques, approaches and theories come into play during couples, pre-marital and marital therapy, and it is dependant on the needs and the challenges the couple has been experiencing.

However, the primary approaches used in couples sessions, including the assessments emphasize Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), SYMBIS (Save Your Marriage Before it Starts) and The Gottman Method, all of which drive communication, connection, understanding, learning to employ new techniques and skills, and are also compatible with faith based integration, upon request.

• Experience deeper, therapeutic work in a faster approach that can help you feel a sense of relief and resolve more quickly

• Decrease costs and scheduling barriers to traditional weekly/bi-weekly therapy, especially during the summer, and during busy holidays or the school year.

• You are planning on getting married, going on a babymoon, or celebrating a milestone and you want to deepen your connection with each other or improve communication.

• You have done traditional couples therapy before and found it helpful (or not helpful), and do not want to drag out the process for weeks or months this time.

• You have been consistently attending couples therapy for some time, and want to take a more comprehensive, condensed approach that will help you have a growth spurt in regards to connection and communication skills.