Feeling like 50 minutes each week isn’t enough to resolve conflicts or see meaningful change in your relationship?
Are you experiencing an issue in your relationship that you need to address quickly? Or are you simply ready for a change?
A couples therapy intensive might be the answer…
Couples intensives are for busy, motivated couples looking to feel more connected now.
Couples intensives might be the right fit if…
You travel often or have busy schedules that don’t allow for weekly sessions.
You are expecting a child or are new parents and want support with the transition.
You are deciding if engagement or marriage are the right next steps in your relationship.
You are experiencing a recent life change and need help adjusting together.
You want to dip your toes into couples work before committing to ongoing couples therapy.
You are motivated to get started and see progress quickly.
So, what is a couples therapy intensive?
Flexible.
Intensives are tailored to your unique needs. This means that we get to collaborate to determine what timing, schedule, topics of discussion, and ground rules will help you and your partner best reach your goals.
Focused.
Goals can be broad (e.g. understanding relationship patterns, improving communication, better conflict resolution, increased intimacy and connectedness) or very specific (e.g. preparing for a baby, discussing parenting values or differences, navigating a move, or adjusting to a career change). We will choose one clear goal to focus on in each intensive.
Foundational.
Couples intensives work to help you and your partner strengthen the foundation of your relationship. You will build understanding, increase connection, and identify tools to continue to reinforce and maintain this foundation.
What does a couples intensive include?
Intake with Couple (60 minutes)
We will start by meeting together to discuss what you are looking for support with and identify clear goals and hopes for the intensive.
I will then meet with each member of the couple individually to learn more about their personal and relationship histories.
Two Individual Sessions (60 minutes each)
Extended Couples Sessions
We will come back together to begin our intensive work. Intensive hours are scheduled in 2 to 3 hour blocks and will include breaks as needed.
Follow-Up Session
At the end of the intensive, I will schedule a follow-up meeting with each couple to check in on progress and assess need for any further support.
Couples Intensives: Additional Information
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Intensives are an investment in yourself and your relationship. Because intensives require more preparatory work, energy, and scheduling flexibility, the cost is higher than that of a weekly therapy hour.
While it may feel like a larger cost initially, intensives provide significant value to clients by addressing your issues quickly and efficiently, saving you time and money in the long run.
1-Day Intensive (5 Hours of Therapy) | $1,250
2-Day Intensive (9 Hours of Therapy) | $2,500
*Fees are subject to change if adding or removing additional hours to the intensive day(s). See sample schedules below.
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Scheduling is flexible. During the consultation process we will discuss what schedule will best meet your needs. We will agree upon a final schedule for your intensive at the time of booking. While many couples choose to complete all parts of the intensive on the same day, the initial meeting and individual sessions can be scheduled on separate days. Below are a few examples of how intensives can be structured:
1-Day Intensive
9am-10am | Intake with Couple
10am-11am | Individual Session #1
11am-12pm | Individual Session #2
12pm-1pm | Break
1pm-3pm | Intensive Session
(option to add an additional intensive hour)
2-Day Intensive
DAY ONE
9am-10am | Intake with Couple
10am-11am | Individual Session #1
111am-12pm | Individual Session #2
12pm-1pm | Break
1pm-3pm | Intensive Session
DAY TWO
10am-12pm Intensive Session
12-2pm Break
2-4pm Intensive Session
(option to add or remove an additional intensive hour)
Breaks are an essential part of the intensive process. While we will factor in time for breaks in our schedule, we can always make adjustments and take additional breaks if needed.
Intensives are typically scheduled on Fridays. Availability to meet for intensives on weekends is limited, but can be accommodated if needed.
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I currently offer virtual intensives to couples in 43 states (see PSYPACT map here to determine if your state is included). I am physically based in the Twin Cities metro area and if couples would like to meet in person, arrangements can be made to do so. Please note, if you would like to complete our intensive in person, an additional charge of $25/hour will be added to account for rental space costs.
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Intensives are not the right fit for all couples. If you or your partner answer yes to any of the following questions, an intensive is not an option at this time:
Are you or your partner experiencing active substance use or addiction concerns?
Are you or your partner involved in an ongoing affair?
Is there any current intimate partner violence in your relationship?
Do you and your partner experience high levels of conflict that make it difficult to be respectful and courteous?
Do you and your partner have different goals for your relationship?
If you answered no to all of the above, but are still unsure if a couples intensive is right for you, please reach out and we can discuss what options are the best fit for your needs.
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One of the benefits of a couples intensive is getting access to a number of resources before, during, and after our meetings. Following the consultation process, I curate readings, exercises, and resources to help guide my clients towards their goals. Some of these materials will be provided as required preparatory work for the intensive, some will be completed and discussed together in our sessions, and some will be provided as resources to reference following the intensive to help sustain meaningful change.