Couples Intensives
West Palm Beach, Florida
What comes to mind when you think of a marriage retreat?
Vince Vaughn & Kristen Bell? Feeling like THIS?
All kidding aside…
A FOCUSED ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL COUPLES RETREATS
If you feel like you’re having the same conversations over and over—and nothing is actually changing—weekly therapy can start to feel slow and frustrating.
Couples therapy Intensives (oftentimes referred to as Couples Retreats or Marriage Retreats) offer a more focused and efficient way to work. Instead of stretching the process across months, we work in a more concentrated and fluid manner, without the harsh starts and stops, oftentimes experienced in traditional weekly sessions. And as much as I encourage you and your partner to enjoy all that beautiful West Palm Beach, Florida has to offer while you are here simultaneously doing the hard work of an Intensive, your time with me will be super focused on your relationship and getting results. My Intensives don’t include yoga classes, sound baths, or avocado toast (although I do have good snacks at my office). This is the main difference between an Intensive and a Retreat.
My approach is active, direct, and focused on meaningful change. This is not a passive or purely exploratory process. The goal is to understand your patterns clearly, take responsibility where it matters, and begin changing how you relate to each other in real time.
Couples can choose between a one, two, or three day Intensive. The Intensives are most often scheduled on weekends, but with enough notice (usually 2-3 months), Intensives may also be scheduled during weekdays.
Traveling for an Intensive
My office is located in West Palm Beach, Florida, and many intensive clients travel from throughout Florida and other parts of the United States to participate in focused relationship work. Unlike weekly therapy, an Intensive allows couples to dedicate uninterrupted time to understanding and changing the patterns that keep them stuck. Following the intensive, many couples choose to continue their work through secure telehealth sessions after returning home, allowing them to maintain momentum and build on the progress made during the intensive.
Couples Intensive FAQ Section
Do I need to live in South Florida to participate in an Intensive?
No. Couples frequently travel from other parts of Florida and from across the United States for intensive therapy. Many continue their work through telehealth after returning home.
Why would a couple travel for an intensive instead of finding a local therapist?
Many couples seek an intensive because they want a concentrated, focused experience that allows them to make significant progress in a matter of days rather than months. Traveling for an intensive can also provide distance from daily responsibilities and distractions, creating dedicated space to focus on the relationship.
What is the difference between a Couples Intensive and a Couples Retreat?
While both provide focused time to work on a relationship, a Couples Intensive is a structured therapeutic experience led by a licensed therapist. The focus is on identifying and changing the patterns that contribute to conflict, disconnection, and relationship distress.
Can we continue working together after the intensive?
Yes. Couples residing anywhere in Florida can choose to continue their work with me through secure telehealth sessions after returning home. This allows them to build on the progress made during the intensive and receive support as they implement changes in everyday life. If couples have travelled out of state to work with me, I help them locate practitioners who have training in RLT that I can easily hand the baton off to after we do the heavy lifting in the intensive.
How far do couples travel for an intensive?
Couples travel from throughout Florida and from other parts of the country. Some drive from nearby communities, while others fly in specifically for the intensive experience.
Is an intensive appropriate if we have already tried couples therapy?
Often, yes. Many couples who pursue an Intensive have previously participated in weekly couples therapy. The intensive format allows for extended time to understand relationship dynamics, identify recurring patterns, and begin practicing new ways of relating.
Do we need to stay in West Palm Beach during the Intensive?
Most couples traveling from outside the area choose to stay nearby during the intensive. This allows them to remain focused on the work without the interruption of a daily commute.
How do we know if an Intensive is the right fit for us?
Intensives are often a good fit for couples who want focused support, have difficulty making progress in weekly therapy, are facing a significant relationship challenge, or simply want to accelerate the therapeutic process. A consultation can help determine whether an intensive is appropriate for your specific situation.
How The Process Works
All couples work—whether in weekly sessions or multi-day Intensives—follows the same three-phase process.
The first phase is a comprehensive assessment. In weekly therapy, this phase often unfolds over three to five sessions, depending on the pace of the couple. In an intensive format, this same work is typically completed on the first day, though in some cases it may extend into a second day when additional information is needed to move into the next phase of the work.
Because of this variability, not every intensive will move through all three phases. Some couples complete the full process, while others leave with a clear, in-depth understanding of their patterns and a defined path forward for continued work.
Phase One: Assessment
This is the most structured and deliberate phase of the process—and when done well, it is rarely revisited.
We gather detailed information about the relationship, focusing on observable behaviors, interaction patterns, and the dynamics that keep you stuck—particularly cycles of ineffective conflict management strategies. The goal is to move beyond vague or competing narratives and arrive at a clear, shared understanding of what is actually happening between you.
From this, I develop and present a relational diagnosis—a clear, direct formulation of the core pattern organizing your relationship. I will name what I see—including dynamics that may be difficult to hear—because accuracy at this stage is essential.
We then determine, together, whether this formulation fits. Alignment here is essential: if we are not working from the same understanding of the problem, the work will not stay focused or effective.
Once there is agreement, we establish a clear direction forward. This includes defining what will need to change, what each of you will be responsible for, and what resolution will look like in practical, observable terms.
The goal of this phase is precision. Without a clear and shared understanding of the problem and the path forward, meaningful change is not possible.
Phase Two: Understanding
Once the patterns are clearly identified, we move into understanding why they exist.
This phase focuses on the adaptations each of you developed—often in your family of origin—and how those adaptations continue to shape your responses within the relationship. The aim is to make sense of your patterns in a way that is accurate, grounded, and personally meaningful.
This is where insight is developed. While insight alone does not create change, it is a necessary foundation for the work that follows.
Phase Three: Integration & Change
This phase is where change becomes behavioral and observable.
We begin actively interrupting the patterns identified in Phase One, using specific skills and strategies to shift how you engage with one another in real time. This includes developing more effective communication, clearer boundaries, and a stronger capacity for connection and repair.
It is not uncommon for couples to move back and forth between Phase Two and Phase Three as this work unfolds—deepening understanding while practicing new ways of responding. This movement is intentional and part of the process. What does not happen is a return to Phase One once that work has been completed.
The goal is not perfection, but consistency—developing the ability to recognize old patterns and choose a different response.
By the end of this phase, couples typically have a clear understanding of how to move forward and what is required to maintain progress in their relationship.
Couples Therapy + Couples Vacation = BRILLIANT!
NOT ONLY IS A COUPLES INTENSIVE AN EFFICIENT WAY TO STRENGTHEN YOUR RELATIONSHIP, IT’S ALSO LOADED WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE FUN, RELAX, AND REENERGIZE— BECAUSE MY OFFICE IS LITERALLY LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF PARADISE!
My West Palm Beach office is within walking distance to unique, local restaurants like Cholo Soy and Tropical Smokehouse and only about a 5 minute drive to Downtown West Palm Beach and CityPlace, where you will find chic hotels, more great restaurants, entertainment, and shopping! Want to see a show? Check out Kravis Center for the Performing Arts.
Top 5 Reasons Couples Choose Intensives
BTW, Retreats and Intensives are synonymous and interchangeable terms you may find in the literature as well as on my website.
1. BUSY SCHEDULES
Many couples have chosen not to try traditional therapy sessions or have actually attempted and dropped out because life got too hectic. Finding 60 or 90 minutes for weekly or bi-weekly appointments can feel impossible while trying to juggle things like work schedules, childcare, and all the other stressors Covid has introduced to our lives.
This is not to say that traditional weekly appointments are ineffective or inferior to Intensives. They are absolute game changers for a lot of couples in a lot of situations.
Some couples might prefer to spend a larger amount of time, less frequently. In one weekend, you will be able to accomplish what would typically take between 3-6 months of traditional weekly therapy. It adds up to about 12-18 hours (depending whether you book a 1, 2, or 3 day retreat) that we spend together over the weekend, and it flies by. Couples are amazed how much ground we cover.
2. MOMENTUM
During a Couples Intensive, you will benefit greatly from the continuity and rhythm provided by our uninterrupted work. I think most couples therapists would agree that traditional weekly sessions often feel choppy for everyone, including the therapist. On more occasions than I can count, I had to end session just when sh%t was starting to happen! Damn it!
So, my point is, when you book an Intensive, you get me all to yourself! Of course we take necessary breaks to keep everyone content, energized, and productive. I have a cozy office and offer water, coffee, and small snacks. There is also a refrigerator if you want to bring your own nibbles.
3. FOCUS
Traditional weekly sessions are often squeezed in between all the other important obligations you have. Many couples find it tough to shift gears from work or parent mode to therapy mode, making it almost necessary to spend the first 15 minutes unwinding and acclimating into the session. Although the common 15 minute transitioning periods are 100% valid and often necessary for many couples, I’d be lying if I said I find them to be a good use of everyone’s time.
At an Intensive, you can say buh-bye to the useless 15 minute transitions and hello to efficiency!
4. IMMEDIACY
Could it be, you’re simply DONE talking about a better relationship and READY to get after it—like ripping off a band-aid kind of getting after it?
Many couples want relationship help ASAP. They don’t want to drudge through months of weekly appointments. They want more immediate results.
5. FUN & GROWTH
You and your partner don’t have to be struggling or unhappy in order to book an Intensive with me. In fact, It would be much better to come visit me now, when your commitment level isn’t in question, and you still enjoy one another’s company.
Working with seriously dating and engaged couples is so refreshing! I love the intent and eagerness they bring to the experience. Let me help you set your relationship up for success! We will expand on your strengths as well as help you identify the obvious, and not so obvious, dynamics that might trip you up in the future.
Couples Weekend Retreat Pricing
-
1 DAY: COUPLES THERAPY INTENSIVE – ASSESSMENT (6 hrs.) | $2,100
All intensive work begins here.
This is a strong option for couples who want to move quickly into meaningful work. What typically takes several weeks in traditional therapy is completed here in a more focused, efficient format. Unlike Days 2 & 3, the Assessment Day is offered as a stand alone option. Couples often choose to get the assessment wrapped up in one day, allowing them to jump directly into the work when beginning traditional weekly/bi-weekly sessions.
Why this phase matters
I don’t offer quick opinions or early advice in couples work. Not because I don’t have them—but because offering direction without a clear understanding of your dynamic is often inaccurate and, at times, counterproductive.Day 1 is about getting precise. How do the two of you actually interact when things go wrong? What patterns are repeating? Where does each of you contribute to the breakdown? Until that’s clear, any intervention is just guesswork.
This can feel frustrating if you’re coming in wanting immediate answers. That makes sense. But my job is not to react quickly—it’s to be accurate and effective.
This Assessment Day is required before any additional intensive work (Day 2 and 3).
-
2 DAY: COUPLES THERAPY INTENSIVE – (12 hrs.) | $4,200
A 2 Day Intensive is suited for couples who are generally functioning well but are stuck in a specific, repeatable pattern that hasn’t resolved on its own.
Important to know
This is not a standalone service. The Assessment Day is required prior to this day. By the time we begin the 2-Day intensive, I already have a clear understanding of your dynamic—so we are not spending time gathering information. We are working.What the work involves
While we do move into active intervention, we don’t skip over understanding why these patterns exist in the first place. Many of the ways you respond to each other were learned long before this relationship—and they tend to show up automatically, especially under stress.Part of the work is slowing that down just enough to understand what’s driving those reactions, so that when we begin to shift them, the changes are meaningful and actually hold.
This can bring up some more difficult moments, but it’s purposeful. We don’t stay there—we use that understanding to actively change how you relate to each other.
Is this the right level of care?
This is not a “light” version of couples therapy—it’s a focused one. And it’s not the right fit for every situation.A 2-Day Intensive works when:
The relationship is fundamentally stable
There is no significant breach of trust or ongoing crisis
Both partners can stay engaged, regulated enough to work, and take responsibility for their role in the dynamic
If that’s not the case, a 2-Day Intensive is usually not enough. Trying to compress more complex or entrenched issues into two days tends to be inefficient at best—and frustrating for everyone involved.
-
3 DAY: COUPLES THERAPY INTENSIVE - (18 hrs.) | $6,300
A 3-Day Intensive is designed for couples dealing with more complex or entrenched dynamics—situations where 2 days is not enough to create meaningful or lasting change.
When this level of care is needed
This format is typically appropriate when there has been a significant rupture in the relationship or when patterns have been in place for a long time and are more difficult to shift.This may include:
A breach of trust (including, but not limited to, infidelity)
Longstanding disconnection or repeated breakdowns in communication
Situations where prior therapy has not led to meaningful change
Couples who feel at a “make it or break it” point in the relationship
Couples who struggle more to stay regulated during the work
In these cases, the work requires more time—not just to understand the problem, but to intervene at a deeper level and reinforce new patterns as they begin to take shape.
A note on fit
Intensives require the ability to stay engaged, present, and willing to take responsibility—even during difficult conversations. Some emotional reactivity is expected. However, when reactivity is so high that it consistently interferes with staying present or participating in the work, the intensive format tends to be ineffective.Across three days, we move beyond initial insight and into repetition, course correction, and consolidation. The goal is not just to identify what’s not working, but to begin establishing a different way of relating that can hold outside of the room.
NEXT STEPS
If you’re unsure which phase or format is the best fit, we’ll sort that out together in a brief consultation. This way, I can help you decide which package would be best for your goals.
Sign up for a complimentary 15 minute phone consultation with me.
-
PRE-MARITAL & NEWLYWED INTENSIVE | 6 hrs. | $2,100
I often joke, “Please don’t wait until you despise each other to come see me!” Get your relationship off to a great start! Happy couples don’t just make themselves! There is a recipe—skills to learn. I will teach you.
This makes for a thoughtful engagement/wedding gift for the right couple.
Why Intensives Are Priced Differently
Intensive therapy is structured very differently from weekly sessions—and the fee reflects that difference.
When you schedule an intensive, you are not one of many clients that day. The entire day is reserved exclusively for your relationship. There are no sessions before or after yours, allowing me to be fully present, focused, and attuned to the work we are doing together.
In addition to the time we spend in session, each intensive involves meaningful preparation beforehand. I review your history, consider your dynamic, and think carefully about how to structure the work so that we can use our time as effectively as possible. The goal is not simply to spend more hours together, but to work with intention and precision.
Sustaining this level of work over several consecutive hours also requires a high degree of clinical experience. In longer sessions, important and often unexpected material emerges, and it is essential that the therapist can track, manage, and work with it in real time—while keeping both partners engaged and the process moving in a productive direction.
The fee reflects the level of focus, preparation, and sustained clinical engagement that this format requires.