Couples Intensives

When weekly therapy isn’t enough

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Couples intensives are for when you don’t want to spend months circling the same patterns.

They’re designed to create momentum—by slowing things down, working directly with what’s happening between you, and helping you actually experience something different.

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What is a couples intensive?

A couples intensive is focused, extended time—typically 3–7 hours over one or two days—dedicated to your relationship.

Instead of spreading the work out over weeks, we create space to slow things down, understand what’s happening, and work directly with the patterns in real time.

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The goal is traction—so you leave with clearer understanding and concrete next steps.

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Who is it for?

Couples who are ready to concentrate on their relationship, especially when:

• You’re stuck in repeating cycles you can’t stop on your own

• The connection feels distant—you’re more like roommates than partners

• Resentment (often around labor or mental load) is building

• You’re navigating betrayal and want a path forward

• You’re new parents and everything feels louder, faster, and harder

• You’re separating and want cooperative co-parenting

If there’s ongoing violence, coercive control, untreated active substance use, or an immediate safety risk, an intensive is not the right setting. I’ll provide referrals for higher-level or specialized care.

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Why this method?

Some patterns don’t shift in 50-minute sessions.

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They unfold quickly, escalate, or shut down before there’s time to understand what’s actually happening—let alone do something different.

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An intensive gives us the time to slow those moments down, stay with them, and work through them while they’re happening.

Instead of revisiting the same issue week after week, we can:

• get underneath the pattern

• interrupt it in real time

• and begin practicing something new while you’re both present

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This is how change becomes something you experience—not just something you talk about.

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What this looks like

In practice, this means:

• Moment-to-moment tracking of each partner’s face, body, and voice

• Live reenactments of stuck patterns with coached care and repair

• Extended sessions (typically 3–6 hours) when helpful

• Often faster traction than traditional weekly models

• Optional, consented videotaping for in-the-moment feedback

 

Secure-functioning means designing win-win agreements that protect the relationship—your “couple bubble.” In practice, we focus on turning toward each other, repairing quickly, and responding to bids for connection so safety returns faster and holds.

 

What happens in an intensive?

We begin with a consultation to understand what’s bringing you in and whether an intensive is the right fit.

From there, we structure the time intentionally. Sessions typically include:

• Understanding your history and current dynamics

• Slowing down conflict or disconnection as it happens

• Practicing repair, communication, and new ways of relating in real time​

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This isn’t just conversation—it’s active work with what’s happening between you.

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When and where are intensives offered?

Virtual or in person in Greensboro, NC. You’ll need a private space, strong internet, and your device at eye level so I can see both of you clearly.

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Scheduling is flexible and scheduled outside of my typical client hours. Intensives are offered on weekdays, evenings, and weekends.

 

A common format is:

• Friday 4–8 pm

• Saturday 10 am–3 pm (with breaks)

 

One-day or half-day formats are also available.

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Is an intensive better than weekly therapy?

It depends on your goals and bandwidth.

 

Intensives are helpful when you want momentum, your schedules are tight, or the issue is active and benefits from extended time.

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Many couples follow an intensive with a 50–90 minute session within 1–3 weeks to reinforce changes. Some continue with periodic follow-ups; others return to weekly therapy.

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What if one of us is hesitant?

Bring the hesitation. Doubt, questions, and caution are welcome.

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We always begin with a free consultation with both partners.

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What about betrayal?

In this work, betrayal is any new information that changes the foundation of the relationship—infidelity, hidden decisions, financial secrecy, or anything that shifts trust.

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We move carefully. We’ll stabilize first (safety, boundaries, transparency), then work toward meaning-making and repair in ways that protect both the hurt partner and the relationship.

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We track nervous-system overwhelm so we don’t flood either partner while still moving the work forward.

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We’re new parents. Will an intensive help?

Your wellbeing as a couple is foundational for your growing family. Couples intensives have high impact for parents. 

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New parenthood can disrupt sleep, time, identity, and fairness in the relationship. Intensives give you space to reset roles, rebalance labor and mental load, and create workable agreements for this season. 

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How should we prepare?

• Choose a quiet, private space and test your tech

• Bring water, snacks, and a notepad

• Sleep as well as you can the night before

• Plan a low-key evening after your first session

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Fees 

My rate is $185/hour. 

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I do not work with insurance directly. You are welcome to submit a superbill to your insurance for out of network benefits. Most of the time, this will only yield in reimbursement for 1 hour. 

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How do we start?

Schedule a Couples Consultation

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We’ll get a clear sense of what’s going on and whether an intensive is the right fit.