Is an intensive really worth it?

It’s a fair and important question. A couples intensive requires a meaningful investment of time, energy, and money. Most couples don’t take that lightly.  But if you’re here, your relationship likely matters a great deal to you. And like most things that matter, it tends to reflect the level of attention and effort it’s given.  It’s also worth considering the cost of staying stuck. Ongoing disconnection and unresolved conflict can eventually mean separation, major disruption to family life, or the expense of divorce.  For couples who are ready to focus their time and energy on meaningful change, intensives can be a powerful and efficient way forward.

What are your rates?

An intensive typically involves 12 hours of couples therapy. This includes:

• Initial 1-hour joint session for assessment

• Two 1-hour individual sessions, also for assessment

• Two days of couples counseling, meeting 4-5 hours per day

• Summary Report for you to keep

Ideally, the two days of couples counseling will be scheduled back to back so that intensity and momentum is not lost. When you schedule your two days of couples counseling, you are my only clients on that day.

Hourly Rate | $285

Why don’t you accept insurance?

I am an out of network provider which means I have chosen to conduct therapy without signing any contracts with insurance companies. Though an out of network provider may be more expensive, there are some advantages to not using your insurance for couples counseling. When you are not constrained by your insurance panel, you can select your therapist based on their experience and expertise which can ultimately save you important time and money. Insurance companies require therapists to name one person in the relationship as the “patient” and they must have an accompanying diagnosis. When you are not using your health insurance, your privacy is protected to an even great degree because your insurance company will not know you have done this work nor will any diagnoses be attached to your name. My approach identifies the relationship as the client, not either person, and my work focuses on repairing your relationship not diagnosing individual partners. Finally, health insurances do not reimburse for an intensive model because they typically only pay for one hour of therapy per week.

Can I use my HSA/FSA funds?

Yes, you can use these funds to pay for intensives.

What if we would like to continue after the intensive?

Toward the end of our work together, we will discuss what you both want to do moving forward. You might feel like you've gotten what you need, or you might decide you would like to continue adding on to the progress you have made. If that is the case, I will then refer you to a colleague I have personally vetted who practices traditional couples counseling. With your consent, I will also communicate the information you’ve learned to your new couples counselor so you will be able to hit the ground running. 

How is an intensive different from traditional weekly therapy?

Weekly couples therapy provides steady gradual progress with shorter sessions spread out over time. Intensives are accelerated, concentrated and are designed to help people who want or need faster progress, deeper breakthroughs or a relationship reset.

How quickly can we get started?

I usually respond to inquiries within 24 hours. Scheduling virtual consultations and in-person counseling appointments will depend on your flexibility and my calendar. I strive to get you started as quickly as possible.

How do you schedule our sessions?

I begin with assessment appointments to better understand your relationship (1 hour) and you as individuals (1 hour each). These appointments can be scheduled back to back or over a few days or even weeks.  Intensive couples counseling typically involves two back to back days, meeting 4-5 hours in a day.  There is flexibility, but I prefer to schedule the two couples counseling days as close together as possible.

Won’t we be tired after a two-hour appointment?

While a 2-4 hour appointment may seem long, and you may be tired by the end, hopefully you will also be energized and reinvigorated as I help you reconnect in your relationship. On the days were we are doing the couples counseling, we will take several breaks including a flexible lunch time based on what you need to regroup.

What if we are, as a couple, not quite ready for an intensive?

Perhaps consider a “Hold Me Tight” workshop.