Moving your relationship to a healthier place

“The most functional way to regulate difficult emotions in love relationships is to share them.”

— Sue Johnson

What is an Intensive?

An Intensive is accelerated, short-term relationship counseling that typically takes place over two and a half days. In an intensive, we can accomplish what usually takes 4-6 months to achieve in traditional couples counseling. Intensives are closer to a personalized relationship retreat than the common model of weekly therapy, and they can be a powerful way to shift stuckness. The most common thing couples say as they leave my office is not that everything is fixed, but that they feel better and are clearer about what they are working toward and how to get there.  They also typically report greater hope in their ability to get there.  That clarity and hope are often important motivators to help people continue this important work. Through this process, you will develop an understanding of the source of your relationship distress, have increased empathy for your partner, and develop strategies for reconnecting. This approach also helps increase communication and team work. 

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Intensive Couples Counseling is Helpful When…

  • You have challenging schedules due to work, travel or kids.

If your busy life makes weekly therapy sessions difficult, intensives fit into your schedule and provide a flexible opportunity to do the relationship work over a few days.

  • You need to see progress happen fast.

Intensives provide an opportunity to grow and heal at an accelerated rate. Traditional couples therapy is a valuable service, but it can also be deeply frustrating when you are on the brink of a breakthrough and your 50 minutes are up.

  • You need the structure to focus on your relationship.

Finding time to have important conversations with your partner can be challenging. Dedicating two and a half days of uninterrupted time and space allows you to shift your relationship to a different place and experience a sense of accomplishment. In an intensive, couples slow down, turn off their phones, and focus on the core relationship issues.

  • Your relationship is in crisis.

Intensives are especially helpful following the discovery of a betrayal. Intensives can help put a torniquet on the wound and facilitate the process of healing.

  • You’ve had unsuccessful couples counseling before.

An intensive is an opportunity to try something different and can be effective for healing old wounds. I commonly see couples who have previously tried multiple therapists and therapeutic models, and they are needing a different approach.

  • You are in a new relationship.

Creating healthy patterns at the beginning help a relationship develop strength and resilience.

Reported Outcomes from My Intensives:

  • Improved Emotional Intimacy

  • Improved Physical Intimacy

  • Better Communication

  • Greater Clarity about Your Relationship

  • Increased Ability to Solve Problems Together as a Team

  • Replacing Negative Patterns with More Positive Interactions

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A bouquet of colorful flowers including pink, yellow, and purple flowers on a table with two blurred people in the background.
An elderly woman and a middle-aged man sitting on a beige sofa in a bright living room, engaged in conversation or sharing a moment of connection, with large windows allowing natural light and a houseplant in the background.

“Our experience was exceptional. Colby was a gem in all respects. She made us feel at home. Really, we wouldn't change anything about the experience. It was well worth the time, money, and effort. 1000x times over.”

— J.M.

What is Emotionally Focused Therapy?

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Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) is a form of short-term therapy that aims to restore connections and closeness in relationships. It is a research-validated approach to helping people make sense of their relationship distress and make changes to destructive relationship patterns.

We are innately wired for intimate bonding with others. When relationship distress occurs, these bonds can feel stretched or even absent. As an EFCT therapist, I harnesses the healing powers of emotion and the need for secure attachment to help distressed relationships become safe and secure connections.  

The benefits of successful couples’ therapy reach beyond strengthening your relationship. Couples who have a healthier relationship have lower levels of stress and stress hormones, which contributes to better physical health and lower vulnerability to disease. Individuals in strong relationships experience lower levels of depression and anxiety, lower incidence of suicidal thoughts, less substance abuse and improved functionality at work and make better parents. Couples therapy maintains a healthier family system and contributes to healthier coping skills.

For more information on the model I use, visit www.ICEEFT.com or read this article published by Psychology Today.

Have additional questions relative to cost or insurance issues? Click here for answers to commonly-asked questions.

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