Couples Intensive

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Give Your Relationship a Fresh Start

When your relationship reaches a breaking point, weekly therapy may not feel like enough support. You may be having the same arguments over and over, trust may feel fragile, emotions may be running high, and there may be little space in everyday life to slow down and understand what is happening between you. You may even be at a “make it or break it” moment and need a steady place to land.

I offer private couples intensives for times like these. An intensive can also be a good fit if you want couples therapy but careers, parenting responsibilities, travel, or schedules make weekly therapy difficult.

Over the course of two days, you and your partner will step away from work, family, and everyday pressures to focus entirely on your relationship. Together, we will slow things down, get underneath the problems that keep repeating, and begin creating a different way of relating to one another.

My goal is for you to leave with greater clarity, a deeper understanding of each other, practical tools, and a plan for moving your relationship forward.

Why Choose an Intensive?

A couples intensive may be right for you if:

  • Your relationship is at a breaking point and you need more support than weekly therapy can provide

  • Trust has been broken and repair feels urgent

  • You want to jump-start couples therapy with deeper, more focused work

  • Careers, parenting, family commitments, travel, or busy schedules make weekly appointments difficult

  • You want to understand and change long-standing patterns in your relationship

  • You are ready for an intentional fresh start together

An intensive gives us extended, uninterrupted time to understand what is happening beneath the surface and begin creating meaningful change.

How I Work

I have spent a decade dedicated to helping couples understand what happens when the person they love most becomes the person they struggle most to reach. My work is grounded in attachment theory, nervous system regulation, and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. My style is warm, direct, and steady. I want both of you to feel supported while also helping you have the conversations and make the changes your relationship needs.

During the intensive, I will help you:

  • Recognize and shift painful cycles of conflict, withdrawal, or shutdown

  • Express emotions and needs in ways your partner can better understand and respond to

  • Repair relationship injuries and begin rebuilding trust and emotional safety

  • Strengthen emotional and physical intimacy

  • Understand each other more deeply

  • Create a realistic plan for continuing the work after your intensive

Your Two-Day Intensive

Couples intensives take place on Thursdays and Fridays.

9:00am–12:00pm — Couples therapy
12:00pm–1:00pm — Lunch break
1:00pm–3:00pm — Couples therapy

Your intensive is completely private. It will be just you, your partner, and me.

Make Some Space Around the Experience

The intensive ends at 3:00pm each day, leaving your late afternoons and evenings free. If you are traveling to Encinitas for your intensive, I encourage you to use the time to connect and renew. Having some unstructured time together before returning to work, children, and everyday responsibilities can give you space to reconnect and absorb the work we have done. Encinitas is a coastal town just north of San Diego known for its beaches, surf culture, relaxed atmosphere, and emphasis on wellness.

If you would like recommendations for accommodations or things to do while you are here, please contact Sierra Brasher at my office at 760-640-0270 or info@integrativecouplestherapy.com. Sierra lives locally and can help with recommendations for places to stay and activities in the area. She also offers surf lessons if you would like to experience one of Encinitas' favorite pastimes.

Traveling to Encinitas

The closest major airport is San Diego International Airport (SAN), approximately 30 minutes south of Encinitas. Many couples stay in a local hotel or Airbnb. You can also find a wide range of private vacation rentals throughout Encinitas, including locations close to the beach, restaurants, and cafés.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is an intensive different from weekly couples therapy?

Weekly therapy allows us to work on your relationship gradually over time. An intensive gives us extended, uninterrupted time to go deeper. Instead of stopping after 50 or 60 minutes, we can stay with important conversations, better understand long-standing patterns, and begin creating meaningful shifts while we are together.

What if my partner is hesitant?

It is very common for one partner to feel more uncertain than the other. Before scheduling an intensive, I meet with both of you for a complimentary 20-minute video consultation. You can ask questions, learn more about how I work, and decide together whether an intensive feels like the right fit.

Will you tell us who is right or wrong?

No. My role is to support your relationship rather than take sides. I will help each of you communicate your experience, understand your impact on one another, take responsibility for the changes you can make, and develop healthier ways of relating.

Will you tell us whether we should stay married or divorce?

No. That decision belongs to you and your partner. At the beginning of our work, we will clarify what you hope to accomplish during the intensive, and I will help you work toward those goals. If you or your partner are genuinely undecided about whether to remain in the relationship, a different service may be more appropriate, and we can discuss that during your consultation.

Will there be other couples there?

No. Your intensive is completely private and designed specifically for you and your partner. If you are looking for a group experience, please explore my couples workshops.

What happens after the intensive?

At the end of our time together, I will provide a summary for your next steps. If another therapist referred you to me, with your permission I can coordinate with that therapist to support your transition back into ongoing therapy. If you need continued couples therapy in your area, I can also help you identify therapists trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. Some couples choose to see me weekly or return periodically for additional intensive work.

Are there situations in which an intensive isn't appropriate?

Yes. An intensive is not be appropriate when there is ongoing violence or abuse, coercive control, an active affair, untreated addiction, or significant mental health concerns that need to be stabilized first.

I screen for these concerns before scheduling an intensive. If I believe another form of support would be safer or more appropriate, I will talk with you about recommendations and next steps.

What is the cost?

The investment for your private two-day intensive is $3,000.

Your card on file will be charged $1,500 on the morning of the first day and $1,500 on the morning of the second day. Because I reserve two full days specifically for you and your partner, I require a two notice to cancel or reschedule your intensive.

Next Steps

If you are interested in an intensive, the next step is to schedule a 20 minute complimentary consultation. This will provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and together we will determine if an intensive is the appropriate next step for you.