At Modern Therapy and Wellness, we often get requests for couples retreats in New Orleans. While we don’t offer a weekend retreat, we do offer something similar in the city: Couples Intensive Sessions.
The Research
Research indicates that couples’ intensives can be effective in facilitating rapid relationship improvement. Studies show faster progress than with traditional weekly therapy.
Here is Why:
- It’s highly focused
- It’s immersive- which encourages couples to open up
- It’s concentrated which allows for quicker breakthroughs
- Intensives incorporate structured exercises or skill building
- It provides immediate support
- Therapists can customize the session on trust, intimacy, or conflict resolution
- It is not restricted to the hourly time period
- It provides high impact therapy in a short amount of time
Research shows that the human brain is more likely to absorb new behavior patterns if those behaviors are learned over a short period of time
What exactly is a couples intensive?
During a couples intensive, a couple meets with their therapist over a one- or two-day period where they can focus on their marriage. During a one day intensive, a couple will spend approximately 6 hours with their partner and a therapist. The couple will take short breaks and a break for lunch. At MTW, we spend time assessing the couple together and each person also gets an individual assessment while their partner isn’t present. The therapist gathers all of this information and then the couple meets back with the therapist for the last hour and a half to engage in exercises and to get a plan for their relationship. A two-day intensive includes the day one assessment plus day two of customized work together.
How does a one-day intensive look:
Hour one: one hour couples’ assessment– During this time you will meet with your therapist to share your hopes and dreams for the session. During this time the therapist will ask questions about your relationship history, how you met, what attracted you to each other, strengths and challenges as a couple, as well as what you want to get out of the intensive.
Hour two: one-hour individual assessment– Each individual gets an hour to share their personal history, patterns and family of origin issues with the therapist. This is your chance to tell your story and your history.
Hour three: one-hour individual assessment
Hour 4 lunch break
The last hour and a half – Feedback session with your therapist
We have gathered your personal histories and your relationship histories, as well as your goals. We will give you psychoeducation about the areas of your relationship that are strong and the areas that need work. We will address areas such as friendship, closeness, and healthy ways to navigate conflict. We will talk about the ways in which relationship damage is occurring and teach you antidotes to the 4 horsemen.
What we like about it
As therapists we like the focused nature of the intensive. Often during traditional sessions, it can take a couple a while to really open up. The nature of the intensive allows couples to open up quickly. It also is great for busy couples who have trouble scheduling appointments. We find that couples leave an intensive feeling good about the work that they have put in and their commitment to their relationship. Another benefit is that couples often leave an intensive feeling closer. When a couple comes into an intensive in crisis, they typically leave the intensive with clarity about their relationship and a game plan.
Who is it good for:
- Any couple who wants extended uninterrupted time to work on their relationship
- Busy couples
- Couples who have a hard time scheduling
- Couples who have to make a decision
- Couples who want to work on intimacy or communication
- Couples who want to fast track their work together
- Couples who do not want the start and stop approach to therapy and instead want more of an immersive experience
- Premarital couples
- Couples who want a tune up
- Affair recovery
Modern Therapy and Wellness is a boutique Therapy Practice in New Orleans, Louisiana. We specialize in couples therapy and couples’ intensives. Shoot us an email to chat about it: info@moderntherapyandwellness.com