Couples Therapy Retreat
Focused, in-person support when one hour at a time isn’t enough
When couples feel stuck, overwhelmed, or caught in the same painful patterns, weekly therapy can sometimes feel too slow or fragmented. Couples therapy retreats offer something different: dedicated time, thoughtful structure, and professional support to help couples slow down, understand what’s happening beneath the surface, and move forward with greater clarity.
What is a Couples Therapy Retreat?
A focused, in-person experience for intensive relational work over one to three days.
A couples therapy retreat is a structured, in-person experience that allows couples to work together over one, two, or three days. Rather than spreading difficult conversations across months, retreats offer focused time to understand relational patterns, repair connection, and explore next steps in a contained, supportive setting.
This format is especially helpful when couples need more space, time, and guidance than weekly sessions allow.
WHY COUPLES CHOOSE A COUPLES THERAPY RETREAT
Disagreements spiral or end without resolution
Avoid repeated cycles by creating space and structure.
One partner seeks closeness while the other needs space
A retreat supports paced exploration of different needs.
Feeling disconnected or more like roommates
Focus on rebuilding closeness, not just surface fixes.
Weekly couples therapy hasn’t created traction
Intensive work can accelerate insight and momentum.
Trust has been hurt and repairs feel stuck
Targeted time for repair work and guided reconciliation.
Week-long commitments feel impossible
Concentrated days reduce scheduling friction and lost momentum.
Limited monthly availability for intensive couples work
What This Time Together Can Change
A retreat gives you focused time, clear structure, and clinician support so the work can go deeper than weekly sessions allow.
Your retreat begins with careful preparation, includes a research-informed assessment, and delivers concentrated, in-person therapy days tailored to your relationship. We pace the work to support emotional safety and practical change — not to rush you.
Each retreat ends with a personalized follow-up plan and tools you can use at home, plus a 30-minute follow-up session to help integrate the work.
Private-pay • Gottman Relationship Checkup included • Follow-up within 90 days
THOUGHTFUL PRE-RETREAT PREPARATION
30-minute individual consultation with each partner to orient the work.
FOCUSED, IN-PERSON THERAPY
6 hours on day one; 4 hours per day on subsequent days (up to 14 hours total).
PERSONALIZED FOLLOW-UP PLANNING
A clear, realistic plan to build on progress after the retreat.
TAKE-HOME TOOLS & RESOURCES
Gottman Relationship Toolkit + a recommended relationship book.
COMPREHENSIVE RELATIONSHIP ASSESSEMENT
Gottman Relationship Checkup — clinician-scored & integrated into your retreat plan.
EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS
Gottman Method + Emotionally Focused Therapy, tailored to your goals.
FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT
One 30-minute follow-up session included (use within 90 days).
EXTENDED THERAPIST SUPPORT
Extra days or follow-up sessions with your therapist can be added based on your needs.
HOW MUCH TIME CAN YOU GIVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP RIGHT NOW?
All Retreat Sessions are Located in a Dedicated Space With
Personal Lounge - Snacks & Drinks
Large Session Room - Flexible Seating & Workshop Breakouts
1 DAY RETREAT
In-Person 6 Hours
$2,100
2 DAY RETREAT
Day One + 4 Hours More
$3,400
3 DAY RETREAT
Day One & Two + 4 Hours More
$4,600
Weekend days are an additional $500 per day. Retreats are private-pay services and are not eligible for insurance reimbursement.
INSURANCE & PAYMENT INFORMATION
Couples therapy retreats are private-pay services and are not billed to insurance.
Retreat services are provided on a private-pay basis and are not submitted to insurance companies.
Insurance carriers generally require services to meet “medical necessity” criteria (typically an individual diagnosis and ongoing treatment). Intensive, relational retreat formats do not meet insurance billing criteria.
Because of this:
retreat services are not billed to insurance,
superbills are not provided,
and retreats are not eligible for insurance reimbursement.
If you need insurance-covered care or a diagnosis for coverage purposes, weekly couples therapy or individual therapy may be a more appropriate option — we can discuss alternatives during your consultation
If you need insurance-covered care or a diagnosis for coverage purposes, weekly couples therapy or individual therapy may be a more appropriate option — we can discuss alternatives during your consultation
We’ll review payment expectations during your consultation so there are no surprises.
Limited spots — retreats scheduled selectively to ensure quality care.
WHO COUPLES RETREATS ARE FOR
This format is most helpful for couples who can engage honestly, slow down, and work together for focused time.
Escalating talks
Therapy stalled
Open to reflection
Emotionally distant
Closeness vs. Space
Repair stalled
Busy schedules
Motivated to try intensive
WHEN A RETREAT MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT FIT
If any of these we’ll recommend alternatives such as safety planning, individual therapy, substance-use treatment, or referral to higher-level care.
A couples therapy retreat can be powerful — but it’s not appropriate in every situation.
If any of the situations describe your relationship right now, we’ll discuss safer, more appropriate options during your consultation.
One partner feels unsafe expressing themselves in front of the other.
There is ongoing domestic violence, coercive control, or any threat to a partner’s safety.
There is acute psychiatric instability (e.g., active suicidal ideation, psychosis) requiring a higher level of care.
One partner is seeking therapy primarily to change or control the other.
If you or a partner are in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency services right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have a question? Schedule a brief consultation and we’ll walk through it together.
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A consultation helps determine whether this format is a good fit. We’ll talk about your goals, safety, and timing and recommend the best option — retreat, weekly therapy, or another path.
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Not necessarily. Some couples continue weekly therapy afterward; others use the retreat as a focused reset and step back to practice on their own. We’ll discuss a follow-up plan that fits your goals.
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Uncertainty is common. Retreats can help clarify what each partner is experiencing and make space for careful decision-making — not pressure to decide on the spot.
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In-person work allows better pacing, emotional containment, and connection during intensive sessions. It’s easier to regulate emotion, read subtle cues, and pace breaks effectively when everyone is together.
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No — retreats are private-pay services and are not billed to insurance (see Insurance & Payment Information). If you need insurance-covered care, weekly individual or couples therapy is a better option.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE RETREAT?
The retreat is the start of change, not the end of it.
You’ll leave the retreat with a clearer understanding of the patterns that matter most in your relationship and practical tools you can use right away. The goal is steady, sustainable change — not quick fixes.
Each retreat includes one 30-minute follow-up session (virtual or phone) to help integrate what you learned; this session must be used within 90 days. During that follow-up we’ll review progress, troubleshoot challenges, and refine the plan you leave with.
After the follow-up some couples continue with weekly or biweekly therapy, some schedule occasional coaching sessions, and others take time to practice and decide. We’ll discuss options that fit your goals and schedule during your consultation and the follow-up.
Integrate (0–4 weeks)
practice tools + 30-min follow-up
Decide (3+ months)
continue therapy / pause / reassess
daily practices, optional check-ins
Apply (1–3 months)
“We’ll help you choose the right next step based on what emerged during the retreat.”
WHAT THIS PROCESS OFTEN FEELS LIKE
Many couples arrive unsure, guarded, or emotionally tired — that’s normal.
Retreat work is intentionally paced to honor emotional safety and avoid overwhelm. We build in breaks, check in frequently, and move at a rhythm that supports regulation and genuine understanding rather than forcing confrontation.
People often describe the experience as intense but clarifying: difficult material comes up, but there’s space to process it with structure, clinician guidance, and practical tools. That clarity — more than dramatic breakthroughs — is the common and lasting benefit.
This is not about deciding everything in one weekend. It’s about creating a contained space where progress can begin, and where couples leave with both insight and a realistic plan for what’s next.
“We felt nervous going in, but we left with clearer answers and the tools to keep working together.”
About Your Therapist
Sarah Olson, LCSW, brings more than 15 years of clinical experience helping couples break destructive cycles and rebuild connection. She blends the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with trauma-informed care to create a steady, practical approach for couples at many stages in their relationship.
Sarah emphasizes emotional safety, clear structure, and actionable tools. She has advanced training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy, and extensive experience guiding couples through intensive, in-person retreats as well as weekly therapy. Her work is direct, compassionate, and focused on helping partners understand patterns and practice new ways of relating.
15+ years’ clinical experience working with couples
Advanced training: Gottman Method & Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Specialties: trust repair, attachment injuries, pacing closeness vs. space
Sarah Olson, LCSW
Over 15 years working with couples — Gottman & EFT trained
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) • HIPAA-compliant care • Private-pay retreats
Getting Started
Couples therapy retreats are offered on a limited basis to allow for thoughtful preparation and follow-through.
Schedule a consultation.
We’ll talk about what’s bringing you in, safety, goals, and whether a retreat is clinically appropriate.Complete pre-retreat preparation.
Each partner completes the Gottman Relationship Checkup and has a 30-minute individual consultation so we can tailor the retreat.Choose dates & book.
We’ll select retreat length and timing together. Retreats are private-pay and limited in availability.
By scheduling a consultation or retreat you acknowledge that couples therapy retreats are private-pay services and are not billed to insurance.