Your results; a modified intensive schedule

A comprehensive assessment followed by concentrated help for couples that are unable to schedule a full weekend intensive.

Science-based effectiveness

Seasoned couples specialists

Private sessions only

Free, no-obligation phone call

Why an intensive (even modified) is your best bet

Research has demonstrated that a science-based approach is 70-90% effective in helping couples. These retreats equal almost 6 months of conventional therapy held over a weekend. We've modified our highly-effective retreats for couples that need to break up those sessions over a slightly longer period of time.

The two of you will work with your therapist to heighten intimacy, improve emotional connection, and resolve conflicts. Your work will start with a thorough analysis of your relationship.

This saves you time and money.

Our couples therapists will help you to:

  • Feel heard, seen and understood in the couples retreat.
  • Recognize the underlying betrayals and patterns that cause you so much pain.
  • Provide you with concrete tools you can take home to keep the momentum going.

Why our approach works

Couples Therapy Inc. is a team of two dozen clinicians all devoted to couples therapy. What does that mean for you?

Methods backed by science

You can't wing-it when it comes to helping troubled marriages. You must know the science. And you have to practice it routinely, every week, week after week. All of our clinicians have one or more training certificates in science-based couples therapy. 

Top tier professionals

The team shares a common drive to improve, regardless of how much previous training or expertise they may already possess. You can be assured that the clinician that you and your partner selects will have the training and expertise to support your relationship.

analysis of the BIG BIG book

Assessment tools guide the kind of work we choose to do with you, moment by moment. You and your partner will fill out a thorough self-assessment sharing important information that will inform the therapy. Treatment is more effective because we hit the ground running.

Concentrated help

Seeing you over longer blocks of concentrated time allow us to know the two of you in a deeper way. We get to observe repeating patterns of relating. We record interactions, especially during fights, to understand these patterns more precisely.

Lasting change

Our finely tuned observations are integrated into the treatment plan. We help you to notice how these common interactional patterns impact your nervous system and your partner's nervous system. We help you change these destructive patterns, and all without assigning needless blame.

100% free consult

While highly effective, intensive couples therapy is not for everyone. We want to ensure that our services are a good fit for your relationship. Our client services team will answer any questions and make sure that an intensive is the right next step. We will also help you to find the right therapist and set up a 15 minute meet and greet so that you can be confident that this is the right move for the two of you.

The BIG BIG Book and why it matters so much...

Every question in The BIG BIG Book provides your couples therapist with essential information they'll need in order to help both of you.

You'll be asked to examine various problematic aspects of your relationship. You'll also learn what's still going well between you.

The BIG BIG Book helps you move into the present and examine your relationship in a new way. You start to put things into perspective. The frame of the problem becomes clearer. You learn how many issues you have, which don't have anything to do with your relationship.

The BIG BIG Book isn’t a fun “compatibility test” you take in 5 minutes.

It’s a thorough couples therapy assessment tool that examines your relationship, from a scientific point of view.

It is like a road map used at the start of a long trip. A clinical road map that tells you where you're going, and what the goals are. 

Dr. Kathy McMahon (Dr. K)

Ours is a lens that studies loving connections. We examine how bonds get broken and mended. We see people not as a collection of individuals, but as a network of families and friends.

Couples Therapy Inc, Founder and President

Reserving your modified intensive...

Schedule a call

This is the first step. You can schedule a 20 free minute call at your convenience right here. During this call you can ask our client services manager any questions that you might have. She will ask you a few questions as well and help you to find a therapist that is the right fit for you.

Meet your therapist

This is an opportunity for you and your partner to speak with your therapist. Each (free) call is about 15 minutes. You can explain your situation in a bit more detail and ask any questions that you might have. 

Complete the BIG BIG Book

Schedule your first assessment session right online. You will automatically be sent the links to the BIG BIG Book. Set aside some time to work on this, planning to take breaks as you need them. Let us know when you have completed them so we can get them right to your therapist.

Attend your sessions

Before you have your last assessment session your therapist has your BIG BIG Book and is prepared for you and your partner. You will have (3) 2-hour assessment sessions followed by (3) 3-hour blocks of therapy. These are scheduled at your convenience but need to be completed within 3 months


Our Clients

Dr. K continued to remind us how strong our marriage actually is

Dr. K was very direct, yet easy to talk to. She gave us great direction. She was very knowledgeable. She made us feel very comfortable and we could share anything with her. She really seemed to study our BIG BIG Book. She knew so much about us before we ever showed up. We never felt like strangers around her. We felt she was our cheerleader and really wanted the best for us. She continued to remind us how strong our marriage actually is. 

From a couples retreat with Dr. k

For the first time in many years I feel like we are headed in the right direction

I just wanted to say thank you again for a really good weekend. For the first time in many years, I feel like we are headed in a good direction. I feel more at peace and I believe my partner does too. We have had a few good days since we left and feel grateful for your guidance.

From a recent client to Dr. WOlfe

We left with strategies

Dr. Michael McNulty created a very safe environment for us to talk about really difficult and hurtful experiences. He was kind and gently kept us on track. It took away some of the negativity, we left with some strategies, we have a referral to another Gottman therapist in our area

Take the BIG BIG Book seriously. It helped the therapist know us before we met

From a couples retreat with Dr. Mike McNulty

The Modified Intensive Schedule

Session 1

The interview, 2 hours

After you schedule your first session online you will be sent links to your BIG BIG Books. You should get started on those as soon as possible but you don't need to complete them before this appointment.

This first session is an interview with both of you. It includes both the Gottman Oral History Interview and a Pearson problem Interview.

Session 2

Individual sessions, 2 hours (50 minutes each)

We ask that you complete BIG BIG Book before scheduling this next two hour block. These sessions are done individually with about one hour for each of you.

This is your one on one time with your therapist, speak frankly. What are your perspectives, hopes, and wishes? 

Session 3

Feedback and planning, 2 hours

Your therapist has reviewed your BIG BIG Book before this session. You will be provided with a detailed understanding of your areas of strength, your areas of relationship vulnerabilities, and your attachment styles.

Intensive couples therapy (sessions 4-6)

(3) 3-hour blocks

Your personalized therapy begins after the assessment. You will work on the goals that you established in your feedback session. Following your assessment, you have 2 months to schedule these 3-hour blocks.

Take this important first step

Do it for yourself.

Do it for each other.

What Makes Us Different

It is our belief that without a thorough assessment, a couples therapist is "shooting in the dark." Instead, we'll spend concentrated clinical assessment sessions uncovering fundamental issues to target our couples therapy. Many of these details you provide us in our marriage counseling assessment instrument.

Our clinical team loves working with couples intensively. They find it rewarding to have couples enter treatment on the verge of divorce, or anxious to get their marriages back on track, and leave with a new sense of commitment, connection, and resolve.

The team

All of our therapists have advanced degrees and training in The Gottman Method of Couples Therapy and Discernment Counseling. Others are certified or have advanced training in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy as well. Our team of more than two dozen therapists have a combined 500+ years of experience in couples therapy.

The assessment

All of our therapy starts with the comprehensive online assessment we call: The BIG BIG Book. You won't find a more comprehensive couples assessment anywhere. This unique tool helps us to uncover your specific issues and goals. It will take you several hours to complete. Most of our couples credit this assessment as the start of their intensive experience. After the State of the Union Assessment you will have a clear picture of what the right approach to therapy is for you and your partner--this saves you time and money.

The approach

The methods that we use are backed by over 40 years of relationship research. Our science-based approach heals intimate bonds. It's been clinically proven to lessen or alleviate relationship distress and enhance marital satisfaction.

Our Fees

Our modified intensives range in price from $3,500-$6,500 depending on the experience of the therapist that you choose to work with.

Why do we offer no-obligation phone calls?

While highly effective, intensive couples therapy is not for everyone. 

Sometimes a couple that is looking to schedule an intensive needs to be referred to other support. If there is domestic violence in your relationship, drug abuse, or untreated mental illness we do not recommend scheduling couples therapy until those concerns are addressed.

This call is intended to ensure that our services are a good fit for your relationship. Use this call to answer any questions you have and to make sure that working with us is the right next step for you.

Our website offers in-depth profiles on all of our clinicians but there may be something in particular you are looking for. We are happy to make recommendations. You will also schedule a free 15 minute call with the therapist; it's a great opportunity to get a "feel" for their approach and style.

We know that you are not taking this decision lightly and we want to make sure that you have every opportunity to ask your questions and weigh your options.

Our Clients

It has been a blessing...and fun too!

Thank you so much for all that you offered us, Marisa. This has been such a great experience!!! I have implemented your ideas and it has been a blessing to us and fun too. I realized how much I had a guard up and how it was effecting both of us.

Thanks again, you are an angel!

from a Couples Retreat with Marisa Mundey

Jenny Fang saved our marriage

Our relationship was distant, with no connection. We wanted to reconnect and move on from anger.

Jenny was amazing at seeing what we were trying to say and where our pain came from. We really enjoyed going each day, we looked forward to her input.

Jenny Fang saved our marriage, I did not see any option except divorce and now I see our future again.

from a couples retreat with Jenny fang

Please do it!

We have [tried therapy before] and it was not successful

Dr. Gorman was incredible, gentle, intelligent and was able to help us right away and picked up on our problems almost immediately.

We now have improved communication, better listening and the ability to talk again....

What would you say to couples that are considering working with Couples Therapy Inc.?

Please do it!

from a couples retreat with Dr. Gorman

Frequently asked questions

How quickly can we get started?

Availability varies for each clinician, if your calendar is flexible you may be able to start working with a clinician in a matter of days. Others may require a week or two for your schedules to line up. Regardless of when you schedule that first appointment, you will receive your BIG BIG Book links right way, you can get started on that important part of the process immediately.

Will insurance pay for this?

Not likely. Few insurance companies pay for couples therapy. However, Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA's) may. Ask your Accountant or Compensation and Benefits Administrator if you qualify for FSA's.

How do we choose a couples therapist?

We are here to help! When you schedule your consult using the button below we will talk to you about what you are looking for and who might be a good fit in your area.

Do we have to be married?

We work with all couples that are looking to heal their intimate relationships. Whether you have been together for 1 year or 50, married or living apart; our intensives can help you reconnect.

Is this a religious retreat?

No. This is a non-religious, secular retreat which is science-based. We do, however, have a Christian minister, Dr. Doug Burford on our team for those requesting a bible-informed retreat. If he works with you as a minister, he can practice throughout the USA. If this is something that you are interested in, please mention that during your consult.

What if we decide to cancel?

Given the exceptionally prominent level of training on our team, our couples retreat intensives are in high demand. It's a serious mutual commitment, for you and for us. We set aside this large block of time only for you, and you do the same for each other. You both commit to your relationship, as we commit to helping you.

For this reason, full payment is due at the time of scheduling. 

Traditionally, if for any reason you decide to cancel, a 50% refund will be given up to 60 days prior to the scheduled start date. If you cancel less than 60 days prior to the scheduled start date, your fee is non-refundable. However, given the pandemic, cancellation policies now offer greater flexibility. Check with your couples therapist for more details.

Learn more about our modified intensive schedules when you schedule your free call.