Couples Intensive

Reconnect in just two days with a focused couples therapy retreat.

If your relationship feels stuck, disconnected, or caught in a cycle you can’t seem to break, a Couples Intensive offers a powerful reset. This focused, extended-format therapy allows you to gain clarity, shift patterns, and reconnect in a meaningful way—all in just one or two days.

We offer intensives in Charlotte, NC, Carefree, AZ, and virtually across AZ, FL, NC, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, and VT.

What is a Couples Intensive (aka marriage retreat)?

A Couples Intensive is a concentrated therapy experience that allows you and your partner to move quickly through areas where you feel stuck—whether it’s related to communication, trust, parenting, or emotional connection.

Instead of spreading sessions over months, our expert couples therapists create a customized plan that helps you:

  • Understand what’s driving conflict
  • Reconnect emotionally
  • Develop tools to manage stress and communicate effectively
  • Leave with a plan to support sustainable change

How is it different from weekly therapy?

Couples Intensives are designed to do in one or two days what might otherwise take months. This immersive time with your therapist allows for real momentum, whether you’re in crisis or simply want to deepen your connection.

You’ll move beyond surface issues into the deeper emotional and attachment needs that often get missed in short sessions.

A couples intensive is not for couples where:

  • One or both partners are unsure they want to stay in the relationship
    (see Discernment Counseling)
  • There is untreated trauma, active addiction, or ongoing relational harm
  • One partner feels pressured or coerced into attending
  • You need long-term therapy rather than a focused experience
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A couples intensive is ideal for couples who are:

  • Motivated and open to change
  • Looking to get “unstuck” from a recurring dynamic
  • In a high-stress season or after a breach of trust
  • Wanting to avoid drawn-out weekly sessions
  • Seeking a deep dive or retreat-style reset

What to expect from a marriage retreat

After an initial consultation, your therapist will design a schedule tailored to your relationship’s needs.

Every intensive includes:

  • A 6-hour therapy day (one-day or two-day format)
  • Integration time and rest breaks
  • Personalized tools and skills you can take with you
  • Recommendations for follow-up care (optional)
Sample Day One Schedule

Prior to the session, clients will complete our Intake Paperwork and the Gottman Connect Assessment (exact times listed below may vary).

Day 1: Assessment & Intervention Phase

Time What to Expect
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Begin with a grounding check-in on your Gottman Oral History interview. We’ll discuss current relationship challenges and strengths, your relationship’s history, family of origin influences, and current goals.
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Individual sessions: 30 minutes each

The individual time allows for a deeper exploration of family of origin influences and space for each person to freely share their perspectives on the relationship.
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM A discussion of Gottman Connect Assessment Results, which includes: an overview of the Sound Relationship House and growth areas and strengths in the relationship based on the assessment.
12:30 – 1:30 PM Lunch break
1:30 – 4:00 PM

Possible interventions based on your goals and the assessment results:

Managing Conflict Interventions
e.g., Aftermath of a Regrettable Incident, Dreams w/in Conflict/Navigating Perpetual Problems, Identifying the Negative Cycles/Patterns

Friendship System Interventions
e.g., Exploring Love Maps & Sharing Fondness & Admiration
Sample Day Two Schedule

Day 2: Continue Intervention Phase & Plan for Maintenance/Continued Progress Phase

 

Time What to Expect
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Cover interventions from Day 1 that weren’t completed or move more deeply into those interventions and underlying attachment fears and needs.

This may include returning to conflict management, emotional attunement, or communication exercises that surfaced the day prior.
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Address any topics or issues that weren’t covered on Day 1.

This time is flexible and can be used for additional processing, skill-building, or repair conversations as needed.
12:00 –1:00 PM Lunch break
1:00 – 3:00 PM

Establish maintenance and continued progress plans.

This includes developing a personalized strategy for applying the work post-intensive, setting up follow-up or check-in sessions, and identifying possible areas for future growth or support.

Retreat-style locations to support your Couples Intensive

    Charlotte, NC

    Plan an in-person couples getaway to the Queen City

    Further enhance your couples therapy experience by traveling to our Charlotte, NC location and staying at one of the nearby resorts
    (price of travel/lodging not included):

    Charlotte Office:
    4726 Park Rd, Ste. C
    Charlotte, NC 28209
    Phone: 704-776-2464

    Nearby Airport: Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

    Therapists & Fees – Charlotte, NC

    1-Day Intensive:
    $1,500/couple
    Includes Gottman assessment + PDF Relationship Tool Kit

    2-Day Intensive:
    $2,850/couple
    Includes Gottman assessment + PDF Relationship Tool Kit

    Schedule your Charlotte, NC Couples Intensive

    Carefree, AZ

    Book a marriage retreat to the Sonoran Desert

    Further enhance your couples therapy experience by traveling to our Carefree, AZ location and staying at one of the nearby resorts
    (price of travel/lodging not included):

    Carefree Office:
    7301 East Sundance Trail, Suite B201
    Carefree, AZ 85331
    Phone: 480-581-9435

    Nearby Airports: Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), Scottsdale Airport (SDL), SkyRanch at Carefree, Deer Valley Airport (DVT)

    Therapists & Fees – Carefree, AZ

    1-Day Intensive:
    $2,000/couple
    Includes Gottman assessment + PDF Relationship Tool Kit

    2-Day Intensive:
    $4,000/couple
    Includes Gottman assessment + PDF Relationship Tool Kit

    Book your Carefree, AZ Couples Intensive

    FAQs about Couples Intensives

    What is a couples intensive?

    A couples intensive is a focused therapy experience designed to help partners work through relationship challenges in a condensed, immersive format. Unlike weekly sessions, intensives offer extended time (1–2 days) to dive deeper into conflict patterns, connection issues, and goals—often yielding faster insight and momentum.

    Who is a couples intensive for?

    Couples intensives are best suited for partners who are in distress, navigating a stuck point, or simply want to invest meaningfully in their relationship. They’re especially helpful for couples facing ongoing conflict, communication breakdowns, or recovering from emotional injury. Intensives are also a fit for busy professionals who can’t commit to weekly therapy.

    Where are in-person intensives held?

    We offer in-person couples intensives in two retreat-style locations:

    • Charlotte, NC: Our SouthPark office is discreet and conveniently located near restaurants and luxury hotels.

    • Carefree, AZ: Nestled in the Sonoran Desert, our Arizona office offers a calming setting near destination resorts.

    Each location is designed to support privacy, comfort, and uninterrupted focus on your relationship.

    Do you offer virtual intensives?

    Yes. Virtual couples intensives are available for clients in North Carolina, Arizona, and other PSYPACT states. These online intensives follow the same structure as our in-person options and are conducted securely over Zoom.

    For many couples, virtual therapy provides flexibility while still offering deep connection and insight.

    What’s included in a couples intensive?

    Each intensive includes:

    • A Gottman Connect assessment completed prior to the intensive

    • A personalized, goal-oriented 1- or 2-day therapy format

    • Private therapy time with a licensed or certified couples therapist

    • A PDF Relationship Tool Kit with recommended resources

    • Post-intensive recommendations for continued support

    Can we see a sample schedule?

    Yes. You’ll find sample schedules in the “What to expect from a marriage retreat” section above. This outlines the flow of your day—from initial intake to targeted interventions—all personalized to your relationship’s needs.

    How do we schedule an intensive?

    To schedule, reach out via our contact form or call the office closest to your preferred location.

    Once matched with a therapist, you’ll select dates and submit a 75% deposit to secure your spot. The remaining 25% is due one week prior to your intensive.

    What’s the cancellation policy?

    Because intensives reserve significant clinician time, a 75% non-refundable deposit is required to schedule.

    Cancellations must be made at least 7 days in advance to avoid being charged the remaining 25% balance.

    Can we continue therapy after the intensive?

    Yes. We encourage couples to schedule follow-up sessions—either virtually or in person—to maintain momentum and deepen new skills. Your therapist will help create a customized plan for ongoing support.