Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers before you schedule an intensive.
These answers cover clinical fit, safety, virtual and beachfront formats, travel, cost, and what happens before and after an intensive. A free consultation is the place to discuss circumstances specific to your relationship.
Choosing an Intensive Format
What are the intensive options?
You may choose a one-day virtual intensive for a clearly defined relationship pattern or focused goal, a two-day virtual intensive for layered, longstanding, trauma-affected, or interconnected concerns, or a two-day beachfront intensive as an optional premium in-person setting.
How do we choose one day or two days?
The free fit consultation considers your goals, safety, privacy, the relationship pattern, and whether one day, two days, virtual, or in-person makes the most clinical sense.
What does a one-day virtual intensive cost?
The one-day virtual intensive is $1,500.
What does a two-day virtual intensive cost?
The two-day virtual intensive is $2,500.
Who can receive a virtual intensive?
Virtual intensives are available to clients located in Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Virginia at the time of service.
Is This Right for Us?
Who is a good fit for an intensive?
An intensive may fit couples dealing with recurring conflict, pursue and withdraw patterns, shutdown, emotional distance, trauma-related relationship effects, betrayal, or difficulty making progress in weekly therapy. Both partners need some willingness to participate honestly in the process.
Who is not a good fit?
Couples intensive work is not appropriate when there is active or recent violence, coercive control, intimidation, threats, severe instability, untreated addiction, or a situation where either partner cannot speak freely. Crisis situations and circumstances requiring a different level of care need a different response.
What if my partner is less enthusiastic than I am?
Partners do not need to begin with the same level of enthusiasm. Both do need enough willingness to participate freely and honestly. The consultation is a place to discuss whether the format is appropriate before either of you commits.
What if we have already tried couples therapy?
An intensive does not replace or criticize weekly therapy. It offers a larger block of protected clinical time for couples who want more continuity than a weekly hour can provide.
What if we are unsure whether we want to stay together?
The consultation helps determine whether shared couples work is clinically appropriate for your circumstances. It is important that both partners can participate freely and safely in that conversation.
Will you tell us whether we should stay married?
No. The purpose of couples therapy is not to direct either partner to stay or leave. The work focuses on understanding the relationship pattern and responding to it with more clarity.
What Happens During an Intensive?
Do we spend all of the time talking?
Intensive work is not limited to continuous conversation. The format includes structured regulation or reflection practices, breaks, and work that follows the relationship’s pace and clinical needs.
Are there breaks?
Yes. Pacing, breaks, grounding, regulation, and clinical judgment are part of the process. Breaks create room to settle and return to the work with more steadiness.
What happens if one of us shuts down?
Shutdown is approached as part of the relationship pattern to understand, not as a failure. The work can slow down, use grounding or a break, and return to the moment when there is enough steadiness to continue.
What happens if one of us becomes overwhelmed?
A difficult moment can be slowed down or paused when needed. The process does not depend on forcing either partner through an experience before there is enough safety to continue.
Do we discuss trauma?
Trauma, trust, intimacy, or connection themes may be addressed when clinically appropriate. The focus stays on what is relevant to the relationship and the couple’s pace.
Will we be given exercises or activities?
The intensive includes customized materials and structured regulation or reflection practices when appropriate. It is not a scripted curriculum or a workshop.
Is therapy conducted on the beach?
No. Therapy is clinical couples work in a private setting. When clinically appropriate, the coastal environment may support structured grounding, movement, reflection, or regulation practices, but therapy is not assumed to take place outdoors.
Safety and Clinical Fit
How is safety assessed before an intensive?
Consultation and screening happen before scheduling. Active or recent violence, coercive control, intimidation, threats, severe instability, untreated addiction, or a situation where either partner cannot speak freely are not appropriate for couples intensive work.
Is this a crisis service?
No. An intensive is not crisis intervention. If you are in immediate danger or crisis, call 988, call emergency services, or go to the nearest emergency room.
What if substance use is affecting our relationship?
Untreated addiction or substance-related instability can make a couples intensive inappropriate. The consultation helps determine whether a different level of care or a different next step is needed.
What if one of us does not feel safe speaking freely?
Couples intensive work is not appropriate when either partner cannot speak freely. Safety needs to be addressed directly before shared couples work can be considered.
Beachfront and Travel
Where does therapy physically take place?
The private meeting setting is confirmed during consultation before travel plans are made. A private meeting room is included when needed.
Do we need to stay at a specific hotel?
No. You may choose the lodging that works best for you. Lodging is separate from the intensive fee and is your responsibility.
Is lodging included?
No. Lodging is separate from the clinical fee.
Are meals included?
No. Meals are separate from the clinical fee.
Should we arrive the day before?
If you live more than one or two hours away, plan to arrive the day before, as intensives typically begin at 9 a.m. on the first day.
Should we plan a vacation around the intensive?
You may choose to spend additional time in the area, but the intensive itself is private clinical couples therapy, not a vacation package. The work can be emotionally demanding, so the relationship work comes first.
What if the weather is bad?
If weather makes the beachfront unavailable, sessions continue in the private office space or meeting room. If travel is unsafe, the intensive may be rescheduled for a future date.
Cost and Payment
What does the $4,500 starting fee include?
The in-person clinical fee includes preparation, two consecutive days reserved for one couple, twelve hours of clinical therapy, customized physical materials, structured regulation or reflection practices, post-intensive integration materials, and a private meeting room when needed.
Is lodging included in the $4,500 starting fee?
No. Lodging, meals, and travel are separate from the clinical fee.
Do you take insurance?
No. Insurance cannot be used to pay for intensives because they are not an insurance-covered service.
Can we seek out-of-network reimbursement?
No. Superbills are not provided, and clients sign an opt-out form agreeing not to submit receipts to insurance for reimbursement.
Is a deposit required?
Yes. A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve the intensive date. The remaining balance is due one week before the intensive.
What is the cancellation policy?
Intensives may be rescheduled up to 14 days before the intensive. Cancellations within 7 days are charged the full amount.
Are payment plans available?
CareCredit financing is available for eligible clients. You can ask about this option during the free consultation.
After the Intensive
What happens when the two days are over?
You receive post-intensive integration materials and practical next steps for carrying the work into daily life. Before the intensive closes, you return to a real issue and test the response you have built together.
What is the clear outcome of the intensive?
By the end of the intensive, both partners can name the cycle, use an agreed response to interrupt it, and test that response together with a real issue that matters to the relationship.
What if we have not reached the agreed outcome by the end?
The intensive is structured around a clear focus and practical next steps, not a promise that every concern will be resolved in two days. Before the intensive ends, you practice the response you have built together and receive integration materials for carrying the work forward.
Can we continue working with you?
You receive post-intensive integration materials and practical next steps. Any future care is discussed individually based on clinical fit, availability, and where care can be provided. You are also welcome and encouraged to return to your existing therapist if you choose.
Can we return to our current therapist?
Yes. You are welcome and encouraged to return to your existing therapist after the intensive if you choose.
Will you coordinate with our existing therapist?
Coordination with your existing therapist is encouraged to support the benefit of the intensive, but it occurs only with your written consent.
Are there follow-up sessions?
Your intensive includes post-intensive integration materials and practical next steps. Any future care is discussed individually based on clinical fit, availability, and where care can be provided.