Relational Intensives
Relational intensives are elongated sessions that offer a deeper dive into understanding and working on the obstacles to experiencing the communication, connection, intimacy, and sex you want in your relationship.
While there are many benefits to traditional weekly relational sessions, intensives offer more spaciousness to self and co-regulate, be held in vulnerability, and practice tools in session.
Partners I have worked with have found the intensive format to allow them to get to core issues faster and see change much quicker than my weekly clients. This format is also great for those who care about and want to invest in their relationship but find traditional weekly scheduling to be prohibitive.
Relational Intensive Formats
Relational intensives are offered in a few different formats and it will take collaboration to choose what will best work for you and your relational goals. Session length is determined by scheduling needs, financial resources, and areas of growth in the relationship.
2 hour sessions
2 hour sessions are great for partners that need more time in session to connect and work on goals, but want more regular frequency than some of the larger intensives offer. It is common for these to be scheduled weekly or every other week, depending on the needs of your relationship.
4 hour sessions
4 hour sessions are great for partners that want the time to be able to address some of the core dynamics negatively impacting their relationship, learn about the process of conflict, practice tools to shift that process, and see some immediate change, or at least a clear path forward.
Typically partners find it helpful to schedule these sessions at least twice a month until they feel confident in incorporating the tools learned, then reduce time and/or frequency until they are ready to complete our work.
8-12 hour weekends
Weekend intensives are broken up over the course of a couple days. 8 hour intensives are shared between 2 days, where as 12 hr intensives are typically broken up between 3 days.
All 8-12 hr sessions meet less frequently than the other intensives and include email access to me. This is to support the tools, prompts, and resources covered in the session, not as additional therapy.
How often will we meet?
Frequency will depend greatly on the areas of change within the relationship. For example, some couples find that a 12 hour session offers enough tools and change that follow ups beyond the intensive are not necessary, while others may benefit from a series of intensives spaced throughout the year. 8hr intensives are equated to about 3 months of therapy, while 12 hour intensives are equated to months of therapy.
Choosing a format
Remember, it is part of my job to help you figure out what format will be best for you and your needs. While intensives require a larger upfront investment, they also offer a potential to save money over a longer period of time. This is due to the condensed nature of intensives, more flexible scheduling, reduced need to change work schedule, and greater, faster change.
Built in Breaks
All intensives have built in breaks. These breaks are critical to our work and are non-negotiable. Once we choose the right kind of intensive, length of breaks and approximately when they will happen will be outlined for you. In addition, all intensives have the option to include a research based intake designed by Gottman Institute. This is an in depth intake engineered to identify the core areas of strength and struggle in your relationship and is included in the cost of our work.
Tele Sessions
All therapy is currently taking place via tele. This allows us to meet without having to navigate the complications of personal needs/choices around the pandemic.
