What is Intensive Couples Therapy?
Intensive Couples Therapy offers a powerful approach to address relationship challenges and strengthen your bond. Unlike traditional weekly therapy sessions, intensive therapy condenses focused work into a shorter timeframe up front, often over a weekend. This allows couples to delve deeper into their issues, gain new perspectives, and develop effective communication skills in a concentrated and immersive setting.
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*Intensive couples therapy is only for new couples to West Coast Therapy who will continue services or existing couples who already receive weekly or bi-weekly therapy.
Intensive Couples Therapy Benefits
Targeted Approach: Intensive sessions allow me to tailor the therapy experience to your specific needs and goals.
Rapid Progress: Benefit from a concentrated effort, potentially achieving significant breakthroughs in a shorter time frame compared to traditional therapy.
In-Depth Exploration: Intensive therapy allows for deeper exploration of core issues and underlying dynamics affecting your relationship.
Flexibility and Choice: Choose between in-office sessions or house calls within our licensed states (California, Nevada, Oregon, New York, Washington State, British Columbia, Canada) to suit your needs and preferences.
What to Expect During Intensive Couples Therapy
Pre-therapy assessment: Complete an online questionnaire to provide me with valuable background information about your relationship prior to starting the sessions.
In-depth sessions: Engage in focused therapy sessions designed to address your specific needs and goals. These sessions may involve individual interviews, joint work, and communication exercises.
Personalized plan: Develop a personalized action plan to continue strengthening your relationship after the intensive therapy session(s).
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Full-Day Session(s). Be prepared to dedicate significant time and effort to the intensive sessions. The condensed format requires a high level of focus and emotional investment. The total number of sessions is decided upon the initial consult.
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Vulnerability and Openness: Intensive therapy delves deeper into relationship challenges. It's important to be open to exploring potentially uncomfortable topics and be willing to be vulnerable with your partner.
Who is a Good Fit for Intensive Couples Therapy
Couples seeking intensive therapy typically are:
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Currently attending weekly or bi-weekly therapy sessions
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Highly motivated and committed to working on their relationship.
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​Willing to invest time and energy in focused sessions.
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Facing complex relationship challenges that require in-depth exploration.
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Open to new perspectives and willing to try new communication and conflict resolution skills.
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Limited by busy schedules who find it difficult to commit to regular weekly therapy sessions.
Intensive Couples Therapy May Not Be Suitable if:
One partner is experiencing a serious mental health issue such as untreated bipolar disorder, suicidal ideation, or major depression. Individual therapy may be necessary before couples counseling can be effective.
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There is domestic violence in the relationship. Couples therapy is not appropriate for situations involving domestic violence.
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One or both partners are struggling with active addiction. Addressing substance abuse issues may be necessary before couples counseling can be beneficial.
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One or both partners are unwilling or unable to commit to the level of focus and emotional investment required for an intensive retreat. The retreat demands a high level of commitment, similar to the intense focus required for major sporting events like the Wimbledon finals or the Super Bowl.
​Once these concerns are addressed and the situation has stabilized, I'd be happy to schedule a consultation to discuss if Intensive Couples Therapy is the right fit for your relationship at that time.
West Coast Psychotherapy does not take insurance.
Intensive Couples Therapy
In Your Home
$10000
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Bring the therapy experience to the comfort of your own home within our licensed states.
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13 hours of therapy of therapy in a short period of time: Benefit from a concentrated session led by John in your familiar space.
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This price does not include travel expenses
In-Home Intensive Couples Therapy Travel Expenses
Travel Time: If I travel by car from the San Francisco Bay Area, a travel time fee will be applied based on the distance to your location. Specific rates will be provided upon consultation.
Accommodation: The cost of my hotel accommodation during the retreat will be added to the total fee.
Airfare: If travel by air is necessary, the cost of airfare will be included in the final fee.
Couples Therapy Options
in
California | New York | Washington State | British Columbia
Weekly Couples Therapy Sessions - approximately 90 minutes
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Extended Couples Therapy Sessions - 3 hours with a break at the 90 minute mark. Occurs once or twice per month
Private Weekend Couples Therapy Retreats:
This is 13 hours of relationship counseling: Friday - Sunday format:
The Gottman Relationship Check Up is completed at least one week prior to the couples retreat date.
Friday Schedule
Assessment Phase - 3 hours
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Joint Interview - 90 minutes
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Individual interviews approximately 45 minutes each
Saturday Schedule
Assessment Phase
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Feed back - approximately 45 minutes
Intervention Phase
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5 hours of couples counseling
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Sunday Schedule
Intervention Phase
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5 hours of couples counseling
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Wrap up and plan for follow up sessions or check-in
Weekend Couples Therapy Retreats are best suited for couples who:
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Have busy schedules and coordinating a weekly time would be difficult.
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Live outside of the Oakland, CA area such as the Peninsula, South Bay, North Bay and areas beyond which makes traveling for weekly sessions quite challenging.
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Couples who live anywhere in the USA, Canada or in the world.
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Are committed and prepared to engage in intensive challenging and difficult emotional work over several days to repair, revitalize and rejuvenate their relationship or marriage.
Weekend Couples Therapy Retreats or Intensive Couples Counseling requires the commitment and concentration as if you are in one of the following scenarios:
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Playing Centre Court in the Wimbledon finals.
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Making your debut at the Metropolitan Opera.
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Playing in the NBA finals.
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Playing in the world series.
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Playing in the Super Bowl.
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Playing at the Masters.
House Calls For Weekend Couples Therapy Retreats orÂ
Extended Couples Therapy Sessions
House calls are available in the following states and province where I am licensed/registered to practice counseling and psychotherapy:
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California
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New York
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Washington State
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British Columbia, Canada
If you live on the east coast of the USA or Canada, Weekend Couples Therapy Retreats can occur in New York City/New York state.
House Calls for Weekend Couples Therapy Retreats or Extended Couples Therapy Sessions require the following expenses to be covered:
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Travel
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Travel time - San Francisco Bay area up to 2 hours away by car.
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Locations outside of the San Francisco Bay Area - hotel - the ones with the best beds which rules out most Sheratons (from my experience.)
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Air travel - preferred airlines - Delta, Alaska, American or the airline that has the most direct route to your location.
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Couples who would not be a good fit for a Weekend Couples Therapy Retreat
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One of you has:
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a serious untreated mental health issue such as bi-polar disorder, suicidal, major depression
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domestic violence,
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active drug or alcohol addiction including weed/pot.
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It may be prudent to address these individual issues prior to attempting relationship counseling. Once the situation has stabilized I would be happy to consult with you to see if the timing is right for relationship counseling with me.
Relationship and Marriage Counseling Costs
Weekly sessions: $400 per 90 minute session or $270 per 60 minute session
Extended session: $800 [Two 90 minute sessions with a break - In office]
Extended session: $1,000 [Two 90 minute sessions - within a 2 hour drive of Oakland | CA]
Weekend Couples Therapy Retreat: $5000 [13 hours of counseling in my office]
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Weekend Couples Therapy Retreat: $10,000 [travel to your location | 13 hours of counseling]
Travel available in California, Washington State, New York and British Columbia, Canada.
to Save Your Marriage or Relationship