Intensive Marriage Therapy
The most efficient and effective approach to marriage counseling
Research reveals that a 3-day intensive is the equivalent of at least 6 months of traditional counseling.
So, each day-long therapy experience is similar to 1-2 months of weekly or bi-weekly counseling sessions.
Focus: The INTENSIVE approach is especially designed for couples who are experiencing:
a long-term erosion of relationship satisfaction and feeling disconnected and desperate for help
an inability to communicate and problem solve at a meaningful level
a perpetual negative interactional pattern, reacting with criticism, blame, defensiveness or withdrawal
a significant betrayal such as infidelity or other forms of broken trust
severe neglect of the relationship, feeling like “roommates”
Benefits:
The INTENSIVE approach “turbo-charges” the counseling process: the condensed time-frame and uninterrupted, concentrated time allows a couple to make significant progress and dramatically improve their relationship more quickly than traditional counseling.
The INTENSIVE approach allows me to address the deeper issues more thoroughly with each couple, without the hassle of clock-management.
The INTENSIVE approach eases the scheduling process by consolidating the time for counseling. Many couples report it is easier to attend intensive work (a day or more off of work) than weekly sessions over multiple months (one hour a week or every other week).
Bottom line: The INTENSIVE approach tends to be more effective, more efficient, more fulfilling than other marriage counseling approaches.
Agenda:
Whether you meet with me for one day or more, the Intensive begins with you reviewing your relationship history with me and together we explore the current state of your relationship. You will identify the main issues, injuries, and stressors that have caused you to seek marriage counseling, and then work with me to bullet-point the focus of your counseling processes. Depending on your identified issues, I will utilize the time remaining in your scheduled Intensive to help you to:
recognize your negative interactional pattern and how to shift to keep conflicts from spiraling.
identify your core emotional needs and how you can effectively meet each other’s needs.
work through past injuries and unresolved issues in a way that brings understanding, empathy, and healing.
learn how to repair hurts effectively and in short order, rather than lingering with growing resentment.
discover how to adapt to the differences in your marriage in a way to foster connection and avoid frustration.
restore broken trust (from severe neglect, damaging relational patterns, or an affair) and experience a deeper intimacy than ever thought possible.
Before the Intensive ends, I will guide you in a process of solidifying your progress and preparing a plan of action to move forward together. Your plan of action may include continuing in marriage counseling with me, either through the Traditional or Extended approaches.
Format: A whole day reserved for you to meet with me, with no other couples; with the option of scheduling additional days.
Breaks, including lunch, will be taken throughout the day and I will assign activities during some of the breaks and evenings.
Currently, day-long or multi-day Intensives are offered on Thursdays and Fridays, with Saturdays as an option for those needing 3 days. The typical schedule is 9am-4pm each day.
Location: You will meet with me in my private office in beautiful downtown Lake Orion, Michigan, a norther suburb of Detroit.
For those traveling from outside the metro-Detroit area, Lake Orion is easily accessible from major interstate highways and within an hours drive of two international airports (Detroit and Flint).
It is highly recommended for couples attending an Intensive for 2 or more days to stay overnight locally and several hotels and lodging options are available nearby.
Cost*: $1365 per day.
This fee includes the extensive assessments, hours of my specialized, focused attention and strategic work, and the value of condensed and concentrated time resolving your deeper concerns.
A deposit of half the cost is due at the time of scheduling the Intensive to secure the date(s) with me.
* Insurance does not cover the cost of marriage counseling
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Go to the "Contact" page and complete the inquiry form. Provide your contact information and specify why you are considering an Intensive.
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Within 24 hours of receiving your inquiry, I will contact you to schedule a brief phone consultation. The purpose of the consultation is to clarify your needs and determine the appropriateness of an Intensive for you and your needs, and then assess how many days to schedule for the Intensive.
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Once it is determined that an Intensive is an appropriate option, then scheduling the Intensive is next. I will walk you through the details of the paperwork and other logistics. Once a deposit of half the fee is paid, I will confirm the preferred dates/times have been reserved for you.
Three Steps to Book an INTENSIVE:
What clients have said after attending an Intensive . . .
“This Intensive was a last-ditch effort for us, and we were so blessed to have gone through this together. Les, your care for those hurting in marriage is such an encouragement. We are now resolved to God and each other to make this work by applying the tools you gave us.”
“This Intensive helped me break through a communication block in our marriage and begin to resolve an issue that has held me back from engaging fully with my spouse.”
“The Intensive exposed me and allowed me to put a finger on past hurts and how they effect my marriage now. We have been like strangers in our marriage because we lacked the tools to communicate without fighting. We gained some tools and we experienced some incredible revelations and conversations during the Intensive!”
“I was feeling defeated, but after the Intensive I am hopeful and extremely optimistic that not only our marriage will survive, but also it will thrive if we put in the work.”