FAQ
Is a Couple Intensive right for us?
If you have attempted weekly style therapy in the past but have not had much success, an intensive approach can be the breakthrough you need. It’s also ideal if you have real doubts about staying together, but a part of you is not ready to leave. Another situation where the Intensive can help is if you have faced the trauma of infidelity. An Intensive can quickly help to repair and rebuild trust and connection. The Couple Intensive is always an excellent approach when you don’t have time to wait for months of weekly therapy and you need to make change happen fast.
Can we afford a Couple Intensive?
The initial investment may be high, but it’s still less expensive than six months of conventional weekly therapy, and it’s certainly much cheaper than the cost of divorce, which can range from £50,000 to the millions. However, you really can’t answer this question by just assessing the price. After experiencing a Couple Intensive, many couples come to think of this as a gift to each other and their children, ultimately avoiding the unexpected legacy of divorce and the associated financial and emotional burden.
If your GP detected a heart problem and wanted to refer you to a specialist, it’s unlikely you would ask for a discount cardiologist! So why try to cut corners when it comes to the most important relationship of your life for both you and your family? If your relationship is worth saving, then it’s undoubtedly worth this investment. The overwhelming feedback from the couples I work with has been that the Couple Intensive is the best money they’ve ever spent.
Perhaps the more relevant question to ask yourself is: “Can I afford NOT to make this investment?”
The accelerated programme is £2200* + VAT (UK) or $3000 (International) per day
Payment Plans are available.
*excluding travel, accommodation and expenses.
Can we meet with you for a session before we commit to a Couple Intensive?
You could start by booking an initial mini 3-hour intensive, consisting of two individual sessions and a high-impact couples session. Following this session, I will provide you with feedback and explore the best approach to proceed with a bespoke therapy programme. You will then have the option to continue with Accelerated Couples Therapy. Once you arrange an introductory call, we can also discuss other options.
What kind of therapy approach do you use in the Couple Intensive?
I am trained in systemic family therapy and several different models of couples therapy. However, I don’t work with any single theory and adopt a widely integrated approach. The model that has been most influential and which inspires my work is the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy created by Dr Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson of the Couples Institute of California. The Couple Intensive approach has been developed in collaboration with the Couples Institute. However, I’ve also been trained in Imago Therapy, RLT (Relational Life Therapy) and the Gottman Method. As an integrative therapist, I am skilled in a variety of approaches, including relational psychoanalysis, cognitive-behavioural therapy, existential therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. I will utilise a range of resources, combined with decades of experience, to create a bespoke Couple Intensive tailored to your unique needs.
Do you focus on the past?
Our past often shows up in the present unexpectedly and unpredictably, especially in relationships. Unfortunately, old patterns and past trauma can block the pathway to enduring change. However, I do not dwell unduly on the past, except to identify these unhelpful patterns and behaviours and gain insight into their origins. Unlike most couples therapy, my approach looks forward, focusing on the relationship vision you want to create. We will also identify what may be standing in the way of making that vision a reality and what needs to happen to align your values and behaviour with your vision.
How important is the Assessment Questionnaire?
This is an essential starting point for all Couple Intensives. The experience of answering these questions can be an important dynamic and invoke change. As you reflect on and answer questions you may never have asked yourself, you will start to align yourself with your vision for yourself and your relationship. The assessment gives me a clear picture of where you may be stuck or stalled. It also saves time during your intensive, allowing me to develop a tailor-made approach that meets the needs of your unique situation.
Who will we work with, and what is the format?
I will be your therapist and mentor, working exclusively with you and your partner throughout your Couple Intensives. You can discover more about me here.
Intensives are arranged over two days with a flexible format to suit your needs. The programme can be adapted to a compact two-day format or delivered online with shorter sessions. Mid-week and Sunday* dates are also available.
*additional costs may be incurred
Learn more about the Process of the Couple Intensive Programme.
Are there any conditions that would not be acceptable for a Couple Intensive
The Couple Intensive is not suitable for anyone who has ongoing alcohol or recreational drug dependency. I am also unable to accept couples where there is interpersonal violence.
Does the Couple Intensive have a religious undertone?
Many couples intensives either have a Christian or other religious foundation; sometimes this is disclosed, but often it is kept hidden, and you only discover the true agenda after you are well down the track. I can assure you that my Couple Intensive is entirely secular and there is no religious affiliation. However, if a couple has a particular faith-based approach to their relationship, I am very comfortable integrating this into your bespoke Couple Intensive.
What can we accomplish in just a few days?
I’m sure it seems like it will take years to resolve the issues that have caused you to become so gridlocked in your relationship. However, the Couple Intensive is incredibly effective at kick-starting a profound process of enduring change.
The Couple Intensive will help you to focus all your attention on learning about yourself and your partner. Unlike weekly or bi-weekly therapy, where you only focus for one hour every week, the Couple Intensive is different. You will get the dedicated time to learn and practice new relationship skills and integrate what you learn into your daily family life.
I’m worried that we’ll feel overwhelmed.
The feedback I receive from couples is that rather than feeling overwhelmed, the Couple Intensive delivers a new sense of energy and motivation.
When partners become aware that change is within their grasp and they experience this happening in the course of the Intensive, a new sense of hope and possibility starts to emerge. This is always inspiring, both for the couple and for me.
What if we still need help after our intensive?
I recommend booking a follow-up session within 90 days. I am also available for additional ongoing sessions, either together as a couple or individually.
Where is the Couple Intensive located?
I offer the Couple Intensive in my comfortable private therapy rooms in central London. I can also arrange your Couple Intensive at a location of your choice in the UK or abroad. I’ve previously arranged intensives at resort locations and residences in Monaco, Italy and Spain. Please let me know if you want to be creative in your plans for your Couples Intensive and my team can create a bespoke experience for you. Please note that accommodation, venue, meals and travel expenses are an additional investment.
Is the Couple Intensive available online?
The Couple Intensive can be scheduled either in person or online. Ultimately, I can adapt an online intensive programme to meet your needs. I’ve arranged half-day intensives with couples from as far afield as Sydney, New York, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Singapore and other parts of the UK. If you are interested in the online option, I would be pleased to create a bespoke intensive for you.
How do we pay, what’s included and do you have a cancellation policy?
Once we have confirmed a date for your intensive, a payment of 50% of the fee is due. The balance of the fee is due two weeks before the date of the intensive. Payment can be made by debit or credit card or by direct bank transfer.
The Couple intensive includes my services as your private couples therapist in my private therapy rooms in central London. The cost of an alternative venue, meals, accommodation and travel (yours and mine) are not included. If you choose to have your Couple Intensive at a hotel venue, some additional conditions may also apply.
Deposits are not refundable. This is due to booking times and venues. However, if an intensive is postponed more than two weeks before the confirmed date, it will be possible to transfer the deposit to a new date.