Gottman Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy in Asheville, North Carolina and through Telehealth in Florida
Sometimes, time feels like a big factor.
Maybe it’s your weekly schedule.
You’re working…
Shuttling kids to and from school and extracurriculars…
Caring for an elderly relative…
Trying to drink enough water, meet your step goal, and actually enjoy a movie every now and again.
You know your relationship could use a helping hand.
But the idea of trying to fit in weekly or even bi-weekly couples therapy sessions is overwhelming to the max.
…Or maybe you don’t feel like you have time. You and your partner need help right now.
Whether it’s because you’ve tried weekly therapy before…
Because you’ve discovered an affair and are struggling to imagine how you’ll move forward…
Maybe you’re just feeling really, really burnt out. You need some quick relief.
Whatever it is, you’re not looking to put this off any longer.
Jumping in with both feet sounds like exactly what you need.
Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy is the deep dive you’re looking for.
As a Certified Gottman Therapist, my Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy sessions are based on the Gottman Method of marriage counseling and couples therapy.
And they differ from traditional weekly or bi-weekly couples therapy sessions.
How? So glad you asked!
Traditional marriage counseling or couples therapy happens in 60-, 90-, or 120-minute sessions—usually weekly, but sometimes bi-weekly or even monthly.
Sometimes, you’re just getting into the thick of it—uncovering the really good stuff—when that timer runs out. And then you’ve got a week or more before you’re revisiting the topic with your therapist.
Don’t get me wrong—I’m a huge fan of that structure. I know firsthand that you can get so much done in shorter, weekly sessions. Traditional couples therapy can be life-changing, and it’s absolutely a great choice for a lot of couples in a lot of situations.
Others might prefer to spend a larger chunk of time, less frequently.
Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy happens over the course of one to four days. It is truly a deep-dive…
And couples tend to get a lot out of it, pretty quickly… Seriously, like several months of therapy in only a few days!
Why I Really Love Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy...
The Gottman Love Lab and Marathon Therapy model is based on the understanding that couples bring a lot to the table.
Think about it—how much do you say out loud, compared to what’s on your mind throughout the day?
We feel and experience plenty that we don’t talk about… Whether we choose not to or because we struggle to put our feelings into words.
Through a series of targeted questionnaires and assessments, I can get a good feel for what’s really going on in your relationship…
And we can spend the length of our Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy retreat getting it out into the open.
Intensive couples therapy retreats are unrushed, unhurried. They give us time to set relevant goals—and to really work through the patterns and difficulties showing up in your partnership.
By the end of our time together, we’ve left no stone unturned. No one’s been left out of the discussion, and we’ve had time to unpack even old memories that have lingered in a painful way.
There are no quick fixes, but each partner has been heard—and there’s a plan for moving forward.
All in a weekend. Pretty great, huh?
What can I expect from Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy?
I’m going to tell you about all of the options I have available for you, including their time commitment and who each option is best for.
But first, some notes:
✔️ Most intensives are scheduled for six hours per day (with the exception of the assessment-only package). Each day of your intensive is broken up into two, three-hour sessions—one in the morning and the other after a lunch break.
✔️ The first part of your intensive will include the three-hour Relationship Assessment. We’ll talk about your relationship, your struggles, and what brought you to therapy. After that, I’ll meet with each of you individually to continue putting the full picture together! This part is conducted virtually prior to your intensive.
✔️ After the initial Relationship Assessment, I’ll share my findings with you—including the strengths and opportunities I’ve observed in your relationship, as well as review some possible goals and outcomes for our time together. This way, when we meet for your intensive, we can “hit the ground running” with exercises tailored to your unique relationship issues.
✔️ Once we agree on how to move forward, we’ll dive right in—helping you to repair past arguments, break down and solve those gridlocked problems, and strengthen your ability to successfully compromise.
Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy Retreats are meant to help you begin working together again as a team. We want to build a sustainable friendship while increasing your intimacy, passion, and romance… All while you learn to effectively navigate and manage conflict.
After all Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy Retreats, you and your partner will be encouraged to return for follow-ups. These “tune-up sessions” help ensure you’re taking your new skills with you for the long term!
Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy Packages
Click any package below to learn more. ↓-
Add the Gottman Relationship Builder to any package for an additional, one-time fee of $159. You’ll be learning lots of new skills in your Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy Retreat—and practice makes perfect! The Gottman Relationship Builder is a collection of exercises and videos designed to improve your relationship and greatly minimize the chance of relapse.
The Relationship Builder includes:
Thirteen modules that cover all aspects of the Gottman Method—including friendship, intimacy, managing conflict, sharing goals, and more;
Ninety short videos from Doctors John and Julie Gottman modeling the best way to use your brand new skills; and
Thirty-five fun and easy exercises you can try with your partner.
The Gottman Relationship Builder add-on is something you’ll be able to access indefinitely, over and over again. Pick and choose what you work on and when!
My Gottman Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy Retreats happen in-person in Asheville, NC or online for anywhere in Florida or North Carolina.
Are my partner and I a good fit for Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy?
Put simply, Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy is likely a good fit for anyone genuinely excited about it… Even if you’re feeling nervous.
It’s good for anyone looking for immediate, intense help…
Couples who can’t fit those weekly sessions into their schedules…
And it’s good for couples who don’t live near a Certified Gottman Therapist (like me!). Because I can only treat you if you’re present in the state(s) where I’m certified to practice, a weekend intensive is the perfect opportunity for you to travel for services you wouldn’t otherwise be able to receive. You can come to the mountains of Asheville, NC to receive in person services or schedule a beach or Disney vacation in Florida and we can connect through Telehealth!
But. (I’m sorry to say there is a “but.”)
Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy is likely not the right fit for your relationship if:
You or your partner are struggling with addiction,
There’s serious, untreated mental illness in you or your partner,
One of you is having an affair you aren’t willing to disclose,
Violence is present in your relationship, or
One of you is experiencing thoughts of harm toward yourself or others.
I won’t lie to you—the Marathon/Intensive Couples Therapy experience can be overwhelming. When I say we’re jumping in, I mean we’re jumping in.
With both feet.
And because of that, couples can feel a heightened sense of All The Feelings… Anxiety, anger, sadness, helplessness, loneliness, guilt. Lots of uncomfortable feelings are up for grabs in these long, intense sessions.
I won’t leave you hanging. We’ll work through them together. But it’s a truth I think it’s important to share ahead of time.
