EFT Couples Intensives
A couples intensive is a highly concentrated form of couples therapy. The intensive takes place over the course of two days allowing couples the opportunity to do an accelerated deep dive into the heart of the matters causing distress and disconnection. The advantage of a couples intensive is that it essentially covers 10-12 couples appointments in just two days.
The initial goals of Emotion Focused Therapy couples intensive are the same, as you would get in couples therapy, but at an accelerated pace. After completing an intensive the goal is for the couple to understand their pattern of conflict in a new way, be able to catch this negative disconnecting cycle it in action and stop it, and begin to have some basic skills on how each partner can personally begin to maneuver differently in those (normal) conflicting situations which result in securing the bond.
Who would benefit from a couple intensive?
Couples who have schedules that don’t allow for weekly or biweekly therapy.
Couples who have been working with another therapist but aren’t getting anywhere, feel stuck and want to jump-start therapy in a short amount of time.
Couples who live in an area that doesn't have an EFT therapist in their area and are willing to travel to do the 2-day span of work.
Couples who are preparing for a big life change and don’t have the luxury of waiting for weekly therapy to get momentum (such as couples expecting a baby, couples about to move, etc.).
Who would not benefit from a couples intensive?
If one or both partners have an untreated (“active”) addiction.
If there is an active affair or other form of infidelity occurring.
If discovery of an affair is "fresh and raw."
Partners who are afraid of one another (imbalance of power).
Partners who have trouble handling intense emotion safely or cannot be civil to one another amidst intense emotional triggers.
If the couple’s goals are not well-matched with the EFT model (for example, wanting the therapist to take sides or mediate disagreements).
If partners cannot agree on the goal of the intensive (for example, one wants to convince the other to stay in the relationship; the other wants to talk openly about ending the relationship – an intensive is not the place to explore whether you want to leave your relationship).
It is important to note couples intensives are very rarely a “one and done, fix it all.” Due to this reality and the overall goal of repairing and strengthening a couples bond, I will only schedule a couples intensive if a plan for follow up care is in place. Follow up care can vary from couple-to-couple. Cindy will explore various follow up care options with couples while deciding if this is an appropriate form of therapy.
I only provide EFT Couples Intensives in-person. I do not provide this service virtually.
