Do you need Marathon Couples Therapy?
Marathon Couples Therapy is an intensive, short-term approach that helps couples move quickly through a relationship crisis. An intensive gives couples the chance to learn new skills and make real progress in a short amount of time.
This powerful therapy is ideal for couples in significant distress. It’s especially helpful for those at crisis point or on the brink of separation. A two or three-day intensive can be done online, in Newcastle, or as part of a retreat.
There is strong clinical research showing the benefits of doing couples therapy in a short, focused time frame. Marathon Couples Therapy is also perfect for couples who can’t commit to weekly sessions. It is also suited to couples who live outside Newcastle and need to travel. If you’re coming from Sydney or rural areas, you might choose to stay overnight in a Newcastle hotel and turn it into a weekend.
Marathon Couples Therapy includes a detailed pre-assessment of your relationship strengths and challenges. It combines targeted interventions with evidence-based relationship tools.
Before we meet, you will each complete the Gottman Relationship Check-up online. This questionnaire takes about 60 minutes per person and is sent directly to me when finished. I will review your responses before your five-hour therapy session that includes scheduled breaks.
A relapse prevention plan is also included to help consolidate and reinforce the new communication skills and strategies learnt. Follow up sessions are also available in subsequent weeks; bi-weekly of monthly, depending on the couples needs.
Marathon Couples Therapy is not suitable for couples dealing with domestic violence, serious drug or alcohol addiction, or significant mental health issues. In these situations, couples therapy may need to be coordinated with individual support first.
If there has been an affair, I strongly recommend a few EMDR sessions for the betrayed partner as part of the intensive.