Overview

We take you through a thorough scientific process:

  • Assessment:  "The State of the Union"
  • Early Treatment:  Conducted in an Intensive Couples Retreat format or Weekly Online
  • Relapse Prevention - once every 6 months for 2 years
  • Treatment Evaluation and Termination

Early Treatment

We encourage you to invest in weekly sessions at the start of your couples therapy.

Being seen weekly allows you the chance to learn and practice skills, and discuss problems more productively.  

If you aren't participating in an intensive, we may suggest that you commit to a minimum of 6-8 weeks of weekly treatment before spreading them out to every other week then once a month.

Over this period you'll learn skills that you get to practice, and discuss problems that arise as they happen.

Later Stages of Therapy

In the later stages of therapy, we will meet less frequently in order for you to test out new relationship skills and to prepare for termination of therapy.

We call this "phasing out" of treatment.  If you've attended an intensive, you'll use follow-up sessions to reinforce your learning.*

Although you may terminate therapy whenever you wish, it is most helpful to have at least one joint session together to summarize progress, define the work that remains, and say good-bye. You can also feel free to come in again, as a refresher.

Some of our clients will see us for a period of time to accomplish a particular goal,  take a break, then return at a later date as the need arises.

Perhaps returning is wise when facing normal life transitions, such as children starting school, leaving home, or retirement occurs.

Sometimes it is when stress becomes too intense or prolonged, like when illness, a job change, or a death in the family happens Ongoing stress can tax your resources. At these times, our couples are relieved to know they can focus on the issues at hand, with a true couples therapist who already knows them well.

Relapse Prevention Phase

In the outcome-evaluation phase, four follow-up sessions are planned, one after six months, one after 12 months, one after 18 months, and one after two years.

These sessions have been shown through clinical  research to significantly decrease the chances of relapse into previously unhelpful patterns.

In addition, commitment to providing the best therapy possible requires an ongoing evaluation of the methods we've used, and skills you’ve retained.

The purpose of these follow-up sessions, then, and feedback questionnaires will be to fine-tune your relationship skills as needed, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy you’ve received.

Length of Therapy

The length of therapy will be determined by your specific needs and goals.

In the course of therapy, we will establish points at which to evaluate your satisfaction and progress.

Also, we will encourage you to raise any questions or concerns that you have about therapy at any time.

*Follow ups are at an extra cost and may be in-person or online depending upon state laws. Check with your couples therapist.