Couples Intensives

Discover the Magic of Deep Connection

Your relationship isn’t a psychological problem to be solved—it’s an adventure to be lived. The Encounter-Centered Transformation™ Intensive offers a radical approach to reconnecting, inviting couples to step into a profoundly different way of experiencing each other. This isn’t about fixing what’s wrong—it’s about discovering what’s possible when you make the time and space to truly encounter each other.

The Transformational Journey

While most couples seek therapy to work on communication or behavior change, our Intensive provides something fundamentally different—a transformational process that changes how you see and experience each other. This isn’t about incremental improvement, but about creating a breakthrough in your relationship. When couples have the luxury of time and skilled guidance, they often discover possibilities they never imagined existed.

During the Intensive, you will:

Experience the joy of truly seeing each other with new eyes
Learn to release into the natural flow of your connection
Discover the sacred space between you and learn how to nourish it
Transform your relationship through the power of mutual presencing
Reconnect viscerally to the courage and clarity required for deep connection

The Art of Creating Deep Encounters

Unlike weekly incremental couples work, the Encounter-centered transformation process invites you into deepening encounters with each other. Together we are creating the conditions where visceral and profound new understandings can organically emerge. We provide the structure, guidance and support so you’ll discover:

That being lovingly present to challenging feelings insures your relationship evolves. Instead of trying to fix or change emotions, you’ll learn how to be with them in a way that allows natural transformation to occur.

How slowing down opens unexpected doorways to mutual discovery. When couples aren’t rushed, they often find themselves naturally moving beyond their usual patterns into new territory.

The healing power and importance of your full presence in each other’s “worlds.” This isn’t just about listening better—it’s about learning to truly visit each other’s experience with curiosity and care in the moment.

How having “all the time in the world” to go deep together effortlessly dissolves old narratives, making it possible to begin to re-write your stories of the past. When you’re not ruled by the clock, profound shifts can happen organically.

The Neuroscience of Changing the Relational Brain

One of the most painful experiences in relationships occurs when partners unknowingly trigger feelings from the past. The person we chose, believing they would never make us feel “that way,” becomes someone who can activate our deepest hurts. Our bodies hold these early experiences and react through emotions, thoughts, or physical sensations, often leaving couples feeling confused and discouraged.

Modern neuroscience offers hope through a discovery called “memory reconsolidation.” When memories are activated, they become temporarily “unstable” and open to change. During this window of opportunity, the brain can actually modify old patterns, even those rooted in early childhood, when presented with new experiences that contradict our old expectations.

During an Encounter-Centered Intensive, we guide you to co-create the conditions to change each other’s relational brains. Many of us navigated overwhelming emotions and trauma alone as children. During encounters, partners support each other in transforming these memories by bringing their full attention and presence to each other, especially in moments when old feelings of being overwhelmed and alone emerge.

The Intensive Experience

This kind of Intensive organically unfolds in a way that will be unique to your relationship. What we notice is that the Encounter Centered work supports you to focus on what most needs your attention so the next chapter of your relationship story can unfold. Each couple’s journey reveals itself in its own time, guided by the natural wisdom of their relationship.

Over two transformative days, you’ll:

Step away from daily life into a sacred space where your relationship can truly thrive
Practice slowing down to co-regulate when childhood adaptations emerge
Discover how to cooperate with the growth that is seeking to unfold
Open to previously unseen possibilities
Create lasting transformation through genuine, intentional encounters

An Intensive Is For You If:

You long to move beyond surface-level issues and understand their deeper roots. Many couples sense there’s something more possible in their relationship but haven’t found a way to access it.

You’re drawn to transformation through direct experience rather than skill acquisition and cognitive understanding. While skills have their place, profound change often comes through experiencing new ways of being together.

You sense there’s more to relational growth than learning to solve problems. You’re ready to explore the adventure of deeply knowing both yourself and your partner.

You want to heal and grow after a significant relational rupture, transforming judgment and criticism into curiosity and compassion. You dare to step into challenging territory with support and guidance.

Your Investment in Transformation

What you’ll receive:

A 2 hour preparation session to begin your journey
Two full days (15 hours) of guided transformational work
A 90-minute integration session to solidify your progress
Time for reflection and processing
A detailed summary of your journey and recommendations
Ongoing support from us (we stay with you – no referrals out)

Two-Day Intensive Cost = $3,700

Our Role as Fellow Travelers

We’re not just guides—we’re a couple walking this path ourselves since 1989. After exploring many approaches to couples work, we discovered something extraordinary in Encounter-Centered work. Having experienced its transformative power both personally and with couples since 2017 , we bring both professional expertise and lived experience to supporting your journey.

We intimately understand:

The importance of having “all the time in the world” in order to “see with new eyes”
The transformative power of full presence & curiosity
The vulnerability involved in truly seeing and being seen, heard and felt
The deep joy of rediscovering each other anew
The everyday courage needed to grow our relational maturity

Post-Intensive Guidance

We remain available to support your journey, offering guidance as you integrate these profound shifts into daily life. An Intensive is what we call a “Deep Dive”. It will give you a dramatic new outlook on your relationship and, you will still need to make effort to integrate and sustain new learnings. This integration is just as important as the intensive itself.

After an Intensive you are likely to benefit from taking a fresh look at:

Foundational supports for your relationship
Ways to face challenges together
Developing or amplifying core relational practices

We’ll be there to support you in this ongoing journey of growth and discover of doing incremental growth work from a new vantage point.

Ready to Begin?

Start by scheduling a 20-30 minute video consultation where we’ll explore:

Your current relational landscape
How this approach differs from traditional couples therapy
The unique risks and benefits of an Intensive
Practical details of your potential journey

Important Considerations

Couples Intensives are profound experiences not suited to everyone. They require:

Capacity for self-care and self-knowledge
Willingness to explore & own one’s role in the relational dynamics

The Intensive may not be appropriate if you are currently experiencing:

Untreated personality disorders
Active substance abuse
Ongoing unresolved affairs
Active or feared domestic violence
Active suicidal or homicidal ideation

Located in the college town of Brunswick, Maine, we offer a transformative experience just a mile from downtown, with numerous lodging and dining options nearby.

Your Relationship Transformation Awaits