Why intensives work when weekly therapy fails.
The average couple waits six years before seeking help. By the time they arrive, resentment has calcified. Patterns are entrenched. Trust has eroded.
Then they're offered 50 minutes, once a week.
Between sessions, they rebuild distorted narratives. They lose momentum. They fight on Tuesday and by the time Thursday's session arrives, they've forgotten half of what happened. The therapist spends 15 minutes catching up before any real work begins.
This is why traditional marriage counseling fails 40% of couples within four years. Not because the therapists are bad. Because the format is wrong.
When your marriage is bleeding out, you don't schedule an appointment for next Tuesday.
Marriage intensives exist because some problems are too urgent for an hour a week.
In 2 to 3 consecutive days, we accomplish what months of weekly sessions cannot:
No momentum lost. You don't rebuild context every week. You stay in the work until it's done.
Deep pattern recognition. Extended time allows us to see cycles that only emerge over hours, not minutes.
Real time intervention. When conflict arises, we address it immediately instead of waiting until the next session.
Clarity before you leave. You know where you stand. You have a plan. You're not wondering what happens next.
The Gottman Institute has studied what makes marriages succeed and fail for over 40 years. Their research shows that couples in crisis need more than insight. They need structure, tools, and immediate feedback.
Intensives are designed around these principles:
Identify the Four Horsemen. Criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. These patterns predict divorce with over 90% accuracy. We name them and address them directly.
Build repair attempts. Successful couples aren't conflict free. They know how to repair. We build those skills in real time.
Create shared meaning. Beyond conflict resolution, we work on vision. What are you building together? Where are you going?
People in crisis need frameworks, not open ended exploration.
Every intensive follows a structured process:
Assessment. Before we meet, both partners complete The Stronghold Method™ assessment. 200+ questions measuring personality, attachment, communication, and relationship health. I know your patterns before we start.
History and context. We map the relationship trajectory. When did things shift? What patterns emerged? Where are the wounds?
Present dynamics. We examine current conflicts in real time. Not just talking about what happened last week. Working through what's happening now.
Skills and tools. Communication frameworks. Repair protocols. De-escalation techniques. You leave with practical tools, not just insights.
Vision and plan. Where are you going from here? What are the next steps? What does success look like?
Many couples arrive expecting me to validate their side. They want a referee.
That's not what this work is.
Both partners have contributed to the dysfunction. Both will need to change. My job is not to make you feel good. It's to help you build something worth staying in.
For many marriages, this means addressing male passivity directly. Men who have surrendered leadership. Men who have become domesticated. Men who have stopped fighting for their families.
Restoration requires honesty. Uncomfortable honesty. That's the only way forward.
52 sessions per year
$150 to $250 per session
$7,800 to $13,000 annually
12+ months for progress
Momentum lost weekly
2 to 3 days
16 to 24 hours of work
One investment
Breakthrough in days
Clarity before you leave
Same destination. Fraction of the time.
Book a discovery call. We'll discuss your situation and determine if this model fits your needs.
Apply for Clarity & DirectionLimited intensives per month. Application required.
If you are in crisis: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) | 911 for emergencies