Reinvigorate Your Relationship: The Power of Therapy Retreats
Couples getaway therapy combines the relaxation of a vacation with intensive relationship work, creating a powerful environment for healing and reconnection. If you’re considering this approach, here’s what you need to know:
- Definition: A structured therapeutic experience away from daily distractions, typically lasting 3-5 days
- Format: Either private (one couple with a dedicated therapist) or small group sessions
- Benefits: Accomplishes months of weekly therapy in just days; provides neutral territory for difficult conversations
- Focus Areas: Communication patterns, intimacy issues, trust rebuilding, conflict resolution
- Success Rate: 96% of couples report their relationship “greatly improved” after attending
When life’s demands pile up, even the strongest relationships can falter. Communication breaks down, intimacy wanes, and that spark you once felt seems like a distant memory. A relationship-focused vacation lets you pause, reflect, and rekindle your connection in ways that aren’t possible within the constraints of daily life.
As one retreat participant shared: “We accomplished more in our marriage in three days than we would have in years of weekly counseling sessions.”
Unlike traditional vacations where relationship issues often follow you, couples getaway therapy creates a structured space where healing becomes the priority. With the guidance of experienced therapists, you’ll dive deeper into understanding patterns, rebuilding trust, and developing practical skills to take home.
I’m Ross Hackerson, and with over 40 years of experience helping couples recover from disconnection, trauma, and communication breakdowns, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of couples getaway therapy in creating lasting relationship change through intensive retreat settings.
Couples getaway therapy terms explained:
– EFT marriage retreat
– healing after infidelity
– save marriage retreat
What Exactly Is Couples Getaway Therapy?
Imagine stepping away from your everyday life into a space designed purely for reconnection and healing. That’s the essence of couples getaway therapy – a therapeutic vacation where relationship work becomes your only focus.
Unlike traditional weekly therapy where you squeeze in a conversation between work meetings and dinner prep, these retreats offer expansive blocks of therapeutic time—typically 6-8 hours daily over several consecutive days. This immersive format creates a powerful container for genuine change.
What makes couples getaway therapy truly special is the complete removal of everyday distractions. No children needing attention, no work emails demanding responses, no household responsibilities pulling you in different directions—just dedicated time to focus on your relationship with expert guidance.
These retreats thoughtfully blend evidence-based approaches like the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with the relaxing elements of a vacation. Whether you’re overlooking ocean waves, nestled in mountain serenity, or surrounded by desert tranquility, these peaceful settings naturally help lower defenses and create openness to deeper connection.
Privacy is paramount in this work. Your journey remains confidential, allowing you to explore vulnerable topics in a safe, judgment-free environment while still enjoying the refreshing feeling of being away.
How couples getaway therapy turbo-charges progress
“We accomplished more in three days than in a year of weekly sessions.” We hear this sentiment from couples time and again, and there’s good reason for it. The intensive format creates what therapists call “time compression,” allowing for breakthroughs that might otherwise take months to achieve.
The acceleration happens for several compelling reasons:
Deep dives become possible when you’re not constrained by the traditional 50-minute therapy hour. When you reach a critical emotional moment, you don’t have to pause and wait until next week—you can work through it completely, reaching resolution.
Momentum builds naturally as each session builds upon insights from previous work. Without week-long gaps between sessions, new patterns have a chance to strengthen before old habits can reassert themselves.
Daily distractions disappear, allowing both partners to be fully present. The mental load of managing household tasks, work responsibilities, and family obligations temporarily lifts, creating space for emotional presence.
As one participant beautifully expressed: “Sometimes, being somewhere new helps you see each other with fresh eyes. We remembered why we fell in love in the first place.”
This combination of focused time, expert guidance, and peaceful surroundings creates the perfect environment for relationship renewal. The vacation-like atmosphere helps balance the intensity of the therapeutic work, making the experience both transformative and enjoyable.
7 Signs You Could Benefit From A Retreat
Is your relationship feeling stuck or strained? Sometimes the daily grind makes it hard to address deeper issues that need attention. A couples getaway therapy retreat might be exactly what you need to break through barriers and reconnect with your partner in meaningful ways.
Here are seven situations where the intensive format of a retreat can be particularly transformative:
Communication gridlock happens when you find yourselves having the same arguments repeatedly with no resolution. If you’re talking in circles or experiencing long periods of silence and withdrawal, a retreat provides the focused time needed to break these patterns and learn new ways to communicate.
Post-affair pain doesn’t heal overnight. If you’re struggling to rebuild trust after infidelity, the immersive environment of a retreat creates a safe space to process hurt feelings and establish new patterns of transparency and connection.
Intimacy drought can leave you feeling more like roommates than romantic partners. When physical or emotional connection has waned, a retreat helps you refind what drew you together in the first place and reignite that spark in a beautiful setting away from daily distractions.
Blended family stress creates unique challenges for couples. Navigating step-parenting and creating a unified family system requires dedicated time to align your approaches and strengthen your partnership – something that’s hard to accomplish in the midst of busy family life.
Empty-nest transition often reveals how much a couple has grown apart while focusing on raising children. As your kids leave home, a retreat offers precious time to refind who you are as a couple and reimagine your relationship in this new phase of life.
Pre-wedding preparation sets the foundation for a strong marriage. Engaged couples can benefit enormously from developing communication skills and aligning expectations about important life domains before saying “I do.”
Trauma triggers from past experiences (whether individual or shared) can create unexpected reactions in your relationship. The intensive format of a retreat allows for deeper healing work using specialized approaches like EMDR in a supportive, contained environment.
If you recognized your relationship in any of these situations, consider how a couples getaway therapy retreat might help you break through to a new level of understanding and connection. The concentrated time away from everyday stresses creates the perfect environment for meaningful change that might take months or even years to achieve through weekly sessions.
Popular Formats & Price Ranges for Couples Getaway Therapy
When you’re considering couples getaway therapy, you’ll find several options designed to fit different relationship needs and personal preferences. Understanding these choices helps you select the experience that will best serve your unique situation.
Think of a private intensive as your relationship’s deep-dive experience. You and your partner work exclusively with a dedicated therapist for 3-5 days, with daily sessions spanning 6-8 hours. These retreats are thoughtfully paced with breaks and completely customized to address your specific challenges. If you’re navigating complex issues like rebuilding after infidelity or processing relationship trauma, this privacy-focused format creates the safe container needed for meaningful healing.
Small group retreats bring together 4-8 couples with expert facilitators over 2-4 days. The magic happens through a blend of group learning, private exercises, and one-on-one time with therapists. Many couples find profound comfort in realizing they’re not alone in their struggles, making these retreats both financially accessible and emotionally supportive.
For those seeking primarily education and skill-building, weekend workshops accommodate larger groups (up to 30 couples) with multiple facilitators. These 2-3 day experiences typically run Friday evening through Sunday and focus on teaching practical relationship tools through presentations and structured exercises.
The 4-5 day marathon format, available as either private or small group experiences, allows for the deepest therapeutic work. These extended retreats create space for significant breakthroughs and integration of new relationship patterns before returning home.
Scientific research on relationship intensives confirms what we’ve seen in practice—the concentrated format of retreats often produces more rapid and lasting improvements than traditional weekly therapy.
Private vs. Group: which couples getaway therapy style fits you?
Choosing between private and group experiences often comes down to your comfort level and specific relationship needs.
With a private retreat, you’ll enjoy complete confidentiality and your therapist’s undivided attention. The approach is fully customized to your relationship’s unique challenges, with flexibility in scheduling and pacing. This format creates a protected space for working through sensitive issues that might feel too vulnerable to address in a group setting.
Group retreats offer their own special benefits. Beyond being more budget-friendly, they provide the powerful experience of normalization—that moment when you realize other couples struggle with similar challenges. You’ll learn not just from the facilitators but from witnessing other couples’ journeys. For those new to therapy, the group format can feel less intense while still providing meaningful support.
At An Affair Of The Heart, we specialize in private intensives because we’ve seen how the one-couple-at-a-time model allows for the most transformative work, especially when addressing significant relationship wounds.
Comparing Weekly Counseling vs. 3-Day Intensive
| Factor | Weekly Therapy (6 months) | 3-Day Intensive Retreat |
|---|---|---|
| Total therapy hours | 12-24 hours (1 hour/week) | 18-24 hours (6-8 hours/day) |
| Timeline for progress | Spread over 6+ months | Condensed into 3-5 days |
| Momentum | Weekly interruptions | Continuous progress |
| Environment | Office setting | Relaxing retreat setting |
| Daily distractions | Present between sessions | Minimized during retreat |
| Implementation | Gradual, with real-time challenges | Immersive practice, followed by real-world application |
| Travel required | Regular local trips | One-time travel to retreat location |
I’ve worked with countless couples who tried weekly therapy for months or even years before coming to a retreat. The common refrain I hear afterward is, “We accomplished more in three days than in the past year of weekly sessions.” There’s something powerful about stepping away from daily life and immersing yourselves completely in the healing process that helps break through long-standing barriers.
The intensive format creates a continuous flow of insights and healing that simply isn’t possible when sessions are separated by a week of life’s demands and distractions. Many couples tell me they appreciate condensing months of therapy into one focused experience, especially when their relationship needs significant attention.
Dream Destinations & Sample Itineraries To Rekindle Romance
The setting of your couples getaway therapy can dramatically improve your healing journey. The right environment doesn’t just provide a beautiful backdrop—it creates a space where you can truly let go, open your heart, and reconnect with your partner in ways that might feel impossible at home.
Beach Bliss — reconnect with waves & EMDR walks
There’s something profoundly healing about standing at the edge of the ocean, isn’t there? That endless horizon has a way of putting our problems into perspective while the rhythmic waves seem to wash away our defenses.
At beach retreats, many couples find their breakthrough moments happen during sunrise ocean breathing sessions or sunset walks along the shore. A typical day might begin with the gentle awakening of a guided meditation as the sun paints the sky in gold and pink. After a nourishing breakfast, you’ll dive into a morning therapy session focused on attachment patterns—those invisible threads that either bind us together or keep us apart.
The afternoon often includes EMDR therapy sessions conducted during beach walks, where the natural bilateral stimulation of your footsteps in the sand improves the healing process. As the day winds down, many couples describe the sunset intention-setting ceremony as a highlight—a moment to release old patterns and commit to new beginnings while nature puts on its most spectacular show.
Mountain Hideaway — solitude for couples getaway therapy breakthroughs
When you need perspective, sometimes you literally need to gain elevation. Mountain retreats offer that rare combination of majestic vistas and cozy intimacy that helps couples see both the bigger picture and the precious details of their relationship.
In these serene settings, many couples experience their most profound revelations during early morning forest bathing—a Japanese practice of mindfully immersing yourself in nature. The natural quiet of mountain environments creates space for turning inward, accessing emotions that might stay buried in noisier settings.
Afternoon therapy sessions often flow into evening fireside debriefs, where the dancing flames create an atmosphere of warmth and safety for vulnerable conversations. There’s something about sipping hot cocoa by a crackling fire that makes even the most difficult truths easier to share and receive with compassion.
Wine-Country Weekend — savor flavors while practicing mindful communication
Wine country retreats embody the art of savoring—not just fine wines, but the full spectrum of sensory experiences, including your relationship. These settings naturally encourage us to slow down, breathe deeply, and appreciate nuance.
A typical day in wine country begins with meditation among the vines, where therapists often guide couples to notice the intricate ecosystem that produces something so complex and beautiful—much like a relationship. Morning therapy sessions focus on emotional intimacy, followed by afternoon work centered on appreciation and gratitude.
The vineyard stroll with communication exercises has become a signature experience for many couples, practicing new ways of speaking and listening while surrounded by the fruits of patient cultivation. Dinner often includes a gratitude toast ritual that couples frequently continue long after they return home—a simple practice that can transform your daily interactions.
International Jungle Escape — sensory novelty sparks dopamine & bonding
Sometimes the most powerful way to break entrenched patterns is to step completely outside your familiar world. Exotic destinations like Costa Rica’s lush rainforests or Bali’s sacred landscapes offer precisely this kind of pattern interruption.
The science behind this approach is fascinating—novel experiences trigger dopamine release in the brain, creating optimal conditions for forming new bonds and associations. When everything around you is new and amazing, from morning yoga overlooking misty valleys to afternoon therapy sessions conducted beside thermal springs, your nervous system becomes more receptive to change.
Many couples describe the waterfall hikes with reflection questions as particularly transformative—the combination of physical exertion, natural beauty, and thoughtful prompts creates perfect conditions for breakthrough insights. The day often concludes with a nighttime sound-bath experience, where the jungle’s natural symphony blends with therapeutic sound vibrations to create deep relaxation and connection.
Each of these settings offers its own unique pathway to reconnection, but what they share is the power of stepping away from daily life to see each other—and your relationship—with fresh eyes. At An Affair Of The Heart, we carefully select retreat locations that improve the therapeutic process, creating environments where healing isn’t just possible—it’s almost inevitable.
What To Expect Before, During & After Your Retreat
Starting on a couples getaway therapy journey is a significant step toward healing your relationship. Understanding what happens at each stage helps you arrive prepared and ready to make the most of this transformative experience.
Before Your Retreat
The preparation phase sets the foundation for your healing journey. Most quality retreats don’t just throw you into intensive therapy—they carefully prepare the ground for meaningful work.
At An Affair Of The Heart, we begin with comprehensive questionnaires that help us understand your unique relationship landscape. These assessments reveal your communication patterns, attachment styles, and the specific challenges you’re facing, allowing us to tailor the retreat experience to your needs.
You’ll also connect with your therapist through one or more preparation calls. These conversations help build the trust and rapport essential for deep therapeutic work. Many couples tell us these initial conversations already begin shifting their perspective on their relationship challenges.
“Just the preparation process made us feel heard in a way we hadn’t experienced before,” shared one couple. “We knew we were in good hands before we even arrived.”
In the weeks before your arrival, you’ll receive detailed information about your accommodations, what to pack, and how to mentally prepare for intensive work. Many retreats also provide pre-reading materials or reflection exercises to jumpstart your thinking about relationship patterns.
During Your Retreat
The retreat itself balances structure with flexibility, intensive work with essential downtime. Most couples getaway therapy programs follow a consistent daily rhythm, typically including 6-8 hours of therapeutic work divided between morning and afternoon sessions.
Your days will include a rich mix of learning experiences. You’ll gain insights about relationship principles and dynamics through educational components. You’ll practice new communication skills through guided exercises. You’ll process emotional wounds in a safe, contained environment. And you’ll have structured conversations about sensitive topics that might feel impossible to steer at home.
What surprises many couples is how the setting itself becomes part of the healing. Whether you’re walking along a beach or sitting by a mountain fireplace, the peaceful environment helps lower defenses and open hearts in ways that sterile office settings rarely achieve.
Between sessions, quality retreats provide intentional downtime. These breaks aren’t just about rest—though that’s important too. They’re opportunities to process what you’re learning, practice new skills in real time, and reconnect with the joy and pleasure of being together.
“The balance was perfect,” one participant noted. “The intense therapy sessions gave us the tools we needed, while the free time gave us space to practice using them—and remember why we fell in love in the first place.”
After Your Retreat
The real test of any couples getaway therapy experience happens when you return to everyday life. That’s why effective programs don’t just send you home with warm feelings—they equip you with specific tools to maintain your progress.
You’ll leave with a personalized aftercare plan that typically includes:
* Communication protocols for navigating conflicts
* Connection rituals to maintain emotional intimacy
* Self-care practices that support relationship health
* Strategies for recognizing and addressing old patterns
Most quality retreats include follow-up sessions to support your transition. At An Affair Of The Heart, we schedule check-in calls at strategic intervals to help you steer challenges and celebrate successes as you integrate new patterns into daily life.
You’ll also receive reference materials to review when you encounter triggers or challenges. These resources serve as refreshers for the principles and practices you learned during your intensive work.
More info about what to expect
Maintaining momentum once couples getaway therapy ends
The magic of a retreat happens in a few concentrated days, but the change of your relationship unfolds over months of consistent practice. Here’s how successful couples maintain their momentum:
Schedule regular check-ins with your therapist at 30, 60, and 90 days post-retreat. These touchpoints help you address emerging challenges before they become entrenched patterns.
Make weekly date nights non-negotiable on your calendar. Effective date nights include both playful connection and intentional conversation about your relationship health.
Create daily connection rituals that fit your lifestyle. Even 10 minutes of uninterrupted, phone-free conversation can maintain the emotional intimacy you developed during your retreat.
Use technology wisely to support your journey. Many couples benefit from relationship apps that provide reminders for exercises or communication practices learned during their retreat.
Build a “retreat refresher kit” containing materials, exercises, and mementos from your experience. Return to these resources during challenging times to reconnect with the insights and commitments you made.
Consider ongoing support programs that provide structure as you integrate new patterns. Many couples find that online follow-up programs or periodic “booster” sessions help them maintain momentum.
As one client beautifully expressed: “The retreat gave us the breakthrough we needed, but it’s our daily choice to practice what we learned that’s truly healing our marriage. Each day we choose each other, we build on the foundation the retreat helped us create.”
How To Choose The Right Couples Getaway Therapy Program
Finding the perfect retreat for your relationship isn’t just about googling “best couples therapy” – it’s about finding the program that resonates with your unique situation and needs. Let me walk you through what really matters when selecting a couples getaway therapy experience that will truly transform your relationship.
Therapist Credentials and Expertise
The heart of any retreat is the therapist guiding your journey. Look beyond impressive websites to verify:
Advanced training in evidence-based methods matters tremendously. Therapists certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) or the Gottman Method bring proven approaches to your retreat experience. For couples dealing with past trauma, EMDR certification is particularly valuable.
Experience with your specific challenges can make all the difference. A therapist who has successfully guided dozens of couples through infidelity recovery will have insights that a general relationship coach simply won’t possess.
At An Affair Of The Heart, our therapists hold specialized training in both EFT and EMDR, allowing us to address not just your relationship patterns but also individual trauma that might be silently undermining your connection.
Evidence-Based Methods
The most transformative retreats aren’t built on pop psychology but on approaches backed by decades of research:
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) developed by Dr. Sue Johnson helps couples identify and change destructive emotional patterns, creating secure attachment. The Gottman Method draws on over 40 years of relationship research to build friendship, manage conflict, and create shared meaning. Some retreats incorporate Imago Relationship Therapy, which connects current relationship struggles to childhood experiences.
The most effective programs often integrate multiple evidence-based approaches, tailoring the work to your specific needs rather than forcing your relationship into a one-size-fits-all model.
Location and Logistical Considerations
The setting of your retreat plays a bigger role than you might think in your healing journey. Consider:
Accessibility – How easily can you reach the location? Will travel fatigue impact your ability to engage fully in the therapeutic work?
Environment – Does the setting support deep emotional work? Privacy, natural beauty, and comfort all contribute to your ability to open up and connect.
Season – Beach retreats might lose their magic during hurricane season, while mountain locations could be challenging in winter months.
Duration – Can both of you fully commit to being present for the entire retreat? The magic happens when you can fully immerse without distractions.
Privacy Needs and Format Preferences
Your comfort level with sharing will influence which format works best:
Private intensives offer complete confidentiality and customized attention but typically come at a higher investment. Group retreats provide the benefit of learning from others’ experiences and often at a lower price point, but require comfort with vulnerability in a group setting.
Consider your accommodation needs carefully – after emotional sessions, returning to a space that feels safe and nurturing becomes incredibly important.
Cultural Fit and Therapeutic Approach
The subtler aspects of program selection often determine your satisfaction:
Values alignment between your relationship goals and the retreat’s philosophy creates resonance. Some programs have religious foundations, while others take secular approaches – knowing which feels right for you matters.
Communication style compatibility with your therapist can make or break your experience. Some therapists are more directive, others more reflective – what works best for both of you?
Specialization in your specific challenges ensures the therapist understands the nuances of your situation, whether you’re dealing with infidelity, blended family challenges, or intimacy issues.
More info about choosing retreats
Red-flag situations when a retreat isn’t recommended
While couples getaway therapy can work wonders, certain situations require different interventions first:
Active domestic violence or abuse creates a safety risk that must be addressed before couples work begins. In these cases, individual therapy and safety planning need to come first.
Untreated addiction will undermine any relationship work. The partner struggling with addiction should establish a recovery foundation before couples therapy.
Severe unmanaged mental illness requires stabilization before relationship work can be effective. Individual treatment should take priority.
Unwilling participation rarely leads to meaningful change. Both partners need to voluntarily engage for the work to succeed.
Imminent divorce proceedings create a complex dynamic. Be clear about whether the goal is reconciliation or creating an amicable separation.
If any of these situations sound familiar, I’d recommend speaking with an individual therapist first to create a roadmap for healing that addresses these foundational issues before starting on couples work.
The right couples getaway therapy program meets you where you are and guides you toward where you want to be – with the right match, you’ll find not just temporary relief but lasting change for your relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions about Couples Getaway Therapy
Does insurance cover any part of a retreat?
When it comes to paying for a couples getaway therapy retreat, many couples are surprised to learn that traditional insurance coverage is limited. Most health insurance plans don’t directly cover these intensive experiences since they’re structured differently than weekly outpatient therapy sessions.
That said, you do have some potential options to help manage the investment:
Some therapists can provide superbills for portions of your retreat that qualify as legitimate therapy sessions. While this won’t cover the entire retreat cost, it might help offset some expenses depending on your insurance provider.
If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA), these funds might be usable for certain components of the retreat. Check with your plan administrator about what qualifies.
At An Affair Of The Heart, we understand the financial commitment involved and can provide documentation that might help with partial reimbursement. We’re happy to discuss your specific situation during a consultation call.
How much therapy is packed into a typical 3-day intensive?
The therapeutic density of a couples getaway therapy retreat is what makes it so powerful. In just three days, you’ll receive approximately 18-24 hours of focused therapeutic work—equivalent to what you’d get in six months of traditional weekly sessions.
Each day typically includes structured morning and afternoon sessions lasting 3-4 hours each, with therapeutic conversations often continuing during meals, walks, or evening integration activities. This immersion creates momentum that’s simply impossible to achieve when sessions are spaced a week apart.
As one of our clients shared: “We had tried weekly therapy for almost a year with minimal progress. In just three days at the retreat, we broke through barriers we’d been stuck behind for years. The continuous focus made all the difference.”
Can non-married or LGBTQ+ couples attend?
Absolutely! Love is love, and relationships face universal challenges regardless of marital status, gender, or sexual orientation. Couples getaway therapy benefits any committed partnership where both people want to grow together.
At An Affair Of The Heart, we warmly welcome and affirm all couples committed to improving their relationship. The core principles that create secure attachment, improve communication, and foster intimacy apply universally across different relationship structures and identities.
Our therapists are specifically trained to recognize and honor the unique challenges that may arise in various relationship contexts while applying evidence-based approaches that work for all couples. Whether you’re married, engaged, dating, same-sex, heterosexual, or any other relationship configuration, the retreat space is yours to heal and grow.
How do we know if we’re ready for a retreat?
Timing matters when considering a couples getaway therapy experience. You’re likely ready for a retreat if you can check these boxes:
Both of you genuinely want to participate—even if one partner is more enthusiastic than the other, you both need to be willing to engage in the process.
You can fully commit to the retreat duration without distractions from work or family obligations.
You’re open to examining your own contributions to relationship patterns rather than focusing solely on your partner’s behavior.
You’re willing to try new approaches to communication and connection, even if they feel uncomfortable at first.
You have the emotional capacity to engage in intensive work that might bring up difficult feelings.
If you’re on the fence, we offer consultation calls to help determine if our approach aligns with your current situation. Sometimes couples benefit from some preliminary individual work before diving into an intensive retreat experience.
What happens if emotional issues arise that we weren’t expecting?
Unexpected emotional revelations are actually quite common during retreats—and they’re usually a sign that the process is working as intended. When we create a safe, focused environment away from daily distractions, deeper issues often surface that may have been buried under the busyness of everyday life.
The beauty of the couples getaway therapy format is that we have the time and space to address these emerging issues right away. Unlike weekly therapy where you might hit an emotional breakthrough at minute 45 and then have to wait a week to continue, our intensive format allows us to steer through difficult terrain with proper support and resolution.
Our experienced therapists are skilled at:
– Creating safety for unexpected emotions
– Adjusting the pace to accommodate emerging issues
– Providing additional support during challenging moments
– Helping you process and integrate new insights
As one retreat participant told us: “We thought we were coming to work on communication, but we ended up healing wounds from early in our relationship that we didn’t even realize were still affecting us. Having the time to work through those unexpected issues completely changed our connection.”
Conclusion
Couples getaway therapy offers a powerful relationship reset that combines the refreshing elements of a vacation with deeply transformative therapeutic work. There’s something almost magical about stepping away from the dishes, bills, and daily stresses into an environment designed specifically to support your relationship’s growth.
The results speak volumes about the effectiveness of this approach. When couples dedicate focused time to their relationship in a retreat setting, 96% report their connection “greatly improved” afterward. We’re not talking about small shifts either—couples typically experience jumps of 4 to 8 points on a 10-point relationship satisfaction scale. These aren’t just temporary vacation highs that fade once you’re back to reality. These represent fundamental shifts in how you understand each other, communicate, and connect emotionally.
At An Affair Of The Heart, we’ve had the privilege of witnessing countless relationships transform through our intensive retreat format. Using evidence-based approaches like Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and EMDR, we help you address both the dance of disconnection in your relationship patterns and any individual trauma that might be affecting your ability to stay close and connected.
The setting matters too. Whether you choose to feel the sand between your toes at a beachfront retreat, cozy up in a mountain cabin, or select another environment that resonates with you both, the combination of dedicated therapeutic time and a refreshing change of scenery creates the perfect conditions for relationship renewal. There’s something about being somewhere new together that helps you see each other with fresh eyes.
But here’s the truth—the real work begins when you return home. That’s why we put such emphasis on creating a solid aftercare plan, providing follow-up support, and helping you establish daily practices that reinforce your new connection. The insights and breakthroughs you experience during your retreat can grow into lasting change when nurtured properly back home.
Ready to experience the power of couples getaway therapy for yourself? We offer private intensive retreats at our locations in Northampton MA, Providence RI, and Auburn CA, as well as at select destination locations that might speak to your relationship’s unique needs.
More info about our couples retreats
Take that first step toward the relationship you’ve always wanted—one where you feel truly understood, deeply appreciated, and genuinely connected to your partner. After all, the quality of our relationships determines so much of our happiness in life. Your relationship deserves this investment.