Northeast GA Counseling offers couples intensives to address relationship crises or stagnation. Led by Lisa Campbell, LCSW, CGT, these 6 hour sessions use Gottman, RLT EFT, and other methodologies to provide expedited counseling over 1–2 days. Interested couples should schedule a 15 min consultation to discuss fees, scheduling, and required assessments before booking.
Sessions will be available in person or online. We look forward to the opportunity to discuss it with you!
Most couples do not start out looking for an intensive. You both have tried books, podcasts, traditional therapy, and just have not made the progress you need . You find yourselves having the same conversations and conflict over and over again: yet, you do not give up! So many things are at stake like decades together, children, mutual friendships, families intertwined, finances built over time, all forming the foundations of your lives. You do not want to give up and may wonder… is there something more?
These problems have been incrementally building over a long period of time, until it reaches what John Gottman, Founder of The Gottman Method, calls the cusp of catastrophe: a qualitatively different state of distress, not just more of the same pain but a different kind of it entirely. The ground underneath the relationship has changed, and both people know it, even if neither has spoken it out loud. This could look like a betrayal or a rupture of some sort. Both people realize that they can no longer stay silent as there is now either a distance and unbearable loneliness or a resentment that has turned into anger. Their pattern has brought a different level of heaviness they can no longer ignore.
Other couples simply have stopped communicating and may be in gridlock, unwilling to accept any influence from their partner.They no longer feel he/she/they are their favorite person or a resource for them.
At this point, an intensive may make sense, an intensive is not another version of what hasn’t worked.It is a change in the conditions: enough time, enough continuity, enough uninterrupted space guided by an expert…..to allow something different to happen.
Intensives are especially for couples who:
- Want a jumpstart to therapy-are dealing with a betrayal, emotional abuse, or attachment trauma-feel stuck in repeating patterns
- Have busy schedules that make weekly sessions difficult-need deeper and more sustained support for their nervous systems
- Need the time and assistance in discussing difficult issues and not close the door on one another, changing cycles that otherwise may take months to change
- Want to commit to one or two days work and not be distracted by the grind of everyday life-need support for a crisis such as the discovery of an affair or betrayal of some kind, the consideration of a separation or divorce, or a major loss or fight.
- Dealing with a profound emotional response and in need of time to process and/or repair
Intensives must be safe to be effective, therefore, certain conditions must be met prior to the start. We call these preconditions and they are vital to the success of an intensive.
No Domestic Violence
-Intensives cannot proceed if there is ongoing DV or coercive control. If either partner feels unsafe, an intensive will not be scheduled and alternative referrals and support will be arranged first.
No Active, Untreated Addiction
- Any active addiction (alcohol, drugs, or compulsive behaviors) must be stabilised prior to starting relational work as these inhibit relational progress.
No Untreated Severe Mental Health Conditions
- If either partner is experiencing untreated mental health challenges-such as psychosis, mania, or severe depression-that impact functioning or relational capacity, these must be managed therapeutically beforehand.
You and your partner will work exclusively with me in a private therapy session, having my full attention and 31 years of experience in couples therapy for the entire day or two.
Each day includes up to 6 hours of therapy. This includes pacing of material, and use of pulse oximeters if needed, to identify flooding and slow down patterns, helping to create an environment of safety and trust, giving you the opportunity to lower your defenses. Intensives offer a singular focus on making the changes you need to make in your relationship. There is space for each partner to feel heard, understood, and compassionately challenged. The aim is not only to address current issues but also to deepen insight, emotional connection, and constructive relational skills. You will also be encouraged to be followed monthly for a while to maintain the progress made. Please read our terms and conditions for more information on the exact schedule and plan for the 2 days.
Embarking on this journey is an investment in your relationship's future. Whether you're hoping to feel closer, rebuild trust, or develop better communication, we're here to support you every step of the way.
Our couples therapists bring warmth, experience, and research-based guidance to every session.
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