Personalized Intensive Couple Therapy with a Certified EFCT Therapist
Intensive Couples Therapy is a short-term, in-depth and focused approach to helping couples in distress. Couples often seek intensives to help repair current hurts or crises in their relationship or longstanding negative patterns.
Who Might Benefit from a Couples Intensive?
Affair recovery
Trauma
Growing Apart
Ongoing Conflicts
Feel disconnected
Sexual Issues
Lack of emotional intimacy
Lack of partnership or teamwork
Parenting difficulties/family issues
Life transitions or stress
Our lead couple therapists are the only psychologists in the state of Maine who are certified in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy, Dr. Julie Quimby and Dr. Andrea Medaris. Both Dr. Quimby and Dr. Medaris are highly regarded therapists, consultants, educators, and clinical supervisors. Together, they lead Hold Me Tight® couples workshops and couples retreats.
Intensive couples therapy begins with a 2-hour couples assessment and consultation with Dr. Quimby or Dr. Medaris prior to scheduling your intensive dates. The couples intensive is 2 consecutive days of concentrated therapy, totaling 6 hours per day. The day to day structure of therapy is varied depending on your needs and goals. The process will be discussed in your initial session. In addition to your assessment and intensive therapy days, a 60-minute “tune up” session is included 6-weeks after the completion of your intensive.
Research tells us that all couples experience distress when they get disconnected from one another. This is normal! We also know that happily partnered couples know how to repair effectively. Intensive couples therapy teaches you this skill and may result in you feeling stronger and closer than ever.
Before engaging in intensive couples therapy, it’s important to understand the risks involved with this method. While the duration is short, the treatment will move you quick and deeply into difficult areas, and you and/or your partner may experience feelings such as guilt, sadness, anger, helplessness, loneliness, anxiety and fear. Your therapy may also involve revisiting painful aspects of your personal or relationship history.
In some cases, couples experience increased distress as difficulties become the focus. Despite our skill and experience, therapy may not work out well for all couples. As with all therapies, results cannot be guaranteed. Please note that the following circumstances are contra-indicated for intensive couples therapy:
active alcohol and/or drug abuse or addiction on the part of either or both partners, from either partner’s perspective
active or feared domestic violence in your relationship, threats that serious violence might occur, or fear of violence from one or both partners
either partner is engaged in an ongoing affair
either partner is experiencing suicidal or homicidal thoughts
Feedback From Previous Clients
Summer 2020
“When we began with Julie it all seemed so dark and hopeless, my husband and I had lost that connection that was so precious to us. With the thoughtful , gentle, loving guidance and insight Julie has we slowly opened up that connection once again. During each intensive session, deep insight and healing took place. We were given the tools to find our way, and tools to use into the future, to hold this bond we so cherish deeply. We are once again connected, loving, laughing, and caring for one another. Thank you Julie for helping us save the most precious gift we have, our love for one another.”
Spring 2020
“My husband and I got so much out of our time with Dr. Quimby. I didn't realize how much we could accomplish in a short duration, and how lasting the work we did in the intensive would be. We continue to return to the things we learned with Dr. Quimby, and look forward to occasional follow-up sessions to continue to learn and grow together.”
Summer 2020
“It may feel too late, that all is lost. It is not!!! My husband and I were at what we seemed like the end, all so hopeless and irrevocably broken. Julie helped us break the terrible cycle we were in.”
Spring 2020
“Do it! It's definitely worth the investment in time and money. "Regular" sessions (1 hour/week) just can't get as in depth as an intensive can. You don't just touch on the real, uncomfortable stuff. You have time to work through it with your partner, with the support of someone who's caring and professional.”
Summer 2020
“Worth every penny. We believe that the intensive sessions accomplish what no weekly hour long sessions can, deep work, done consistently with no time lost in between. The cost to save our 20 year marriage was just .67 cents per day of the marriage, and when you add the many years to come the price is even lower.”
Spring 2024
“I felt Andrea understood us really well and helped us get to a very challenging place. She did a good job helping us navigate the challenging conversations and name the emotions underlying our areas of disconnection. Be prepared to do hard work. But it feels really rewarding and meaningful and I am feeling so well-connected with my partner.”
Spring 2024
“I felt, throughout the weekend, that Andrea was genuinely present with and for us. My perception was that the material was well-organized, the exercises effective, and the time adequate to explore the topics and scenarios explored. I felt safe and cared for as an individual and as a part of the partner process/interaction.”
What would you say to couples who are considering signing up for a couples intensive?
Spring 2024
“You'll never regret working with Andrea Medaris. We are grateful for the experience, which my wife and I both learned from (a LOT).”
Winter 2020
“Bottom line up-front: do it. If you or your spouse thinks you need this, chances are you do you just may not be able to articulate why. This is especially true if your spouse thinks you need counseling, but you do not -- you need to hear what they have to say and it's probably better to do that in a structured, safe way. The intensive sessions are great because it is convenient, productive and cumulative. While rigorous, I believe the intensive sessions enabled us to keep momentum that individual sessions may have prohibited.”
Winter 2020
“Bottom line up-front: do it. If you or your spouse thinks you need this, chances are you do you just may not be able to articulate why. This is especially true if your spouse thinks you need counseling, but you do not -- you need to hear what they have to say and it's probably better to do that in a structured, safe way. The intensive sessions are great because it is convenient, productive and cumulative. While rigorous, I believe the intensive sessions enabled us to keep momentum that individual sessions may have prohibited.”
Do you think the intensive was worth the money you invested?
Winter 2020
“Yes; how do you put a price on something so valuable?”
Spring 2020
“Yes, definitely.”
Spring 2024
“Yes.”
Spring 2024
“100%”
Summer 2024
“Yes!”
What’s included?
Initial couples assessment/consultation session (2 hours)
Personalized booklet of handouts and exercises for the intensive and home use
Two private intensive therapy days with a certified EFT therapist
One post-intensive 1-hour “tune up” session
Scheduling
We requires a 2-hour consultation/assessment appointment prior to scheduling your intensive. Your therapist will make a recommendation based on your relationship. Please call or contact us for available openings and fee information. Maine residents are given priority scheduling and the lowest rates. Weekends may be available upon request for an additional fee.
Fees
The fee for a 7.5hr one-day-plus intensive ranges from $1900 to $2500, while the cost for the two-day-plus intensive begins at $4900. Payments can be made by check or credit card. A deposit of 50% is required to hold the date with the balance due the day prior to meeting. Fees will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Cancellation Policy
Deposits are nonrefundable. Your intensive dates are privately reserved for you. If you need to cancel or reschedule your intensive for any reason, we require two weeks notice to avoid paying the remaining 50% of the fee. With one-week notice, couples may reschedule their intensive therapy dates for up to one year without penalty.