Seeking help is common among couples who feel that the love and trust in their marriage are depleting. Conventionally, marriage counseling sessions have been the norm, where a weekly session is organized. These counseling sessions have some advantages and drawbacks. Fundamentally, a marriage counselor works at par with a trained psychiatrist or a behavior health specialist, using the approach of talking, diagnosing, and suggesting ways to fix the issues plaguing the relationship. However, marriage counseling retreats function slightly differently and offer a lot more. Read ahead to understand what makes couples therapy intensive retreats more effective and what separates the good ones from the average ones
Traditional marriage counseling has a more textbook approach. It tends to follow the pattern where the advantages of consulting the relationship experts are usually accomplished over 2 to 3 weeks. However, it might take even longer for significant results to come through. This means that often couples feeling suffocated or torn apart in their marriage might need to hold their patience as the benefits of the weekly sessions start building up, and the results start accruing. In many cases, this might take up to 6 months to accomplish the desired goals.
In comparison, marriage counseling retreats are unique. The program’s components include a more time-intensive approach. For starters, the couple spends time with each other and in the company of therapists and counselors. Most reputable marriage retreats offer counseling intensives schedules without much of a break.
There are lesser limitations in terms of timing in these sessions. The therapists here are more available, and there is always the liberty to seek help beyond the scheduled appointments—things that cannot be done in a conventional marriage counseling program. In addition, as the couple spends more time doing recreational and relaxing activities together, there is a better chance of realizing the toxic patterns affecting their bond. This is why couples retreat marriage counseling is more likely to yield an appreciation of the partner and oneself sooner. For many couples in a retreat, the company of like-minded couples and those with similar issues is also comforting. Sometimes, networking and talking with other couples means learning more about one’s own problems. These are just some reasons that make marriage counseling retreats more effective than traditional marriage therapy.
Just like it is hard to identify the best option for someone searching for an intensive marriage counseling retreat near me, there is no precise data about what usually makes a couple seek help. However, some common reasons have surfaced over the years, including:
Couples cannot afford to complete an intensive therapy program and then realize that they have strayed from the goal in their mind. This usually happens when the program is created without having clearly defined objectives. The better marriage therapy retreats will clearly define the personalized approach and the expected outcomes. For instance, if the couple is drifting apart and no longer enjoys the physical part of their relationship, the program coordinator will insist that the focus is maintained on regaining intimacy. Suppose the couple arrives at a retreat with a history of dropping out of such marriage retreats. In that case, the program coordinator should insist on discussing the seriousness of completing the couples retreat marriage counseling sessions before deciding to continue or not with the program. The marriage retreat can be similar to a weekend vacation without such goals.
“I recommend Dr. Hamilton. He’s highly knowledgeable, compassionate and has a wonderfully gentle sense of humor. I’ve heard nothing but good things about him from others as well” - Janet Johnston
During couples retreats, the couple can easily relax, and a person can be very receptive to guidance and counseling. However, things can go awry when the couple emerges from the program and resumes daily life. This is when the stressors of parenting or the job can come back and recreate the toxic patterns that have taken a toll on the environment. This is why the better, more comprehensive marriage therapy retreat programs provide couples with a deeper understanding of relationship patterns and train them, empowering them with the tools to use as the couple returns to everyday life. Both partners should learn these tools to make the retreat outcomes more sustainable without relapsing into their old ways.
It is easy to find fault with a partner who is guilty of infidelity, like having an affair with a work colleague. Still, when couples drift apart due to issues that are not so easy to understand, the actual expertise of couples retreat marriage counseling comes forth. In most couples, the signs of discord emanate from a significant emotional issue. Many times, the connection with the partner is lost. Couples are systematically guided to regain their emotions during retreats and counseling intensives. The idea is to re-establish the relationship; not every marriage counselor can do this.
Couples can come to a retreat with similar questions, but the answers cannot be the same since every couple has a different emotion. Though the problem might seem similar, every couple needs personalized attention. Marriage retreats that overlook this aspect and do not invest in intensives are more prone to providing the standard answers that might not always prove effective. However, reputed intensive marriage retreats have the necessary tools to deal with different types of communication problems or conflicts, creating custom solutions. This approach is more proactive and result-oriented than conventional marriage counseling, which often provides an unsympathetic textbook approach.
Concluding Thoughts
An Affair of the Heart stands apart from other couples therapy retreats with its perfect blend of clinical expertise, guided therapy, and compassion for every couple. With an increasing presence nationwide, this retreat uses many evidence-backed methods to help couples rediscover love in their lives.
