Private Couples Intensive Sessions

Reconnect in a safe environment

For some couples their relationship may need fast and immediate attention. Or some couples may simply want to ‘raise their relationship to the next level. For those who can’t or prefer not to do the “Getting the Love You Want” group workshop, this is another way of getting a private intensive experience of Imago Relationship Therapy directed to your individual couple needs.

The aim of the private couple intensive is to repair the relationship and become connected and conscious with each other once again.

The programme will help you to makes sense of the current emotional confusion. You'll identify the difficulties of being stuck in a power struggle of conflict or withdrawal. I will work with you to try and get to the source of the pain, frustration and conflict in your relationship. If you can heal and change that, then you will be able to make a meaningful difference to your lives. The couple intensive programme consists of some theoretical work. But it is mainly focused on very practical relationship work. Through the Imago Dialogue, re-connection, healing, and repair takes place in a safe environment.

Flexibility - giving you choice

Normally, the private couples intensive sessions are two days followed up with six weekly or fortnightly couple therapy sessions. There is flexibility to lengthen or shorten this period, as needed. I sometimes offer couples who cannot manage two full days, a one-day Couples Intensive Sessions which has very positive results.

Couples intensive sessions normally take place at my consulting rooms in Prestwich at the Oakhill Clinic. (See more details here regarding locations). This is a convenient and private location in North Manchester with easy access to the motorway and Manchester city centre. Manchester airport is half an hour travelling by vehicle.

Some couples are unable to travel or prefer to have the private couple retreat in their own home or at a location of their choice. I am able to travel to accommodate these couples. Obviously, the extra travel time and expenses will incur additional costs.

Dialogues and Processes

The dialogues and processes are about:

Your relationship vision so you know where you want to go with your relationship;
The real sources of the pain that caused the disconnection in the past and how to heal it today;
How to work with the current frustrations. To move from being stuck and into creative possibilities;
Transformation, because you need to change if you want something to be different. The art here is not to change for the sake of the relationship (because you sacrifice or compromise yourself or your partner) but because both of you grow, expand, discover, and transform as individuals. It is not about losing yourself in relationship but rather about finding yourself because you are in a relationship; and
To move beyond pain and frustrations you are currently feeling into being fully alive with each another.

What happens in the first Imago couple therapy session?

When you come to the first of your couples intensive sessions with your partner you may feel nervous or apprehensive. But many couples are pleasantly surprised and find themselves quite relaxed after a short time.

The initial couples intensive session is a chance to have a think about what you would like to get from further couple therapy sessions should you wish to continue. We also have a think about what initially attracted you to each other in the romantic stage of your relationship.

I then share some valuable information about the normal stages that relationships go through. Most couples really get this as it makes sense to them where they are currently stuck. Normally, this is at the power struggle phase, which typically is what brings most couples to therapy sessions with me.

Finally I introduce you to the Imago dialogue which is a safe, calm, caring and sensitive way of talking and listening. Typically, we will find something positive to begin with. There are often lots of things couples appreciate about each other but the hurt and frustrations overpower the positives. So we do a small piece of work on appreciations using the dialogue which couples tend to really like.

Most couples have a positive experience and are surprised at how much more connected they feel with each other even after just one session. Many couples have voiced how different my couple sessions feel compared to previous marriage therapy they have attended which was often experienced as unhelpful. They describe the sessions as a breath of fresh air and that they feel safe and hopeful to continue.

What will we get?

In addition to what happens in the normal sessions, you will experience the following:

Gain a deeper understanding of the real sources of your frustration and pain;
Experience a deep and true connection with one another;
Experience real emotional safety with your partner;
Move from a sense of frustration and pain to a place where you can truly grow your connection with one another;
Gain a thorough understanding of your power struggle and how to resolve issues in a respectful way;
Learn what your real needs are and how to get these met in the relationship;
Understand how your incompatibility is part of the reason why the two of you are in love. Gaining an understanding that pain and frustration are opportunities for groth and connection.
Get a deeper appreciation and curiosity of each other’s uniqueness and differences;
Create a shared relationship vision and understand how to get there;
Learn to ask for what you want;
Learn how to give your partner what he/she needs;
Understand how to develop a healthy connection with each other;
Learn the art of being present with one other;
Understand the art of giving and receiving;
Learn how to repair the relationship; and
Understand what it means to love and be loved.