A marriage intensive offers focused, intentional time to step out of the daily grind and address what is not working in your relationship. Rather than spreading the work out over months, we use two concentrated days to help you better understand your patterns, gain practical tools, and begin moving toward healing and reconnection.

Why:

When a marriage is hurting, one hour a week can feel too slow. A marriage intensive creates space to slow down, pay attention, and do meaningful work without the constant interruption of everyday life. Whether you are feeling disconnected, stuck in the same conflict cycle, recovering from a significant rupture, or simply aware that your marriage needs more than maintenance, an intensive can offer a strong starting point. I work exclusively with couples and use marriage intensives as the primary way I begin the work. My approach is thoughtful, practical, and Christ-centered, helping couples understand both the deeper issues beneath their struggles and the tools needed to move forward in a healthier way.

A marriage intensive allows couples to do deep work in a concentrated format. Instead of touching the surface and then waiting another week, we have the time to:

• identify the patterns that keep you stuck
• understand the fears, wounds, and reactions underneath conflict
• slow communication down enough to make it productive
• build practical tools you can continue using at home
• create momentum toward meaningful change

For many couples, this focused format can accomplish the kind of work that would otherwise take months to unfold in traditional weekly therapy.

A marriage intensive may be a good fit if:

• you feel stuck in recurring conflict
• communication breaks down quickly
• trust has been damaged
• you feel distant, disconnected, or discouraged
• you want help before things get worse
• you are ready to be honest, engaged, and willing to work

This may not be the best fit if:

• one spouse is completely unwilling to participate
• there is ongoing deception with no willingness to be truthful
• there is active abuse that requires a different level of care and safety planning
• one or both spouses are looking only to prove their case rather than do real work

What to expect:

Marriage intensives are typically held over two days in a private, focused setting. During our time together, we work to:

• understand your current dynamic
• identify the cycle that keeps pulling you apart
• explore the deeper fears, pain points, and protective responses underneath that cycle
• learn healthier ways to communicate and respond
• practice new patterns in session
• create next steps for continued growth after the intensive

Because this is a concentrated experience, couples are often able to make more progress in two focused days than they would expect.

Approach

My work is grounded in a Christian view of marriage. I help couples identify the patterns that shape their relationship, take personal responsibility for their own responses, and build healthier ways of engaging one another. Our work is both deep enough to address what is really happening beneath the surface and practical enough to give you tools you can begin using right away. My goal is not just insight, but movement.

Christ-centered care

Faith is not treated as an add-on. It is woven into the work. I believe the freedom Christ offers is meant to touch every part of life, including marriage. My hope is to help couples move toward greater honesty, humility, healing, and connection in a way that is rooted in truth and grace.

Location

Marriage intensives are offered in a private retreat-style setting in the Santa Cruz Mountains, creating additional space for couples to step away from normal routines and focus on the work of their marriage. Follow up sessions are located at my primary office in downtown Walnut Creek and serve couples throughout the East Bay and surrounding areas.

Ready to take the next step?

If you are interested in a marriage intensive, the next step is to reach out through the contact page. From there, we can determine whether an intensive is a good fit for your situation.