Breakdown of Sessions
Two-Day Intensive Couples Therapy
Couples Therapy & Marriage Counseling | Columbia, MO
We are so excited you’re here! You might be feeling a variety of ways–excited, anxious, relieved, hopeful, and doubtful, to name a few. The phrase “cautiously optimistic” was used once and that seems especially fitting for right now.
When I’m feeling anxious about something, what helps me is to know what I can expect. And that’s the entire purpose of this page. You’ll find a small breakdown of the entire process followed by a more detailed description of everything. As per usual, if you have questions, please make sure you follow up with us via email. We’re more than happy to answer any and are so happy you’re here.
The Breakdown | A Brief Timeline and Costs
Phone Screen (asap after inquiry)
a no-more-than 30-minute phone call with the clinician, to assess fit for this approach and ensure this is the best decision for your relationshipWritten Assessment (24 hours before assessment sessions)
completed online, must be done before the first session ($30)Assessment Sessions One and Two (at least 48 hours before two-day intensive)
85-minutes session with you and your partner followed by two 55-minute sessions with each partner individually; paid in full before session ($500)Two-Day Intensive
two eight-hour days with a one-hour lunch break each day; paid in full before intensive begins ($3000)Post-Intensive
thorough write up of the two-day intensive and take-home resources within two weeks (included in price of intensive)Post-Intensive Written Assessment
completed online approximately three months after intensive (included in price of intensive)Follow Up Session One (Recommended)
55-minute or 85-minute session approximately two months after intensive; paid after session takes place ($130/hour)Follow Up Session Two (Recommended)
55-minute or 85-minute session approximately six months after intensive; paid after session takes place ($130/hour)
The Breakdown | In-Depth
Phone Screen
This is a 30-minute phone call that each partner must have with the clinician prior to moving forward with the two-day intensive. This is to ensure that this style of therapy is the right fit based on each partner, expectations, and presenting concerns (i.e., what you’re coming in for).
Written Assessment
This is the Gottman Relationship Checkup–a crucial component to the data triangulation that we do. It’s a must, and your counselor needs to see it before they see you. This is due at least 24 hours before your first assessment session.
Assessment Sessions
So, there’s technically two assessment sessions, but they take place back to back. I’m going to refer to them as sessions ‘one’ and ‘two,’ but it’s really going to be one long session together that’s approximately 3.5 hours. The session needs to be paid prior to arriving.
Session ‘One’
This is an 85-minute session where all parties come together and we walk through a structured, informal interview. Your clinician is primarily interested in hearing what the current issues are and what successful couples therapy looks like, observing a resolution discussion, and hearing the story of the story of the two of you. This will be guided by your clinician, but that’s the gist of what to expect.Session ‘Two’
This is a two hour session, in total, but it’s split up into two 55-minute individual interviews. The purpose of this time is to meet with each partner individually (for 55-minutes apiece) and to gather information on that partner. Anything that comes up in these sessions is meant to information the two-day intensive couples therapy. In all cases (extremely rare exceptions), no secrets will be kept between partners once we’re back in the same room.
Clinician Prep
Your counselor will now take all the information and consolidate the data for presentation during the two-day intensive. Short version is this: everything prior to this point has been data collection, both informal and formal. All of that information is important and relevant for guiding the two-day intensive and the focus of the work. When you see your clinician the next time (for the intensive–exciting!!), you’re going to have a very clear understanding of the structure of your relationship, where we’ll need to focus, and the best place to spend our time.
The Two-Day Intensive
Phew, this is when it starts to get real! This is two consecutive eight-hour days with an hour lunch break on each day. The first 85-minutes of your two eight-hour days is going to be equivalent to a feedback session. That “clinician prep” I referenced above? You’ll see if all laid out in front of you for the first 85-minutes. The point of this is that so you have direct feedback on your relationship structure and health, and then know exactly where to dive into the work. The two-day intensive must be paid in full at least 24-hours before it takes place.
Post-Intensive
After our two-day journey together, your clinician will take the time to sit, decompress, and document. They’re going to write up a report of the topics you discussed, the main themes of the work, the gains you made, some key clinical takeaways, and a plan for the next few months, as well as make sure you have access to a variety of resources. You’ll receive this no later than two weeks after the second day of your intensive.
Post-Intensive Written Assessment
This is the same assessment you’ll have in the beginning. The point of this is that we want to see how things have changed and stabilized for you over time. You’ll be invited to complete this approximately three months after your intensive.
Follow Up Session One (Recommended)
This is a follow up session that is highly recommended, but not required. It takes place approximately two months after the intensive and is either a 55-minute or an 85-minute session, depending on client preference and clinician recommendations. Here’s the deal. We’d really hate for folks to walk away after their two-day intensive, feel good and strong, slowly lose some of the ground they gained, and then not be able to re-calibrate. We want the ground we gained to stick. This session is paid the day of or the day after services are rendered.
Follow Up Session Two (Recommended)
Similar to the first follow up session, this is highly recommended, but not required. It takes place approximately six months after the intensive (and four months after the first follow up). The rationale is the same–it’s just a tune up for your car rather than a major overhaul. You and your partner will, ideally, have what it takes to figure things out at this point, but it’s nice to get help with areas you feel a little more stuck. This session is paid the day of or the day after services are rendered.
And that’s all, folks! The two-day intensive couples therapy breakdown.
On a serious note, couples therapy takes emotional and mental work. If you don’t feel up to the task, then this would surely not be a good fit. It’s important that you feel solid about moving forward with this. My point isn’t to try to dissuade you, it’s simply to say, “Hey, this will be amazing and rewarding, but also very exhausting. Make sure you’re up for it.”
If you have any questions about this–follow up questions, concerns, fears, or issues, please email us directly and we’ll help you sort through things. We are so excited to see you here! Happy counseling!