Couples Therapy Intensives | Meaningful Emotion

5. Couples Therapy Intensives

Big feelings and busy lives don’t always fit into 50-minute sessions. Couples Therapy Intensives give us spacious, focused time to slow things down, see the pattern, and practice repair in real time. Using Emotionally Focused Therapy and Gottman-informed tools, we’ll name what’s happening between you, gently challenge what isn’t serving you, and build safer connection—without rushing the work. My team and I bring a culturally responsive lens that honors the impact of race, culture, gender, power, and systemic stressors—especially for Black and brown couples.

Why an intensive?

Momentum. Less stop-and-start, more traction. Four hours a day allows us to get beneath the content and work the cycle.
Safety + structure. We create a contained space for hard conversations (infidelity, betrayal, gridlocked conflict, disconnection) with clear guardrails.
Skills you can use. You’ll leave with a concrete plan—micro-skills for de-escalation, repair, and rebuilding trust at home.
Access + flexibility. Ideal for out-of-state clients, complex schedules, or couples in acute distress who don’t want to wait months to feel relief.

A note on safety: We complete a thorough screening beforehand. Active, ongoing IPV, untreated substance withdrawal, or imminent risk may not be appropriate for an intensive. If that’s the case, I’ll help you identify safer alternatives.

What’s included

Every Couple Intensive includes:

Pre-Intensive phone/telehealth session (45–60 min) one week prior to set goals and logistics.
Pre-work assessments, including a relationship/attachment assessment (Gottman & EFT-aligned questionnaires).
4 hours of intensive therapy per day (typically two 2-hour blocks with a break).
Targeted interventions (EFT enactments, Gottman repair/soothing, structured time-outs, decision-making frameworks for ambivalence).
Personalized Post-Intensive Action Plan with a repair roadmap, practice scripts, and recommended follow-ups.
Care coordination (with your permission) if you’re working with individual therapists or need referrals.

Optional add-ons: Individual check-ins for each partner (30–45 min), brief coparenting consult, or a structured 3-session follow-up package at a reduced rate.

Who it’s for

Couples healing from breach of trust (emotional/sexual infidelity, secrecy).
High-conflict/low-connection cycles you can’t seem to stop.
Life transitions (new baby, job loss, layoffs, relocation, blending families).
Premarital or re-commitment work to build strong foundations.

Schedule & Format

Intensives are offered on Thursdays and Fridays (limited Saturday availability with a team clinician).

1, 2, or 3 consecutive days depending on your goals and clinical fit.
Daily flow (example): 9:30–11:30 AM session, break, 12:30–2:30 PM session.

Investment

Rates reflect focused, high-touch clinical care and comprehensive prep/follow-up.

With a Licensed Team Clinician

One Day: $1,100
Two Days: $1,950
Three Days: $2,850
Weekend (Saturday) surcharge: +$300/day (team clinicians only).

With Dr. Francis

One Day: $2,000
Two Days: $3,500
Three Days: $4,500

Insurance: Intensives are a premium, extended service and are not typically covered by insurance. When clinically appropriate and medically necessary, standard follow-up sessions may be billed through insurance platforms (Alma/Headway). We’ll discuss options during the screening call.

Payment & Policies

Deposit: 50% non-refundable deposit due at scheduling; balance due 72 hours before Day 1.
Rescheduling: With 7+ days’ notice, you may transfer your deposit once within 60 days.
Cancellations: Less than 7 days’ notice forfeits the deposit; less than 72 hours requires full payment.
Documentation: Upon request, we can provide a superbill for your records (intensives are rarely reimbursed).

After the Intensive

You’ll leave with a clear, personalized plan. Many couples choose:

2–3 telehealth follow-ups over 4–6 weeks to consolidate gains, or
A brief 3-session package focused on maintenance, relapse-prevention for conflict, and continued intimacy building.