Empty Nest, New Adventures: How Marriage Retreats Help Couples Reconnect
The last college drop-off is done, the house is quiet, and suddenly… it feels like you don’t know your partner anymore. If you’ve ever thought: “What happens to our marriage now that the kids are gone?” you’re not alone. The empty nest transition is one of the biggest turning points in a couple’s life. For […]
7 Best Marriage Intensives in 2025 (Expert Guide + Proven Model)
When your marriage feels strained, the usual hour-a-week therapy model may not deliver fast or lasting change. That’s why many couples are turning to marriage intensives in 2025 — highly focused, private retreats that compress months of therapy into just a few days. A well-designed intensive can help you: Leave with a clear roadmap for […]
Does Insurance Cover Infidelity Counseling? (What’s Typically Covered, What Isn’t, and Your Options)
The short answer Most health plans don’t cover “marriage” or “infidelity” counseling as a stand-alone service. Coverage usually applies only when therapy treats a diagnosable mental health condition (like PTSD, depression, or anxiety) and the sessions are medically necessary for that treatment.¹²⁶ When coverage exists, it’s generally for: Why marriage counseling is often excluded Insurance […]
How to Talk Your Partner Into Going on a Marriage Retreat (Without Starting a Fight)
Bringing up the idea of attending a marriage retreat can feel intimidating. Maybe you’ve been thinking about it for a while, hoping it could help you reconnect, resolve long-standing conflicts, or simply strengthen your bond. But you might worry about your partner’s reaction. Will they feel blindsided? Defensive? Will the conversation turn into yet another […]
Why Communication Breakdowns Are Best Solved at a Marriage Retreat
If you and your partner can’t seem to talk it out without turning everything into an argument, or worse, you’ve stopped talking altogether, it can feel like you’re stuck in an endless cycle. You’ve tried to communicate better, maybe even gone to weekly therapy sessions, but somehow the same misunderstandings, hurt feelings and frustrations keep […]
Weekly Couples Therapy vs. 2-Day Affair Recovery Bootcamp (with Follow-Ups): Which Helps Faster—And Lasts?
After an affair, most couples ask the same thing: should we do weekly couples therapy or a focused weekend? This guide compares weekly counseling with our 2-Day Affair Recovery Bootcamp—with eight 90-minute follow-ups so momentum doesn’t fade. You’ll see who each path fits, how structured disclosure (to prevent “trickle truth”) works, and what progress typically […]
Can a Therapist Tell You to Leave Your Partner?
It’s a question many people ask in a moment of crisis: Can a therapist tell you to leave your partner? And unfortunately, the answer is: Yes — and it happens far too often. We wrote in detail about this in our article “How My Therapist Destroyed My Marriage”, where we explore real stories of individuals […]
Marriage Counseling for Infidelity: How Couples Heal After Betrayal
Infidelity is one of the most painful crises a couple can face. As a licensed marriage therapist who has spent over two decades working exclusively with couples, I’ve seen firsthand how betrayal shakes the very foundation of a relationship. The betrayed partner often experiences trauma symptoms—intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, and a loss of trust—that are overwhelming […]
Affair Recovery Bootcamp: Heal Faster After Infidelity
Infidelity can shatter trust, security, and intimacy at the core of a relationship. For many couples, the aftermath feels overwhelming—how do you rebuild when the foundation itself feels broken? An affair recovery bootcamp offers an intensive, structured approach that helps couples heal in days or weeks, rather than months or years of weekly counseling. As […]
Is Marriage Counseling Cheaper Than Divorce? Here’s What the Numbers Say
When couples reach a breaking point, one of the first practical questions that comes up is: Is marriage counseling cheaper than divorce? While the answer may seem obvious from a purely emotional perspective — “of course it’s worth saving a marriage if you can” — the financial data adds another layer of urgency. Divorce is […]
The Silent Killers of Marriage That Retreats Help Uncover
Some marriages don’t end with a bang – they fade away quietly. There are no explosive fights or dramatic betrayals and on the surface, everything might look fine. You still share a home, maybe even share laughs with friends and family. But under the surface, subtle emotional patterns are eroding the foundation of your relationship. […]
Imago vs. EFT vs. Gottman: What Works Best in a Weekend Retreat?
If you’re considering a couples therapy weekend, you’ll quickly encounter three names over and over: Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and The Gottman Method. All are evidence-based approaches, but they differ in focus, process, and what you might experience in a compressed weekend retreat format. In this guide, we’ll break down the […]
Does Intensive Marriage Counseling Work? What Research and Real Couples Say
If your marriage is facing serious challenges, you may be wondering, “Does intensive marriage counseling work?” The short answer is: Yes, it absolutely can — if you’re ready to do the work. Intensive marriage counseling, like the 2-day private retreats we offer at The Marriage Restoration Project, is an effective and transformative solution for couples […]
What’s the Divorce Rate After Marriage Counseling? Here’s What Couples Should Know Before Taking That Step.
If you’re considering couples therapy and wondering what the divorce rate after marriage counseling is because you’re just not sure you want to take the risk, good for you for doing proper research. Let’s talk about it — honestly. Because the answer depends on what kind of counseling you’re getting… and whether your therapist truly […]
Why Intensive Marriage Counseling Retreats Work When Nothing Else Has
If you’re reading this, chances are high that you’re feeling stuck. Maybe the conversations between you and your partner always lead to the same arguments. Maybe you’re sleeping in separate rooms or feeling more like roommates than romantic partners. Maybe you’ve already tried weekly therapy, only to leave sessions more frustrated than before. You’re not […]
Marriage Coaching vs. Licensed Therapy: Which Is Right for Your Intensive Retreat?
When couples seek help to repair their relationship, they often come across two main options: marriage coaching vs licensed marriage therapy. While both can play valuable roles in relationship improvement, it’s important to understand the key differences between them—especially when considering a marriage therapy intensive. In this post, we’ll explore the differences between marriage coaching […]
What Is Secular Counseling? A Guide for Couples Seeking Non-Religious Therapy
For many couples, the decision to seek therapy is a vulnerable and courageous one. But what happens when you want professional help without religious undertones? That’s where secular counseling comes in. If you’re looking for support that honors your values, your worldview, and your relationship without bringing in faith-based language, this guide is for you. […]
Are Non Religious Marriage Retreats the Right Choice for Couples? What to Expect from a Secular Intensive
When most people think of marriage retreats, they often picture religious settings, church groups, and spiritual counseling. But are marriage retreats exclusively for religious couples? Not at all! In fact, non religious marriage retreats, like the intensive programs offered by The Marriage Restoration Project, cater to couples from all walks of life. If you’re seeking […]
Do Marriage Counselors Ever Advise to Break Up?
People ask me this a lot – sometimes quietly, sometimes hoping I’ll say yes. “Do marriage counselors ever advise to break up?” I do know that many marriage counselors do. I personally do not. Ever. I don’t feel that it’s my job to tell a couple if they should or should not stay together. My […]
How to Get the Most Out of Your Couples Retreat: Before, During, and After
When your relationship is on the line, deciding to attend a couples retreat can feel both hopeful and nerve-wracking. You might be wondering: What will it be like? Will it actually help? What if we just end up fighting the whole time? These questions are completely normal—and they’re a sign that you care deeply about […]