Marriage Cost Calculator: Divorce vs. Intensive – What’s the Real Price of Saving (or Losing) Your Marriage?
When your marriage feels like it’s at a breaking point, the choice can feel impossible: invest in fixing it, or walk away. But beyond the emotional toll, the financial cost of divorce vs. a marriage intensive is something many couples overlook. How much does divorce cost? Most people aren’t even sure. That’s why we created […]
Marriage Retreat Success Stories & Intensive Testimonials: What Couples Learned in Just 2 Days
When couples arrive at a marriage retreat or intensive, many are carrying years of hurt, unresolved conflict, or emotional distance. Some are in crisis, wondering if they should separate. Others simply want to rekindle what brought them together in the first place. What surprises most couples is how much change can happen in just two […]
What to Expect at a 2-Day Marriage Intensive (Sample Schedule)
Why Couples Choose an Intensive When your marriage feels stuck, weekly 50-minute therapy sessions can feel too slow. Just as the conversation starts to open up, the clock runs out — and couples leave frustrated, waiting another week to continue. A marriage intensive retreat compresses months of counseling into just two focused days. At The […]
How Much Does Divorce Cost vs. a Marriage Intensive?
The Real Price of Divorce When couples hit a breaking point, divorce can feel like the only option. But many people underestimate the financial, emotional, and relational toll divorce brings. According to the American Psychological Association and recent financial surveys, the average cost of divorce in the U.S. ranges from $15,000–$30,000 per spouse, depending on […]
DIY Marriage Retreat vs. Private Intensive: Which Is Right for Your Relationship?
When your marriage feels stuck, you may find yourself searching for “marriage retreat near me” or “intensive couples counseling.” But what if you don’t have $6,997 to invest in a private intensive—or can’t step away for a weekend with a therapist? That’s where DIY marriage retreats come in. For some couples, a structured, self-guided course […]
Is My Marriage Over? 5 Signs & What to Do Next
It’s one of the scariest questions a couple can ask: Is my marriage over? If you’re lying awake at night replaying fights, feeling alone in the same house, or wondering if you’ll ever get back to the way it used to be, you’re not alone. Many couples reach this painful crossroads. The good news? Hitting […]
Non-Religious Marriage Retreats Near Me: A City-by-City Guide (2025)
Find truly secular, evidence-based secular marriage retreats near you—no sermons, non religious marriage counseling retreats that provide tools to restore connection and rebuild trust. Why Couples Search for Secular Marriage Retreats When your marriage feels strained, the last thing you want is to attend a program that doesn’t match your beliefs. Many retreats are faith-based, […]
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
By Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin, LCPC — Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Founder of The Marriage Restoration Project 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 […]
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 […]