The Downsides of Couples Therapy (and What to Do Instead)
The Downsides of Couples Therapy (and What to Do Instead) TL;DR:Couples therapy isn’t always the miracle solution it’s made out to be. When sessions feel like venting without structure, stir up more conflict, or fail to teach new tools, therapy can sometimes do more harm than good. Research shows that therapy outcomes depend heavily on […]
Marriage Intensive vs. Traditional Therapy: Deep Breakthroughs in Days
Marriage Intensive vs Weekly Therapy: Which Works Faster to Save Your Relationship? When your marriage is in crisis, every day magnifies the pain. Weekly sessions often feel like a slow drip of progress, with momentum easily lost between appointments. Research shows that while traditional therapy helps many couples, short weekly sessions frequently struggle to break […]
When to Quit Couples Therapy: 5 Signs It’s Doing More Harm Than Good
Couples therapy is often seen as the last-ditch effort to save a relationship. But what if it’s not helping? What if it’s making things worse? If you’re wondering when to quit couples therapy, you’re not alone—and your instincts may be trying to tell you something important. At The Marriage Restoration Project, we believe therapy should […]
Is Couples Therapy a Last Resort? Why Waiting Too Long Could Hurt Your Relationship
Many couples ask us one of the most common relationship questions online: “Is couples therapy a last resort?” At The Marriage Restoration Project, our answer is clear and compassionate: No. Couples therapy isn’t just for relationships that are falling apart. It’s one of the most powerful tools for any couple—whether you’re dating, engaged, newly married, […]
How Often Should a Couple Go to Couples Therapy?
When your relationship is struggling, it’s natural to wonder: How often should we be in couples therapy? Weekly? Monthly? Ongoing? Forever? At The Marriage Restoration Project, we believe couples therapy shouldn’t last forever. In fact, our mission is to help couples graduate—not stay stuck in therapy for years. Our approach, rooted in Imago Relationship Therapy, […]
Individual vs. Couples Grief Work: What’s Best for Marriage?
Whether it’s losing a loved one, a job, health or even the life you expected, experiencing loss can shake the foundation of even the healthiest of marriages. It’s not just sadness; grief can create emotional wedges as partners withdraw, conversation falters and isolation grows. One may cope by immersing themselves in work, while another seeks […]
Can Conscious Uncoupling Work for High Conflict Couples?
When most people hear the term conscious uncoupling, they picture a mutual, peaceful split — not the emotional minefield you might be walking through right now. The slammed doors. The silence. The feeling that your partner has become a stranger — or an enemy. But what if your relationship is the opposite of that? What […]
High Conflict Divorce Lawyer Near Me? What to Try Before You File
If you’re searching for a high conflict divorce lawyer near me, you’re likely standing at a crossroads — emotionally overwhelmed and unsure what the next chapter holds. Maybe you’ve tried counseling. Maybe you’re done trying. Maybe you’re ready to walk away. And yet, somewhere deep down, you may still be wondering:Is there anything else that […]
How to Fix a High Conflict Relationship (Even If Nothing Else Has Worked)
If your relationship feels like a constant battleground — endless fighting, silent treatment, or walking on eggshells — you may wonder if there’s any hope left. Here’s the good news: you can fix a high conflict relationship. But it takes more than just talking things out or attending another therapy session that leaves you feeling […]
Why You Should Attend a Couples Therapy Weekend Near You to Strengthen Your Bond (Even if You Feel Like You Don’t Have Enough Empathy for Your Partner)
Attending a couples therapy weekend focused on empathy training for couples offers the perfect opportunity to rebuild empathy and emotional connection in your relationship. Whether you’re facing communication barriers, past hurts, or simply need to reconnect, this weekend is designed to provide the tools, support, and space for you both to grow and thrive together. […]
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Marriage Intensives: How They Help Couples Rebuild Trust
Relationships thrive on emotional connections. But when trust is broken or conflicts escalate, couples often find themselves emotionally withdrawn, stuck in repetitive arguments, or simply struggling to reconnect. These periods of disconnection can shatter intimacy and leave both partners feeling isolated.1 One proven method of resolving this cycle is Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Developed in […]
Christian Marriage Retreats Near Me: Can Secular Ones Work Too?
Why Christian Couples Search for Faith-Based Retreats If you’re Googling “Christian marriage retreats near me,” you’re likely hoping for more than just sermons and prayer circles. You want your marriage to thrive. You want real healing, communication tools, and a therapist who understands that your faith and values are important. But what happens when the […]
Is online couples therapy as effective as in-person?
When couples decide to seek help for their relationship, one of the first questions is: “Should we do couples therapy online or in-person?” With the rise of teletherapy and virtual marriage retreats, many partners now weigh the pros and cons of both formats before making a decision. The good news? Both options can be highly […]
Is a Values-Based Secular Marriage Retreat the Right Fit for Your Relationship?
When couples face challenges in their marriage, many consider a faith-based retreat for its community and spiritual grounding. For others, a secular marriage retreat—one focused on evidence-based therapy and relationship skills without religious content—offers the same depth of healing in a different format. This isn’t about choosing one over the other out of criticism—it’s about […]
Is a Marriage Retreat Right for You? Take Our Self-Assessment Quiz
If you’re here, you’re probably wondering:Would a marriage retreat actually help us? Or is it too late—or too soon? This self-assessment quiz will help you find out if a marriage retreat is the right next step for your relationship. Whether you’re facing communication breakdowns, rebuilding after infidelity, or simply feeling distant and disconnected, this quick […]
Is a Couples Retreat a Real Thing? Here’s What to Expect—and Why It Might Save Your Marriage
Is a Couples Retreat a Real Thing? Here’s What to Expect—and Why It Might Save Your Marriage If you’ve ever heard someone say they “went on a couples therapy retreat” and thought it sounded like a Hollywood plot line, you’re not alone. Many couples ask us: “Is a couples retreat a real thing?”The answer: Yes. […]
How Emotionally Focused Therapy Strengthens Marriages Through Intensives and Online Counseling
In the wonderful journey of marriage, couples will often encounter challenges that truly test their emotional bonds. Whether it’s breakdowns in communication, unresolved or avoided conflicts, or feelings of disconnection, these issues can strain even the strongest of relationships. If you’ve reached this point in your relationship where you’re feeling strain and disconnection but not […]
What Should a Couples Therapist Not Do? 11 Red Flags to Watch For
Have you ever walked out of a couples therapy session feeling worse than when you walked in?You’re not alone. While couples therapy can be life-changing when done well, not every therapist is trained—or committed—to working with relationships as a system. In fact, some therapists unintentionally make things harder by focusing on individuals instead of the […]
What Percentage of Marriages Survive Counseling? And Why the Right Therapist Makes All the Difference
If you’ve tried marriage counseling before and walked away more discouraged than hopeful, you’re not alone. Many couples come to us saying things like, “Therapy actually made things worse,” or “We felt like the therapist took sides.” It’s heartbreaking—and it’s a reality far too many couples face. So what percentage of marriages actually survive counseling? […]
Weekend Marriage Retreat vs. Weekly Counseling: Pros and Cons (And a Better Third Option)
If your relationship feels at a breaking point, the right type of support can make all the difference. But which approach works best — ongoing weekly therapy or a focused couples therapy weekend? In this post, we’ll compare the pros and cons of each, and introduce a third, hybrid option that combines the best of […]