Best Marriage Retreats in 2025: Reconnect, Renew, and Rebuild
Every couple deserves space to step away from daily pressures and focus on their relationship. That’s why marriage retreats have grown in popularity. In 2025, you’ll find retreats for nearly every stage of a relationship—whether you’re engaged, happily married but wanting growth, discerning whether to stay together, or in full-blown crisis. Some retreats are scheduled […]
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, […]
Is an Intensive Retreat Worth It for Empty Nesters? Here’s What the Research Says
Becoming empty nesters can feel like a seismic shift—suddenly, the constant hum of parenting is gone, and you’re rediscovering life with your spouse in a quiet house. While this transition can be a relief, it often brings unexpected emotional challenges, disconnection, or identity shifts¹. An intensive couples retreat can offer focused, transformational support during this […]
Are Multi-Day Intensive Couples Counseling Sessions More Effective Than Weekly One-Hour Sessions?
When a marriage is in crisis—or simply stuck—couples often wonder:Should we try a multi-day intensive couples counseling vs weekly sessions? While both approaches can help, research and clinical experience suggest that multi-day intensive sessions often deliver faster, deeper results for certain couples—especially when the relationship is on the brink or issues have been stuck for […]
What Couples Therapy Weekend Should I Do?
When couples search for a weekend retreat, they’re often at a crossroads — wondering if this might be the turning point that saves their relationship. The challenge? Not all couples therapy weekends are created equal. Some focus on education and group discussion, others on private, intensive therapy sessions. The best fit depends on your specific […]
Are marriage intensives worth it?
When your marriage feels like it’s hanging by a thread, every day can feel unbearable. You’ve tried talking, maybe even months of weekly counseling, but nothing seems to change. That’s when many couples start searching for something different—something stronger, faster, and more focused. That’s where marriage intensives come in. But are they really worth the […]
What’s the Best Way to Save a Marriage? 15 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Counselor
Should You Invest in a Marriage Counselor? A Guided Approach When your marriage feels like it’s at a breaking point, asking “What’s the best way to save a marriage?” is natural. The answer often lies in choosing the right marriage counselor—one whose expertise and methods align with your needs. Below are 15 carefully crafted questions […]
Can having kids ruin a relationship? What we WISH we would have known about having children and our marriage.
Can having kids ruin a relationship? What we WISH we would have known about having children and our marriage. In this episode, we explore the immense strain that having children can place on marriages. With parents ranking as the most stressed adult population in the U.S., we dive into the challenges that arise in relationships, […]
Rediscover Love with Maryland’s Premier Marriage Counseling Services
BLOG Rediscover Love with Maryland’s Premier Marriage Counseling Services Are you and your partner facing challenges in your relationship? At The Marriage Restoration Project in Maryland, we’re here to help you navigate through tough times and rekindle your love. Our dedicated team specializes in Imago Therapy, offering tailored sessions designed to strengthen your bond and […]
[Podcast episode] What to do when you and your spouse disagree on politics?
Sometimes people feel so passionately about a political candidate it’s hard not to get reactive. This episode teaches you what to do in these particularly high drama situations and how to be with another despite disagreeing with their politics. ⁉️ Should it be make it or break it if you can’t come to an agreement? […]
I have different priorities and goals than my partner. Do your couples goals not match?!
It’s very tempting to think you aren’t on the same page anymore as your partner. Your goals and priorities are just too different. And that makes sense, after all, you might have some real disagreements about some hot button issues. 🔥🔥 ✅ Sometimes though, your goals ARE a match to your partners’ but there has […]
[Podcast Episode] How can I ease the pain? Healing from relationship and generational trauma.
It’s all about anxiety! 😟😟😰😰 We are wounded in relationship and once we become aware of that we can start to heal. Our parents and their ancestors all had their own anxiety and that anxiety is passed down to us, as children, showing up as unmet needs, when our parents just couldn’t attune to […]
[Podcast Episode] Identifying what stage of relationship you’re in will help you with expectations vs reality.
What stage of relationship and marriage are you in? Understanding the 3 stages of relationship can really help you identify just where you are in your life and help you make fully informed decisions about your marriage. ✔️The first stage is often referred to as the “Romantic Love” stage. This is characterized by intense emotions, […]
Respond vs. React: How No-Blame, No-Shame Communication Can Transform Your Marriage
By Rivka Slatkin, Co-Founder of The Marriage Restoration Project I’ll be honest—I find it really hard to respond vs. react. It takes effort to use conscious, compassionate communication instead of falling back on my default reaction—especially when I’m tired, hungry, or feeling threatened. But here’s the truth: nothing “forces” us to grow more than marriage […]
How to Constructively Communicate Your Frustration(s) to Your Spouse: A Close Look at the Imago Dialogue
Let’s talk about something that happens in all relationships at one point or another – feeling frustrated with your spouse. Communicating Effectively Using Imago It’s perfectly normal. Whether it’s how many times each of you cook dinner over the week, messes left uncleaned or the bigger stuff like feeling undervalued or overlooked, these frustrations can […]
Marriage Counseling Can Make Things Worse – This is How to Make Sure it Won’t Deepen Your Relationship Issues
What happens if your genuine attempt at saving your marriage – investing your time and money in traditional weekly couples’ therapy – actually exacerbates your relationship issues and makes things worse? This unsettling scenario is more common than one might think, as traditional counseling approaches can sometimes deepen misunderstandings, foster partiality, and leave couples feeling […]
Stuck in the Imago Minimizer/Maximizer Communication Pattern Trap?
In marriages, the minimizer/maximizer dynamic describes how partners respond to stress and conflict: minimizers tend to withdraw, while maximizers seek engagement and expression. This difference in communication styles in conflict can lead to misunderstandings and tension if not properly managed. The Minimizer/Maximizer Relationship Dynamic is Common in High Conflict Marriages If you’re in a relationship […]
Improving Marriage Intimacy by Embracing the Differing Needs of Men & Women in Relationships
The road toward true relationship intimacy can be a long and winding one full of curves, highs, and lows. The unconditional acceptance, reciprocal love and affection in a truly intimate marriage relationship is the ultimate prize worth fighting for. When the initial romance wanes, and it does in all relationships, it’s time to get to […]
Deepening the Connection: The Imago Way to a Conscious Marriage (part 2)
In Part 1 of “Choosing Each Other Again: The Imago Way to a Conscious Marriage“ we explored the crucial role of choosing your partner every day to maintain a strong and healthy relationship. We introduced how Imago Relationship Therapy helps couples understand the reasons behind their initial attraction and provides them with practical strategies to […]
Choosing Each Other Again: The Imago Way to a Conscious Marriage
Is Imago Therapy Right for You? If you’ve ever thought: “Did I marry the right person?” “We keep having the same fight over and over.” “Counseling didn’t work for us in the past.” …you’re not alone. These doubts are not only normal but, in Imago Therapy, they’re actually a signpost: an invitation to rediscover why […]