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 can provide the breakthrough they need at a fraction of the cost. For others, only the deep, immersive work of a private marriage intensive can repair years of hurt and disconnection.
As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Certified Imago Relationship Therapist, and ordained Rabbi featured in AARP, Business Insider, and The Baltimore Sun, I’ve worked with thousands of couples. Here’s my honest breakdown of the pros, cons, and costs of DIY retreats vs. private intensives—so you can decide what’s right for you.
What Is a DIY Marriage Retreat?
A DIY retreat is a self-guided program couples can do at home, at their own pace. Instead of traveling for a weekend or meeting with a therapist, you follow a structured online curriculum.
At The Marriage Restoration Project, our 5-Step Marriage Restoration Guided Journey Back to Love Program provides couples with a framework to:
- Pause conflict cycles and stop the same fights from repeating.
- Learn intentional dialogue tools adapted from Imago Therapy.
- Rebuild emotional safety so both partners feel heard and valued.
- Reconnect with purpose and restore intimacy.
- Create a shared vision for the future of your relationship.
Think of it as your at-home retreat kit: you set aside a weekend (or a few evenings), watch the video lessons together, and practice the exercises in real time.
Turning a DIY Course Into Your Own Retreat
One of the best parts of our on-demand course is its flexibility. Couples often tell us they treat it like a “mini getaway”:
- They book a night or two at a hotel or Airbnb, bring the course with them, and set aside uninterrupted time to focus on their relationship.
- Others stay home but create a retreat-like atmosphere—unplugging devices, sending the kids to a relative’s house, and carving out the weekend just for each other.
This approach gives you the same feeling of stepping away from daily stress—without the cost of traveling to an in-person retreat or intensive. You can move through the 5 steps at your own pace, pausing to reflect, journal, and reconnect.
“We couldn’t afford a full intensive, but we booked a hotel, brought the course with us, and it truly felt like a private retreat. We left with new tools and a stronger sense of connection.” — Couple from Philadelphia
What Is a Private Marriage Intensive?
A private intensive is a two-day, in-person retreat where a licensed therapist works exclusively with you and your spouse.
Our Private Marriage Intensive ($6,997) compresses 8–9 months of therapy into one weekend. Couples spend 3–5 hours per day with a therapist, diving deep into the root causes of conflict, betrayal, or disconnection. Unlike DIY programs, intensives offer:
- Real-time coaching from a licensed therapist.
- Immediate feedback and course-correction.
- A safe, confidential space to confront sensitive issues (infidelity, trust, resentment).
- Integration sessions afterward to maintain progress.
DIY Retreat vs. Private Intensive: Cost & Experience
| Feature | DIY Marriage Retreat ($479) | Private Intensive ($6,997) |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Online, self-guided course | In-person, private therapist |
| Duration | Flexible, self-paced | 2 full days (8–9 months of therapy condensed) |
| Privacy | At home or hotel getaway | 100% confidential, therapist present |
| Guidance | Pre-recorded videos, exercises | Real-time coaching + feedback |
| Best For | Couples seeking affordable tools, premarital, enrichment | Couples in crisis, post-affair, or “last chance” situations |
| Cost | $479 one-time investment | $6,997 (with follow-up support) |
Which One Works Better?
It depends on your situation:
- Choose DIY if… you want an affordable, flexible way to learn new skills, you’re in the premarital/enrichment stage, or your issues aren’t yet at crisis level.
- Choose a Private Intensive if… you’re dealing with infidelity, constant conflict, disconnection, or you feel like this is your last chance to save the marriage.
“Some couples start with our 5-Step Course at home and later choose a private intensive. Others attend an intensive right away because the marriage is on the line. Both pathways have value—it depends on how urgent your situation feels.”
How to Run a DIY Marriage Retreat with the 5-Step Marriage Restoration Guided Journey Back to Love On Demand Program
Create your own couples retreat at home or in a hotel getaway using our 5-Step Marriage Restoration Course ($479). This DIY option helps you pause conflict, reconnect, and build a shared vision for your future.
- Total Time: 1-2 days
Likely a full program pace (self-paced), but for a retreat / DIY version, set aside 2 days for immersive work. (The course itself is an online guided plan in 5 short steps. For retreats you can stretch it out.) - Estimated Cost:
The course is $479. Depending on if you book a hotel or separate space from home costs will vary.
- Tools Required:
Access to the 5-Step Plan program materials (worksheets, guided content)
Journal or notebook
Quiet, safe space where both partners feel comfortable
Time for each step - Supplies Needed:
– Comfortable seating
– Refreshments / snacks
– Printed or digital materials for each step
– Tissues
– Pens - How You’ll Begin Healing Your Marriage at Home with a DIY Couples Retreat:
Reconnect & Open Up
Begin by acknowledging where things are now without blame. Establish safety and the desire to find connection again. (The source emphasizes healing, reconnecting, and emotional connection.)
Communication Repair & Tools
Learning/improving effective communication. Possibly introducing Imago Dialogue or similar safe communication tools.
Understand Core Needs & Patterns
Exploring what each partner truly needs, identifying relationship/personal patterns that are blocking connection.
Practice Compassion & Empathy
Building emotional safety through empathy, allowing vulnerability, healing shame or fear, rebuilding trust.
Plan for Lasting Change
Create concrete next steps, commitments, follow-up, continued growth. Ensuring the retreat (or course) doesn’t end without momentum.
Key Takeaways
- A DIY retreat like our 5-Step Marriage Restoration Course ($479) is a cost-effective way to create your own marriage retreat at home or in a hotel.
- A Private Intensive ($6,997) is therapist-led, immersive, and designed for couples in deep distress.
- DIY retreats are best for growth and enrichment; intensives are best for crisis repair.
- Some couples use both: start with DIY, then deepen with a private intensive.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Many couples experience breakthroughs just from learning to communicate differently. While it doesn’t replace therapy, it’s a strong starting point.
For couples in crisis, yes. Intensives provide breakthroughs that weekly therapy or DIY programs that might be harder to achieve on your own.
Absolutely. Many couples complete our 5-Step Course before or after an intensive as we actually include it free in the private intensive package. The course reinforces skills and helps maintain progress.
We have many locations across the US including Baltimore, Philadephia, New York, Hawaii, Los Angeles, Colorado, Michigan, Texas, Virginia and beyond. Virtual options are also available.
If you’re asking “Can we learn tools together?” → start with DIY. If you’re asking “Can our marriage even survive?” → choose the intensive.
Sources
- Johnson, S. (2008). Hold Me Tight. Little, Brown Spark.
- Hendrix, H. (2007). Getting the Love You Want. Holt Paperbacks.
- American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Couple Therapy Effectiveness Summary.
- Lebow, J., Chambers, A., Christensen, A., & Johnson, S. (2012). Treatment of Couple Distress. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38(1), 145–168.
Related Reading:
Is a marriage intensive worth it?
How much does a private marriage retreat cost?
