Personalized Intensive Couple Therapy with a
Certified EFT therapist
We offer In-person and online private couples intensive therapy
Our lead couple therapists are the only psychologists in the state of Maine who are certified in Emotionally Focused Couple therapy, Dr. Julie Quimby and Dr. Andrea Medaris. Both Dr. Quimby and Dr. Medaris are highly regarded therapists, consultants, educators, and clinical supervisors. Together, they lead Hold me Tight® couples workshops and couples retreats.
Intensive Couples Therapy is a short-term, in-depth and focused approach to helping couples in distress. Couples often seek intensives to help repair current hurts or crises in their relationship or longstanding negative patterns. While time is limited, couples are guided to deep levels of experiencing and work intensely over two days together. This intensive approach to couples therapy frequently leads to lasting changes that are often preferred over months or years of weekly therapy. Couples who have experienced traditional weekly couples therapy, often describe the intensive experience as profoundly different in terms of “we got to the heart of the matter more quickly,” “the work was deep with no time lost in between,” and “this transformed our marriage in ways we never expected.”
Intensive couples therapy begins with a 2-hour couples assessment and consultation with Dr. Quimby or Dr. Medaris prior to scheduling your intensive dates. The couples intensive is 2 consecutive days of concentrated therapy, totaling 6 hours per day. The day to day structure of therapy is varied depending on your needs and goals. The process will be discussed in your initial session. In addition to your assessment and intensive therapy days, a 60-minute “tune up” session is included 6-weeks after the completion of your intensive.
Research tells us that all couples experience distress when they get disconnected from one another. This is normal! We also know that happily partnered couples know how to repair effectively. Intensive couples therapy teaches you this skill and may result in you feeling stronger and closer than ever.
Before engaging in intensive couples therapy, it’s important to understand the risks involved with this method. While the duration is short, the treatment will move you quick and deeply into difficult areas, and you and/or your partner may experience feelings such as guilt, sadness, anger, helplessness, loneliness, anxiety and fear. Your therapy may also involve revisiting painful aspects of your personal or relationship history.
In some cases, couples experience increased distress as difficulties become the focus. Despite Dr. Quimby’s skill and experience, therapy may not work out well for all couples. As with all therapies, results cannot be guaranteed. Please note that the following circumstances are contra-indicated for intensive couples therapy:
· If there is active alcohol and/or drug abuse or addiction on the part of either or both partners, from either partner’s perspective.
· If there is active or feared domestic violence in your relationship, threats that serious violence might occur, or fear of violence from one or both partners.
· If either partner is engaged in an ongoing affair.
· If either partner is experiencing suicidal or homicidal thoughts.’
For many couples, intensive sessions immerse the couple in the therapy process and often result in big strides in less time. For others, we may recommend an EFT therapist who can continue working with you conjointly or individually in your home location and we may collaborate with this therapist to provide a smooth transition to maximize your therapy.
Who Might Benefit from a Couples Intensive?
· Affair recovery
· Trauma
· Growing Apart
· Ongoing Conflicts
· Feel disconnected
· Sexual Issues
· Lack of Emotional Intimacy
· Lack of Partnership or Teamwork
· Parenting Difficulties / Family Issues
· Life Stress
“My focus for the 2-days with each couple is to be fully available and immersed in the process, and to dedicate myself fully to your goal and to the higher mission to help create more safety and emotional connection in your relationship. ~ Julie Quimby, Ph.D.
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
Describe your experience in a couple intensive
“When we began with Julie it all seemed so dark and hopeless, my husband and I had lost that connection that was so precious to us. With the thoughtful , gentle, loving guidance and insight Julie has we slowly opened up that connection once again. During each intensive session, deep insight and healing took place. We were given the tools to find our way, and tools to use into the future, to hold this bond we so cherish deeply. We are once again connected, loving, laughing, and caring for one another. Thank you Julie for helping us save the most precious gift we have, our love for one another.” -Summer, 2020
“Working with Dr. Quimby was great. I was apprehensive about approaching marriage counseling because it is a tender subject for me. Dr. Quimby provided a guided experience to explore what aspects are tender and why that is. She provides a safe place to advance to places I didn't exactly want to go; when I got there though, with Dr. Quimby's help, I realized I didn't really need to be afraid to begin with. She provides multiple ways of exploring topics individually with each member of the relationship as well as exploring these topics as a group. She does a great job inspiring discussion and then letting the couples discuss. The backbone of the therapy focused on exploring how adult attachment theory applies to your marriage. Dr. Quimby was able to take this theory and apply it to the individual couple. This is really helpful because it provides patterns rather than specifics to address that appear academically/theoretically sound. Dr. Quimby uses studied patterns that helped us realize that our troubles were not unique or unsolvable, but rather relatively common and responsive to the right sort of adjustments and attention.” - Winter, 2020
“My husband and I got so much out of our time with Dr. Quimby. I didn't realize how much we could accomplish in a short duration, and how lasting the work we did in the intensive would be. We continue to return to the things we learned with Dr. Quimby, and look forward to occasional follow-up sessions to continue to learn and grow together.” -Spring, 2020
What would you say to couples who are considering signing up for
a couples intensive?
It may feel too late, that all is lost. It is not!!! My husband and I were at what we seemed like the end, all so hopeless and irrevocably broken. Julie helped us break the terrible cycle we were in. -Summer, 2020
“Bottom line up-front: do it. If you or your spouse thinks you need this, chances are you do you just may not be able to articulate why. This is especially true if your spouse thinks you need counseling, but you do not -- you need to hear what they have to say and it's probably better to do that in a structured, safe way. The intensive sessions are great because it is convenient, productive and cumulative. While rigorous, I believe the intensive sessions enabled us to keep momentum that individual sessions may have prohibited. Lastly, I'd suggest taking the leap with Dr. Quimby because I appreciate that her methods are routed in established adult attachment theory, which helped us realize that we are not unique in our struggle and provided reasons why we do what we do.” - Winter, 2020
“Do it! It's definitely worth the investment in time and money. "Regular" sessions (1 hour/week) just can't get as in depth as an intensive can. You don't just touch on the real, uncomfortable stuff. You have time to work through it with your partner, with the support of someone who's caring and professional.” - Spring, 2020
Do you think the intensive was worth the money you invested?
“Worth every penny. We believe that the intensive sessions accomplish what no weekly hour long sessions can, deep work, done consistently with no time lost in between. The cost to save our 20 year marriage was just .67 cents per day of the marriage, and when you add the many years to come the price is even lower.” -Summer, 2020
“Yes; how do you put a price on something so valuable?” - Winter, 2020
“Yes, definitely.” -Spring, 2020
What’s included?
Initial couples assessment/consultation session (2 hours)
Personalized booklet of handouts and exercises for the intensive and home use
Two private intensive therapy days with a certified EFT therapist
One post-intensive 1-hour “tune up” session
Scheduling
We requires a 2-hour consultation/assessment appointment prior to scheduling your intensive. Your therapist will make a recommendation based on your relationship. Most two-day couples intensives are scheduled on a Thursday & Friday. Weekend options are available for an additional fee. Please call or contact us for available openings and fee information. Maine residents are given priority scheduling and the lowest rates. Weekends may be available upon request for an additional fee.
Fees
‘The fee for a 7.5hr one-day-plus intensive ranges from $1900 to $2500, while the cost for the two-day-plus intensive ranges from $3900 to $4900. Payments can be made by check or credit card. A deposit of 50% is required to hold the date with the balance due the day prior to meeting. Fees will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Is it worth the investment?
You are investing in saving your marriage, your family, and the life you worked so hard to build together. Relationship endings are not only costly emotionally, but also financially, due to the high cost of divorce attorneys, moving, therapy, child support, and more. Your marriage deserves the best possible help and our EFT certified therapists can give that to you.
Cancelation Policy
Deposits are nonrefundable. Your intensive dates are privately reserved for you. If you need to cancel or reschedule your intensive for any reason, we require two weeks notice to avoid paying the remaining 50% of the fee. With one-week notice, couples may reschedule their intensive therapy dates for up to one year without penalty.
Contact: Valarie Dumont
Phone (207)-607-4022
Email: info@psychologyspecialistsme.com