What Is Intensive Couples Therapy, and How Is It Different from Weekly Sessions?

Attending weekly couples therapy sessions is a great way to strengthen your relationship. There’s a common misconception that you have to wait until something is “wrong” in your relationship to benefit from couples therapy, and that’s simply not true. It builds communication skills and trust, can improve intimacy, and teaches you and your partner how to work together through life’s challenges.

However, if you do feel like your relationship is on rocky ground, it might be time to consider something more intense.

Intensive couples therapy offers concentrated therapy sessions that are typically longer than traditional weekly couples therapy. During these sessions, you’ll go deeper to explore your relationship and its challenges so you can start to heal faster.

Let’s take a look at some of the key differences between intensive couples therapy and weekly sessions. Doing so will help you determine what’s right for your relationship at this stage.

Taking the Time

Again, one of the biggest differences between the two is time. You might end up attending intensive couples therapy for several hours at a time. Unlike weekly sessions that typically last about an hour, you’re not likely to be “cut off” during an intensive session due to a time limit.

You’re also more likely to attend sessions multiple days in a row, rather than just once a week. When you’re trying to work through something specific, keeping momentum is important. That’s why the pacing of these sessions is also important. Intensive therapy is designed to lead to faster breakthroughs by giving you more insight into your relationship and its challenges right away.

Traditional couples therapy is more about consistent support. That’s why weekly sessions tend to work better if you’re simply trying to strengthen your relationship and progress through things steadily.

Focusing on a Crisis

While you certainly can attend traditional couples therapy with the goal of overcoming a problem, it’s not going to be the sole focus of each session. Rather, you’re more likely to focus on your relationship as a whole and different strategies that will strengthen your partnership. While certain issues will certainly be brought up, it’s not the main focus of each session.

Intensive couples therapy, on the other hand, digs into complex issues and addresses whatever conflicts are causing harm to your relationship. There can be many layers of conflict beneath the surface that need to be addressed and worked through. While it might feel overwhelming at times, diving into each one until you’re able to better communicate your needs, wants, and concerns is essential.

Which Therapy Is Right for You?

If you’re curious about intensive couples therapy, consider what’s happening in your relationship. Do you want to improve communication or strengthen your bond with your partner? If so, it’s likely that traditional weekly sessions would benefit you.

However, if you believe your relationship is in crisis and you’re dealing with a high-conflict situation, intensive therapy can help you work through those major issues at a faster, more concentrated pace.

The goal is similar, no matter what you decide. Both types of therapy aim to strengthen your relationship through improved communication and connection. Both work to increase your relationship satisfaction and allow you to feel closer to your partner than ever. If you have a major conflict in the way, of course, that can be more difficult. So, being able to work through that conflict through intensive therapy can make a difference.

Do you have more questions about intensive couples therapy? Still wondering whether it’s the right move for your relationship? Feel free to contact me for more information or to set up an appointment soon.