Couples therapy is effective around 75% of the time. Those are pretty fantastic odds if your relationship is on the rocks.
Why not take it one step further and head out on a couples therapy retreat? You’ll have the opportunity to focus completely on your partner and your relationship without the stresses of daily life getting in the way.
Choosing therapy retreats can be overwhelming though. They come in all shapes and sizes, and while it won’t be difficult to find many, it is difficult to find the right one.
Check out this guide for factors to consider when choosing a couples retreat to ensure you choose the right one.
The Retreat Should Specialize in Couples Therapy
When you need heart surgery, you don’t seek the skills of a neurologist. The same goes for therapy.
You want to ensure that the retreat you choose includes therapists and practices that specialize in couples therapy. It should be at the core of all of their research, practices, tasks, and workshops.
You and your partner need someone who is committed to couples therapy so that they can offer you the best possible environment to heal your relationship.
A couples therapist understands the complexity of relationship issues and the best way to navigate them. And if a therapist like this hosts a retreat, then you can be sure that everything will be focused on their expert learnings.
Choose a Retreat That Respects Your Personal Limits
In order to choose a retreat that respects your personal boundaries, you first need to determine what those boundaries are. Of course, you need to push past your comfort zone to some extent, but you don’t want to take things too far.
Experienced therapists have mastered the art of providing a space between vulnerability and personal comfort. The retreat that you choose should do the same.
Does the Retreat Offer Follow-up Care?
It’s all very well to head out on a couples therapy retreat for a few days, but the real work takes much longer than that. A single retreat won’t fix your marriage or relationship; you need to put in serious time and commitment.
If you’re already seeing a marriage counselor, then aftercare options aren’t important for you and your partner. If not, though, then look for a retreat that offers follow-up care and counseling after the retreat.
This may be in person or online. Regardless, it’s important to have aftercare opportunities to solidify the skills and progress you made at the retreat.
Ask People You Know for Recommendations
This may seem a bit intimidating, but perhaps you already know someone who has been on a couples therapy retreat. It’s a good idea to get insider information about what to look for, what to avoid, and what to expect.
And the best part about it? If you don’t know anyone or don’t want to expose yourself to questions, then you can turn to the online community.
Check out forums, read online reviews, and ask anonymous questions. It’s a fantastic way to get firsthand information and advice without having to divulge your personal life to anyone you actually know.
Look at What the Retreat Offers
From activities for couples to personalized therapy sessions or guest speakers, retreats offer plenty of different things for couples. Research who will be hosting the retreat, the workshops, talks, and classes that are available. Are they aimed at helping you reach your couple goals?
You’ll be spending valuable time and money on the retreat, so it’s important that it has the most suitable offerings for you.
Does the Retreat Teach New Skills?
Perhaps you and your partner already see a marriage counselor, or maybe it’s your first time doing anything like this. Either way, you want to ensure that you’re going to leave the retreat with new skills and tools to deal with and overcome the issues in your relationship.
Learning these tools is one of the most important benefits of couples therapy and the retreat should offer you the best of the best. Make sure that the retreat that you choose gives you the opportunity to learn, develop, and practice new and powerful skills.
Therapy Retreat Destinations
The environment will very much influence how relaxed and comfortable you and your partner feel when you’re on the retreat. This is one reason that you need to carefully consider the destination.
Perhaps being too close to home will prevent you from truly letting go. On the other hand, traveling too far from home may cause anxiety. You might want to choose an exotic location so that it feels like a holiday or an inner-city destination such as the one that this company offers.
Carefully consider destination options with your partner so that you both feel comfortable with the choice.
Comparing Retreat Fees
Your budget will always play a part in options for retreats. It may affect the duration, destination, and activities. Before you start looking around for different retreats, create a realistic budget that includes the entire retreat cost, as well as possible travel costs.
This will help you to narrow down your search and prevent you from wasting time on retreats that you cannot afford.
Take Your Time Choosing Therapy Retreats
It’s important to not rush into choosing therapy retreats. Take your time to talk to your partner and define your relationship goals and wishes, personal boundaries, and budget. Once you have a clear picture, you can start to look for the best retreat for the both of you.
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