Couples Intensive / Marathon Therapy
Core Values Counseling offers couple-to-couple intensives for partners who are in crisis. Sabrina Walters is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Eric Walters is a seasoned Certified Life coach. With their unique experience of having overcome great crisis (including their own healing from an affair and major illness), they bring you hope of healing.
We have protocols for healing, using many methods developed by Dr. John Gottman and others, which help us form fit the sessions to what you need. Prior to committing to work together, you will be asked to provide a great deal of information through interviews, surveys and assessments. It is important to understand that this program will take at least three months to complete and both people must be willing to work on the relationship and make personal changes.
Is Marathon Couples Therapy Effective?
Marathon couples therapy is an intensive form of couples counseling where partners work with a therapist for extended sessions—often several hours or even consecutive days—rather than traditional weekly one-hour appointments. This approach can be particularly helpful for couples in crisis or those seeking rapid progress. Here are the main benefits:
Accelerated Progress
Intensive sessions allow couples to address core issues more quickly, making significant progress in a condensed timeframe.
Deep Focus
Extended time together enables deeper exploration of complex patterns and unresolved issues that may be difficult to address in shorter sessions.
Crisis Intervention
Marathon therapy can help couples in acute distress (e.g., after infidelity or major conflict) stabilize the relationship and prevent further deterioration.
Reduced Escalation
With a therapist present for longer periods, couples can de-escalate conflicts in real time and learn healthier ways to communicate and resolve issues.
Convenience
Couples with busy schedules or those living far from a therapist can benefit from fewer but longer sessions, minimizing work and travel disruptions.
Immersive Experience
The intensive format creates a retreat-like environment, allowing couples to focus solely on their relationship without daily distractions.
Personalized Interventions
Therapists can tailor interventions and exercises to the couple’s immediate needs, adjusting strategies as new issues emerge during the marathon.
Enhanced Commitment
Committing to marathon therapy signals a high level of investment in the relationship, often motivating both partners to engage more fully in the process.
Who should consider Marathon Couples Therapy?
Marathon couples therapy is particularly beneficial for couples needing rapid intervention, those facing complex or longstanding issues, or anyone seeking a concentrated and immersive therapeutic experience. It is important to note that this approach may not be suitable for all couples (e.g., those with active domestic violence or untreated severe mental health issues).
Couples Intensive / Marathon Therapy Outline
This is a 3 to 6 month process.
1st Step– Informational meeting for Couples Intensive work by Eric Walters. Free.
2nd Step– Both individuals take the Relationship Assessment from the Core Values Counseling website and the CVI assessment. Free.
3rd Step– Eric interviews the couple individually so as to assess the feasibility of moving forward. Free.
4th Step- Coaching by Eric before coming to the ASL Workshop. $400 for 4 sessions, plus $100 for upgrading the CVI.
Resources to Read – “7 principles for making marriage work” by John Gottman.
5th Step– Start the intake sessions with a therapist:
Couple must be present in Hillsboro, Oregon, at least the day before ASL Workshop begins.
First, take the Gottman Love Lab Assessment, to be completed the day before any sessions begin. $100.
Session 1: The first 1.5 hour couples session. $375.
Sessions 2 & 3: Two 50-minute individual sessions so each individual can speak openly. $500.
Session 4: Go over the Gottman assessment and make a plan for future work. This session would be completed after the ASL Workshop. $375.
Total for 5th Step is $1350.
6th Step– Participate in an Art and Science of Love (ASL) conference put on by Sabrina Walters, all day on Saturday and Sunday. $850.
7th Step- Participate in the Post ASL going deeper class. 8 week course online live. $400.
8th Step- Intensive sessions for 1.5 or 2 days. At this time Sabrina and Eric Walters work with you on these days.
Wednesday 3:00-7:00 (half day) $1000; or 9 am- 5 pm (full day) $2000.
Thursday 8:30-5 $2000.
This could be set up on two different dates done in different weeks.
Contact us with questions, or to get started: 503 869-8108
Call our answering service at 503-869-8108 and leave a message. We will return your call within one business day.