What is different about a couples therapy retreat versus just a vacation couples getaway in California?

If you and your partner are going on a vacation getaway, you’re likely doing most of the planning yourself. You might be prioritizing fun activities, beautiful scenery, relaxation, or a break from responsibilities. 

When you choose a couples therapy retreat with Inland Empire Couples Counseling, we do most of the planning for you. And the priority for the retreat is relationship improvement, deepening connection, healing, or problem solving. You can read more about what’s involved here.

How can a couples therapy retreat in California help us?

A couples therapy retreat gives you the equivalent of two months of weekly therapy in one weekend. It can really jumpstart or accelerate the changes you want to see. More than just giving you a bunch of information--like you might receive in a workshop or seminar--a couples therapy retreat is about helping you experience the changes you want to see.  Doing an experiential retreat turbo charges your ability to get the relationship you want. 

I’d like to use an example to illustrate the value of experience. Maybe you want to learn how to play a new sport. You can watch some youtube videos about the rules, watch a presentation about the rules and history, and you can listen to someone explain it to you. But you’re going to forget what you learned if you don’t actually go out and play the game. A relationship workshop is like watching videos about how to play the game and a couples therapy retreat is like practicing with a coach. 

What can a couples therapy retreat in California help with? 

A couples therapy retreat at Inland Empire Couples Counseling is perfect for couples who:

• Have lost the spark in their relationship

• Are generally happy in their marriage but have one or two problem areas they get stuck and just can’t seem to work through

• Have tried couples therapy and find the restriction of 45-50 minute sessions leaves them feeling like they never get to dig in deep to what really matters to them

• Have a big complicated problem or situation they want to be able to talk through in one sitting. They need the safety of a few days dedicated to exploring their big thing--infidelity, caring for an aging parent or other family member, how to make a big decision about career or where to live

• Aren’t sure if they still want to be together

• Travel for work or otherwise have complicated schedules that make regular weekly couples therapy challenging 

How much does a couples therapy retreat in California cost?

For the best results, we recommend choosing the couples therapy retreat with two therapists. You get the benefit of two experienced couples therapists working with you. There is usually time during the retreat that your therapist(s) will want to meet with you one-on-one. This is done SO much more efficiently when you and your partner can split off for your 15-30 minutes of one-on-one time, each with your own therapist. We do also have a lower cost available if you choose to spend your retreat with one of our amazing therapists. 

We keep the costs listed here.

Who is the right professional to help us on our marriage retreat in California?

We’re admittedly biased here, but we recommend using an experienced couples therapist for your couples therapy retreat, especially one who regularly does retreats.

That seems obvious, but hear us out. Not all therapists, not even all marriage and family therapists, have specific training in doing couples therapy. And not all couples therapists have experience in crafting an intensive experience like a retreat. We’ve really put a lot of thought and intention into the format of our retreats and only hire experienced couples therapists. 

Some religious leaders, coaches, and other helping professionals also put on retreats or getaways for couples. Undoubtedly some of them are wonderful. And certainly some of those experiences are disappointing and potentially even harmful. We recommend that whomever you choose, you do a little research to make sure they know the topic they are teaching and that you feel you can trust them to take good care of you.

As part of your couples therapy retreat at Inland Empire Couples Counseling, you will get to meet with your therapist prior to the retreat experience so that we can get to know each other, you can ask questions, and we can begin designing the perfect experience for you. If, after that meeting, you don’t feel comfortable with your therapist(s), you can cancel your retreat. Click here to schedule your free consultation.

What if we’re wanting something different for our marriage retreat in California than what you are offering?

What we have outlined here on the website for our couples therapy retreats is just a starting point. The experience is just for you, and we are happy to discuss ways to customize the experience to best meet your needs: 

1. Our current pricing keeps costs down by having you come to us, if you’d like us to come to you, or to meet together in another vacation getaway location, we would be happy to discuss that possibility.

2. We will alter the activity on the evening of Day One to match your needs and preferences.

3. We can arrange a longer, three or four day retreat when requested.

4. We are also happy to coordinate your relationship healing experience with other professionals or healers you might already be working with such as individual therapists, psychiatrists, religious leaders, plant medicine guides, etc. 

The first step in the transformation in your life and marriage with a couples therapy retreat is to schedule a consultation. 

At Inland Empire Couples Counseling we offer the best marriage counseling we can! Our couples therapists are trained in helping couples heal from infidelity, substance use in relationships, childhood trauma, communication skills, as well as providing the LGBTQIA+ community with pride counseling. We have online couples counseling in California. We have couples therapy in Riverside, CA. We also have marriage counseling in Murrieta CA or the Temecula Valley. Please reach out for help by clicking the button below to schedule a free 15 minute consultation with our Intake Coordinator.

Have questions about couples counseling? Visit our FAQs page to find out more.