Couples Intensive

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Give your relationship a reset

When couples reach a breaking point, weekly therapy may not provide enough support. The same arguments keep circling, trust feels fragile, emotions run high, and there is little space in daily life to slow down, find clarity, and take action. Some couples come to us at a “make it or break it” moment and a couple intensive can provide a safe place to land.

Couples intensives are designed for these urgent situations. They are also suitable for those in need of couples therapy, but who cannot commit to weekly appointments. Over the course of two days, you and your partner will step away from work, family, and daily pressures to focus entirely on your relationship. Together, we will create a plan to help you move forward with new insights, deeper understanding, and practical tools. Intensives give couples the chance to get to the bottom of big problems and begin rebuilding trust in a supportive, structured space.

Your intensive will be led by Cristina Trette, LMFT based in beautiful Encinitas, California. Cristina specializes in working with couples in crisis, particularly those at a crossroads, who need space to reconnect.

Why Choose an Intensive?

Couples intensives are ideal if:

  • Your relationship is on the verge of breaking down and you are seeking immersive support

  • Careers, schedules, family, or travel make it difficult to commit to weekly therapy

  • You want to jump-start therapy with deeper, more focused work

  • Trust has been broken and repair feels urgent

  • You are seeking an intentional fresh start for your relationship

An intensive condenses months of therapy into two days, offering clarity, momentum, and a chance to renew your relationship.

Cristina’s Approach

As both a practicing couples therapist and the founder of Integrative Couples Therapy, Cristina brings specialized focus to her work. Her approach is rooted in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy an evidence-based model that helps couples move from conflict to connection. In addition, she weaves in practical tools that you can begin using right away.

During your intensive, Cristina will help you:

  • See and shift painful cycles of conflict, withdrawal, or shutdown

  • Share your emotions and needs in a way your partner can truly hear

  • Repair ruptures and begin rebuilding trust and safety

  • Renew emotional and physical intimacy and connection

  • Create a realistic plan for sustaining closeness after the intensive

Structure of the Intensive

Couples intensives take place over two days:

  • Thursdays and Fridays

  • 10:00 am to 3:00 pm each day

  • Includes a lunch break from 12:00pm to 1:00pm, we encourage you to enjoy one of the many nearby restaurants in Encinitas.

Outside of Intensive Hours

Your intensive sessions end at 3:00 pm both days, leaving your afternoons and evenings free. For couples attending from out of town, we encourage you to use the afternoons to explore Encinitas, our coastal town just north of San Diego, known for its surf culture, yoga community, and holistic health influence. Although you can depart on Friday evening, we encourage you to extend your stay through the weekend, if possible, to give yourself time to reconnect before jumping back into daily pressures. We invite you to explore connecting activities such as:

This allows you to continue deepening your bond outside of therapy while making your two days together memorable and restorative. If you want our help setting up these activities for you, please contact Sierra at our office who can help at 760-640-0270 and info@integrativecouplestherapy.com.

Flying Into San Diego International Airport

The closest airport is San Diego International Airport (SAN), located about 30 minutes south of Encinitas, San Diego International Airport.

Where to Stay

Many couples choose to stay at local hotels or Airbnbs. A few favorites include:

Frequently Asked Questions

How is an intensive different from weekly therapy?
Weekly therapy builds change slowly over time. Intensives are designed for couples who want to dive in and make progress quickly. We condense two months of work into two days, allowing you to see and shift long-standing patterns and create momentum right away.

What if my partner is hesitant?
It is common for one partner to feel uncertain. Cristina will meet you both with care and without judgment. Once couples experience how collaborative and supportive the process is, they often feel relieved and motivated to continue.

What happens after the intensive?
Cristina provides tailored follow-up recommendations. Some couples continue with weekly sessions with Cristina or another couples therapist at Integrative Couples Therapy. Others return for additional intensives, and some couples feel ready to move forward without therapy. If you are coming in from out of town, Cristina can provide recommendations for couples therapists in your town.

Will you tell us who is right or wrong?
No. Cristina’s role is to support your relationship. She will help each of you share your experience, take ownership where needed, and build new ways of relating that feel better for both of you.

Will the intensive be with other couples?
No. This is a private intensive for you and your partner to attend on your own.

What is the cost?
The cost is $3000. This includes 8 hours of therapy and text and email support during the intensive time frame. This also includes one follow up virtual session that will take place within a few weeks of your intensive. In addition, Cristina will engage in pre or post-intensive coordination of care with your other therapists or providers, with signed releases. If you opt for us to plan your two-day experience with additional activities, there is an additional cost.

Next Steps

If you need more than weekly therapy, a couples intensive can help you reset, repair, and move forward. Reach out to schedule a complimentary consultation and explore whether a couples intensive is the right next step for your relationship.