Couples Workshop
Hold Me Tight® Couples Workshop
Strengthen emotional connection and intimacy in two days.
The Hold Me Tight® Couples Workshop is a two day, in person experience based on the Hold Me Tight® curriculum developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, the developer of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. This workshop is designed to help couples strengthen emotional connection, improve communication, and deepen intimacy by understanding and reshaping the emotional bond between partners.
This workshop is designed for all couples who value their relationship and want to care for it intentionally. Some couples are preparing for marriage and want to ensure a strong foundation. Others have been married for decades and want to deepen what they already share. Others feel distance or conflict in their relationship and want support in restoring closeness.
Workshop Details
Dates: February 28 and March 1, 2026
Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm both days
Location: 191 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas, California
Investment: $595 per couple
Each day runs from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. There is a lunch break from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, and couples are encouraged to enjoy one of the many nearby restaurants in Encinitas during that time.
An Experiential and Research Based Path to Connection
The Hold Me Tight® Couples Workshop follows the Dr. Sue Johnson’s Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love, the core structure of the curriculum. The weekend combines guided private conversations between partners with experiential exercises that support emotional accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement.
Couples work privately with their partner throughout the workshop and do not share personal details with the group, unless they want to. The focus remains on understanding your bond and strengthening your connection in a contained way.
The Seven Conversations of Hold Me Tight®
Conversation One: Recognizing the Demon Dialogues
Couples learn to recognize the negative cycle they get pulled into, and begin to see the pattern as the problem, rather than each other, and work together to do things differently.
Conversation Two: Finding the Raw Spots
Couples explore triggers and sensitivities that get activated during conflict, so their reactions make more sense, and they have more mutual compassion and understanding.
Conversation Three: Revisiting a Rocky Moment
Couples revisit a situation from their past, and talk through in, with developing skills in place, and learn to respond with more grace, empathy, and care.
Conversation Four: Hold Me Tight
Couples engage in a deep conversation, in which they clearly express needs, wants, and fears, giving them the experience of reaching and responding with presence and connection.
Conversation Five: Forgiving Injuries
Couples work through a previous challenge point in the relationship by acknowledging the impact, offering reassurance, and commitng to rebuilding trust over time.
Conversation Six: Bonding Through Sex and Touch
Couples deepen their understanding of how emotional connection and physical intimacy are linked so eroticism feels mutual, excited and safe.
Conversation Seven: Keeping Your Love Alive
Couples discover how to strengthen ongoing patterns of responsiveness and repair so connection stays steady and their love remains alive.
Your Facilitator
The workshop is led by Cristina Trette, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and founder of Integrative Couples Therapy. Cristina has advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy and extensive experience in couples therapy and facilitating workshops.
Cristina works with all couples. Her facilitation style is warm, playful, direct, and grounded. She creates a space where couples can engage deeply without pressure or judgment.
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, including those living in San Diego, choose to stay at local hotels or Airbnbs to give themselves the entire weekend to focus on their relationship. A few favorites include:
Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas – a luxury oceanfront resort just minutes from our office
Inn at Moonlight Beach – a boutique eco-conscious inn in the heart of Encinitas
Surfhouse Boutique Hotel – modern beach lodging steps from the sand
Airbnb – a wide range of cozy, private options close to beaches, cafes, and our office. We recommend finding a location in Encinitas but there are many near by towns that you will enjoy
Reserve your place
Advance registration is required to support a connected group experience. If you have questions about whether the Hold Me Tight® Couples Workshop is right for you, our team is happy to help. You can contact us and schedule a consultation with Cristina Trette to learn more.
Register Now
If you are ready to register now, click here. If you want to set up a complimentary consultation with Cristina Trette, please create a profile in our client portal and book a time to meet here. Or, contact us and our Care Coordinator can answer your questions and help you get started.