In-person in Syracuse — Online across NY State
Couples therapy intensives
Discover deep connection and lasting change in 1-2 days
Are you feeling disconnected, stuck in negative patterns, or struggling to communicate effectively with your partner? Weekly therapy can be incredibly helpful and transformational, but sometimes couples want to feel better faster and don’t want to wait for progress over weeks or months.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Intensives offer a powerful way to jumpstart change and create momentum in your relationship.
Intensives are a powerful way to make meaningful change in your relationship now …
not months or years from now.
Hi, I’m Abby Nordquist. I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and an experienced EFT therapist with nearly two decades of helping couples rebuild connection, trust, and intimacy. I’ve experienced the profound impact that focused, intentional time can have on relationships. These intensives are designed to give you the space and guidance to create meaningful, lasting change.
what are EFT Couples therapy intensives?
EFT Intensives are immersive, in-depth therapy experiences designed to help couples break through barriers, address long-standing issues, and create meaningful change in their relationship. Instead of spreading therapy over months, you’ll work with a skilled therapist (that’s me!) over one or two days in sessions tailored to your unique needs.
what makes EFt so powerful?
Emotionally Focused Therapy is supported by decades of research and is considered to be the gold standard of couples therapy. EFT helps couples:
Understand and change negative patterns.
Create secure emotional bonds.
Improve communication and resolve conflicts effectively.
Build a foundation of trust and intimacy.
By focusing on the emotional connection between partners, EFT helps you move from disconnection and frustration to understanding and closeness. As your therapist, I’ll guide you through this proven process with warmth, empathy, and expertise.
Unlike weekly therapy, which unfolds over time, an intensive allows us to dedicate uninterrupted time to your relationship. We’ll work together to create a deeper understanding and lay the groundwork for lasting change—all in the span of one or two days.
why choose an intensive over weekly therapy?
Weekly therapy can be a slower process, which works well for many couples. But if your challenges feel overwhelming, or you want to address long-standing issues quickly, an intensive is a great option. With up to two full days of focused work, you can:
Address the heart of your struggles without waiting weeks for answers.
Begin to shift patterns that feel impossible to change.
Find hope, clarity, and a renewed sense of connection in a shorter time frame.
We’ll use the EFT framework to move from identifying what’s gone wrong to practicing new ways of connecting that restore trust and intimacy.
Which intensive option is right for you?
-
Mini intensive
$900 | 3 hour session
Available to current weekly clients or couples who have already completed intake sessions.
Best for: Couples who want a focused block of time to dive deeper into a specific challenge or move through something that’s hard to address in shorter weekly sessions.
-
Full-day intensive
$1,800 | 6 hours
Ideal for new or returning clients. Intake sessions can be included within the day or scheduled separately in advance (additional cost).
Best for: Couples ready to explore the full picture of their relationship—how you communicate, connect, and repair—so you can begin making real progress.
-
two-day intensive
$3,600 | 12 hours over two days
Two powerful days of deep, focused work. New clients can complete intake sessions during the intensive or ahead of time (for an additional fee).
Best for: Couples navigating long-standing patterns or distressing disconnection who want a comprehensive reset—time to unpack it all, understand what’s happening, and begin shifting the foundation together.
This is the kind of deep, accelerated work that can help you stop spiraling in conflict and
start finding your way back to each other.
What does a typical full-day intensive look like?
BEFORE:
You’ll start by scheduling a free 30–45 minute consultation. We’ll talk about what’s been feeling stuck in your relationship, what you’re hoping to get out of the intensive, and whether this format is a good fit. If it is, I’ll offer you my first available opening.
DURING:
A full-day intensive typically runs from 9:00am–4:00pm, with a break for lunch and shorter breaks as needed throughout the day.
If you haven’t already completed your intake sessions, we’ll begin with an introductory couples session to set goals and start tracking the cycle that’s keeping you stuck. Then you’ll each have an individual session to explore your unique experiences, attachment histories, and concerns.
In the afternoon, we’ll come back together for couples work—getting underneath your patterns, deepening emotional understanding, and practicing new ways of connecting and repairing in real time.
We’ll end the day with a brief integration session to reflect on progress, clarify next steps, and begin practicing how to carry new insight, experiences, and behaviors into everyday life.
TWO-DAY INTENSIVE:
When more time is needed to go deeper, two-day intensives offer expanded space for insight, healing, and change. The first day follows the same structure as above. The second day builds on that foundation—creating more space for in-depth work, additional practice, and opportunities to slow down, reset, and revisit challenging dynamics with greater clarity.
Pacing is flexible based on your needs, with time built in for breaks, reflection, and integration.
AFTER:
You’ll receive a written summary highlighting the key themes we explored, insights gained, and tools to continue practicing together. If you're working with another therapist, I’m happy to coordinate with them to support your ongoing work.
You’ll also have the option to schedule a follow-up session about a month later to revisit your progress, troubleshoot any challenges, and strengthen what’s already working.
frequently asked questions
-
I get it – “intensive” sounds a little intimidating. But most couples walk out feeling more grounded, connected, and hopeful than when they came in. Yes, it’s focused work, and you’ll likely feel tired by the end of the day – but in that good, “we actually got somewhere” kind of way.
What makes it an intensive is the amount of time we spend together, not the emotional pressure. We’re not trying to force anything or push you past your limits. In fact, the extended time allows us to slow down, take breaks when needed, and really stay with the work without feeling rushed.
Think of it as a deep, focused reset for your relationship – not something to brace yourself for, but something to breathe into.
-
Couples intensives can be a great fit if you’re feeling stuck and want to create real momentum in your relationship. They’re especially helpful for couples who:
Feel like they’re having the same arguments on repeat and want to break out of old patterns
Are going through a big transition, like becoming parents or relocating
Are working to rebuild trust after a rupture or betrayal
Are preparing for marriage or a long-term commitment and want to start from a strong emotional foundation
Are craving deeper connection, closeness, and intimacy
If you’re ready to focus on your relationship in a meaningful, uninterrupted way, an intensive might be just what you need.
-
Yes, absolutely.
I’m a big believer in making sure the support you’re getting really matches your goals. Sometimes that means combining the deep, focused work of an intensive with the ongoing support of weekly therapy.If you’re already working with another therapist, I’m happy to collaborate with them so we’re all on the same page. I’ll tailor the intensive to complement what you’re already working on, and after we wrap up, I’ll send a detailed summary of our work and coordinate with your therapist so the transition back is smooth and connected.
-
You don’t need to live in Syracuse to do an intensive with me – but you do need to be physically located in New York State at the time of our sessions due to licensing laws.
Many couples choose to travel here and turn their intensive into a relationship retreat. I’m happy to recommend local places to stay and things to do if you’re coming in from out of town.
I do offer half-day intensives online for couples who are located in New York, but full-day and two-day intensives are in person so we can really settle in and do the deeper work together.
-
Therapy intensives are an investment, and they’re often a great fit for couples who value their time and are ready to prioritize their relationship.
It’s not always easy to compare intensives to weekly therapy hour by hour—these are two very different approaches. Weekly sessions offer steady support over time, while intensives create space for focused, sustained work that can lead to meaningful shifts more quickly.
If you’re feeling stuck and want to make real progress without waiting months to see change, an intensive might be the right next step.
-
A 50% non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking your therapy intensive. The remaining 50% is due on the day of the first intensive session.
-
Before making a commitment or paying a deposit, we’ll schedule a complimentary pre-screening consultation over Zoom with both partners. This gives us a chance to connect, discuss your goals, answer your questions, and ensure that an intensive is the right fit for you.
If we decide to move forward, I’ll send out a contract for you to digitally sign, along with in-depth intake paperwork that you’ll each complete in a secure client portal. Completing the paperwork a week before our initial session allows me to get a clear picture of your relationship’s strengths and struggles, so we can hit the ground running.
-
Let’s schedule a time to talk it through! I’m happy to answer any questions you have and get a sense of what’s going on in your relationship to help you decide if an intensive feels like the right fit.
Click here to schedule a free consultation.
Ready to transform your relationship?
Take the first step toward a healthier, more connected relationship by giving your relationship the focused attention it deserves. Fill out the form below to schedule your complimentary pre-screening consultation.