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Couples therapy intensives

feel closer to your partner — in just 2-3 days

You love each other, but lately you’ve been feeling more distant. Conversations turn into arguments, you keep falling into the same patterns, or you’ve simply lost the closeness you used to have.

You want to find your way back to each other—and you don’t want to wait months to start feeling a difference.

Couples Therapy Intensives give you focused time to work through what’s keeping you stuck, communicate differently, and begin feeling more connected again.

Intensives are a powerful way to make meaningful change in your relationship now …
not months or years from now.

what are EFT Couples therapy intensives?

EFT Couples Intensives are immersive, in-depth therapy experiences designed to help you and your partner break through barriers, address long-standing issues, and create meaningful change in your relationship.

Instead of spreading therapy over months, you’ll work with a skilled therapist (that’s me!) over one or three days in sessions tailored to your unique needs.

Hi, I’m Abby Nordquist. I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Certified EFT couples therapist with 20 years of experience helping couples rebuild connection, trust, and intimacy.

I love working with couples in a 2-3 day format because I’ve seen the profound impact that focused, intentional time can have a couple’s relationship. These intensives are designed to give you the space and guidance to create meaningful, lasting change.

Learn more about Abby

couples therapy intensives can help you…

  • Get to the heart of what’s really happening between you. We’ll move beyond the surface-level arguments and uncover the deeper feelings, fears, and needs that keep pulling you into the same painful patterns.

  • Understand your relationship in a completely different way. I’ll help you map out the cycle you’ve gotten stuck in—and understand why each of you reacts the way you do—so you can begin to see each other as partners rather than opponents.

  • Have the conversations you haven’t been able to have on your own. Whether there’s hurt that hasn’t healed, things you’ve struggled to say, or conversations that always seem to go badly, I’ll help you slow them down and talk in a way that allows your partner to actually hear and understand you.

  • Break through patterns that have felt impossible to change. Instead of just understanding what goes wrong, we’ll work together in the room to help you respond to each other differently—creating new experiences of being heard, understood, and supported.

  • Feel closer and more connected again. As you begin to understand what’s underneath the distance, conflict, or resentment, I’ll help you reach for each other in new ways and rebuild the sense that you’re on the same team.

  • Make meaningful progress without stopping just when you’re getting somewhere. The extended time gives us room to go deeper, stay with important moments, and work through things that might otherwise take many weeks of hour-long sessions.

Stop spiraling in conflict and
start finding your way back to each other.

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.

What could change if you gave your relationship 2-3 days of your full attention—instead of one hour at a time?

What does a typical full-day intensive look like?

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • When more time is needed to go deeper, two or three-day intensives offer expanded space for insight, healing, and change. The first day follows the same structure as above. The second and third days build 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.

  • 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.

Which intensive option is right for you?

  • One-day intensive

    $2,400 | 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

    $4,800 | 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.

  • Three-Day intensive

    $7,200 | 18 hours over three days

    Three powerful days of deep, focused work. New clients can complete intake sessions during the first half of the first day of the intensive.

    Best for: Couples navigating more long-standing negative patterns and/or who are trying to repair after an affair or other betrayal.

Schedule 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.

frequently asked questions about intensives:

  • 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.

  • An intensive is simply you and your partner meeting with me for 1-3 days for focused, in-depth work on your relationship. We do the work of 4-6 months of therapy in 1-3 days.

  • We start off with a broad view of your relationship: how you got here, what you’re struggling with, and what you both want. We explore the individual histories and experiences you both bring to the relationship. And then we dive deep into the unique cycle that you and your partner get into when you’re hurt, angry, disconnected, or distant. Once we map out your cycle, we can start to do the transformational work of breaking through the patterns that have felt impossible to change.

  • Intensives are 1-3 full days (I typically recommend 2 days for most couples!) from 9am-4pm. We break for lunch and for short breaks throughout the day as needed. Clients have told me that the days fly by!

  • 100% yes. If it feels like you keep having the same argument over and over again—or you start out trying to talk and somehow end up defensive, angry, or completely shut down—you’re not alone.

    In an intensive, we’ll slow those patterns down and figure out what’s actually happening between you. I’ll help you understand what’s underneath each of your reactions and say the things that are harder to say in a way your partner can really hear. And because we have more time together, we can actually practice having these conversations differently—not just talk about how to communicate better.

  • Yes. In fact, working with couples through the transition to parenthood has been a specialty of my practice for a long time.

    Part of the reason I care so much about this stage is personal—I remember how hard the transition to parenthood was on my own relationship. And I also know, from years of working with couples, just how common it is to struggle during this time. You can love your baby, love being a family, and still really miss each other.

    Maybe you feel more like co-parents than partners. Maybe there’s resentment about who is doing what, you’re arguing more, or you barely have the time or energy to connect at all. Sometimes couples tell me they just don’t feel like themselves together anymore.

    An intensive gives us the time to really understand what has changed between you—not just logistically, but emotionally. We can work through some of the hurt, loneliness, or resentment that may have built up and help you start finding your way back to each other, while also figuring out how to be a team in this new version of your life together.

    Intensives are also extra helpful for couples with young kids because scheduling weekly sessions is often complicated and hard to fit in.

  • Becoming parents is a huge transition—and it can bring up things you never expected to struggle with as a couple. Who does what, who gets a break, how you parent, how much time you have for each other, and whether either of you feels appreciated or supported can suddenly become really loaded.

    We’ll make space for both of you to talk honestly about what this transition has been like. I’ll help you understand each other’s experience, get underneath some of the conflict, and figure out how to feel more like you’re on the same team as you navigate this new season together.

  • Definitely. A lot of couples I work with describe themselves this way. You may be doing a pretty good job running your life together—working, parenting, managing schedules, getting dinner on the table—but somewhere along the way, you stopped feeling like you.

    An EFT intensive can help us understand how that distance developed and what’s making it hard to reach for each other now. We’ll work on creating more of the emotional closeness that may be missing, so you can begin to feel like partners again—not just two people managing a household together.

  • Not at all. You don’t have to wait until your relationship is falling apart to work on it.

    Some couples come because things feel really hard. But others come because they’ve been stuck in the same patterns for a while, they’re feeling disconnected, or they can tell they’ve started to drift apart and don’t want that distance to keep growing. An intensive can also be a way to set aside real, uninterrupted time for your relationship before things reach a crisis point.

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