Are you and your partner at a crossroads and need help NOW?

Is your relationship in crisis?

(Ex. threats of divorce, living separately, having gridlocked conflict, betrayal, unresolved mental health, substance abuse, or going through the motions like roommates)?

If so, Lana Isaacson, LCSW, CAC III offers a couples intensive.

___________________________________________________________________________

A couples intensive is for couples who are in pain and their relationship needs to be fixed now. (versus in 3 or more months from weekly therapy)

The purpose of an intensive is to transform your relationship from one that feels overwhelmed by…

• gridlocked issues (same fight over and over again)
• a recent crisis (an affair, other betrayal, or other significant issue)
• lack of connection (no longer cherish your partner and have become roommates)

~ into a vibrant relationship that is boldly authentic, passionate and meaningful.

I will support you in courageously facing, working through and healing from crises (including betrayals) that devastated your relationship, so you can become each other’s greatest support again. In guiding couples to work through betrayals, I use EFT’s (Emotionally Focused Therapy’s) evidenced-based AIRM (attachment injury resolution model) process that has proven positive results I have witnessed professionally and personally.

I have a special interest in the research on trust, betrayal, and how to rebuild trust again. I am continually reading and training in best practices related to “couple repairs” (forgiveness, letting go of resentments, healing from attachment injuries, etc.). I find helping couples heal from betrayals and rebuild trust to be some of the most rewarding work I could ever do. This led me to create and lead a couple’s workshop called, “Have Each Other’s Backs Again“.

I will also help you increase your awareness of the painful stuck patterns (“negative cycles”) that have overtaken your relationship and guide you in changing your moves so you can create more “positive cycles” of connection.

It is rarely the content (sex, mess, kids, work, money, in-laws, religion/spirituality, addiction, etc.) that is the real issue. I will help you go below the surface to get to the crux of the matter that fuel your conflict and hurt in order to help you heal, express your authentic emotions, and resolve the REAL issue.

During our intensive, I will help you get to the heart of the matter by guiding you to express your deepest needs, longings, fears, hopes and dreams for yourself and your relationship. This fierce level of intimacy will allow you to get needs met that perhaps never were and/or to rekindle the spark between you and your partner so you can remember that you were lovers before you became roommates (and parents if applicable). I will also coach your partner in learning how to attune (read your non-verbal body language & emotions) to you in order for you to feel deeply understood, seen, and heard.

Testimonial:

“Lana, thanks again for a powerful intensive weekend. The intensive helped drill deep into both of our feelings and put some things on the table that we needed to deal with in a much more intense manner. I was finally able to truly understand the level of hurt I had inflicted on my wife with my outside relationships. Conversation 5 (EFT’s forgiving attachment injuries) was the deepest work we’d ever done and we need to continue with it. Even though my wife and I have had a very long relationship, before the intensive, we could barely communicate in part because of the pain I caused. After the intensive, we were able to talk better than we had in months, so that was good. Though our goals were lofty, we made steps toward achieving them. We are very hopeful we can repair our marriage and improve our relationship. I look forward to more couple’s work with you.”

Modalities:

Strength-focused – You have strengths as an individual and as a couple that deserve recognition. When others see the best in you, you feel safe and more open to change. You can also feel more hope as a couple when your strengths are honored and reflected back to you.

Evidenced-based – I draw from the most effective and evidenced-based couples therapy models (including EFT, PACT, RLT, Esther Perel, & Gottman) today. Since every couple is unique, it is my job to decide on the most helpful skills and concepts to match each couple’s needs.

Heart-centered & emotionally-focused – Grounded in attachment theory, I will elicit greater authenticity, empathy and understanding for you and your partner by drawing from your your current feelings and relationship dynamic, childhood, and previous intimate relationships. You will be supported to speak and listen from your heart, so you and your partner’s needs, hopes, fears, and longings will be heard, understood, validated, and empathized, and your relationship dynamic can be changed to a more supportive one.

Active-oriented & practical– You will face each other as I coach you to better express yourself, attune, and care for one another. You will practice in real time different solutions related to your problems and/or goals, ex. effective communication, conflict resolution, rebuilding trust, and intimacy skills. You will rediscover the fun, sense of adventure, and passion you previously had to continue writing fabulous chapters in your love story.

Collaborative/empowering – Since every couple is unique, I will follow your lead with you identifying your relationship goals. My job as a couples therapist is to help you reach your goals by providing “process consulting”, skill coaching, drilling down together to the root of your struggles, and supporting you in taking small steps to reach your desired goals.

Work on…

1. Sample Schedule
2. Add back button for Schedule Now

Sample Schedule (1 or 2 day programs are tailor-made for each couple)~ offered during the week or weekend:

Day 1~

8:30-10:00 Reconnect

• 15 minute greetings, set intentions (light a candle & find a reading? &/or your relationship is your legacy to future generations- Terry Real quote- you’re courageous!!) ) and guidelines (with couples input- emotional safety and learning/challenge zone when possible) for two days
• 75 minute session – Love story, a favorite memory, (9:00) A.R.E., 5 different levels of relationships; How you get stuck/blocked~ Conversation 1- begin tracking cycle- “What was your relationship like before the betrayal?”)

10-10:05 Break

10:05-11:50 Reconnect

• 1 hr 45 minute session (45 minutes relationship education- Johnson & Tronick video, “the cycle”- Conv. 2- underlying emotions and attachment needs/longings/fears, what a secure functioning relationship looks like) + 1 hour session- Couple Bubble exercise (include 3rds) & process

11:50-1:00 Lunch (& clean office)

1:00-2:00 (Tonna’s office) Rebuild/Heal

• Two 30 minute individual sessions (other partner gets a break when not in session); Partner can fill out Intimacy inventory

2:00-2:15 Break

3:15-4:30 (Tonna’s office) Rebuild/Heal

• 1 hr session (It’s not the mistakes… it’s all about the repairs- slow to fast, how to rebuild trust- Gottman’s video, emotional responsiveness exercise, review Gottman’s trust handout, apology handout, & attachment injury info- PPT)
• 15 minute wrap up (eye gaze & partner meditation + one take away & appreciations)

___________________

= 5 hours, 30 minutes

Day 2~

8:30-10:00 Rebuild/Heal

• 15 minute greetings (reviewed 1^st day, eye gazing to “I love you for a thousand years” & set intentions)
• 75 minute session (Each partner reads their “Appreciate, Regret, Hurt, & Request”………… apology letter

10-10:05 Break

10:05-11:50 Rebuild/Heal

• 1 hr 45 minute session – Conversation 5 “Forgiving Injuries”
• (& closer and farther, beckoning, or River of Feelings or video playback if time)

11:50-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:00 Rediscover/Reauthor

• 1 hr couple session – Conversation 4 “Hold Me Tight”
• (trust catch, lover’s pose, river of feelings, or video playback? )

2:00-2:15 Break

3:15-4:30 Reauthor

• 45 minute session (Couple Vision with sandtray & Agreements)
• 30 minute wrap up (with candle again; back to back meditation or Kornfield forgiveness meditation – take aways, areas of growth, reflections, Quote by Esther Perel about marriage, etc.)

___________________

= 5 hours, 30 minutes

You can heal from past hurt, breakthrough gridlock conflict, and revive your love.