Weekend Intensive Couples Therapy with Mike McNulty, PhD, LCSW, LICSW
- Dr. McNulty provides in-person, weekend intensive couples therapy, also known as couples retreats or marathons, in the Chicago area (Evanston) and Washington State (Point Roberts, Bellingham, and Seattle).
- He also provides virtual intensives to couples in Alaska.
What is Intensive Couples Therapy?
Intensive couples therapy, also known as "intensive marriage therapy," "marathon couples therapy," or "marriage retreats," is a focused therapeutic intervention that spans a three-day period. This approach includes:
- A rapid and comprehensive assessment of the relationship
- Several hours of evidence-based treatment
- Typically Fridays from 6 PM to 8 PM and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 PM to 4:30 PM
- A concentrated focus on the goals that are most important to both partners
- Briefer 1/2, 1, or 2 day intensives are available, usually as a follow-up to a weekend intensive.
Advantages of Intensive Couples Therapy Compared to Weekly Sessions
Intensive couples therapy offers the equivalent of 3 to 6 months of traditional therapy in just one weekend. The uninterrupted focus on assessment and treatment allows partners to achieve breakthroughs and make expedited progress on their most pressing concerns.
Who Can Benefit from Intensive Couples Therapy Retreats?
Intensive couples therapy is suitable for all couples who are appropriate for therapy. Here are some examples of couples who find this approach particularly beneficial:
Communication Difficulties/Divisive or "Gridlocked Issues"
- Partners facing ongoing issues that create divisions in their relationship
Emotional Intimacy
- Partners feeling distant from one another
Physical Intimacy
- Relationships lacking physical intimacy
Marriage Renewal
- Couples seeking a highly personalized retreat to rejuvenate their marriage.
Engaged Couples
- Proactive assessment of their relationship and potential challenges they may face in their life together
- Orientation on how successful long-term relationships work, including relationship care and skills to manage identified challenges
- Insights into relationship dynamics that are often overlooked
Busy Professionals
- Couples whose hectic schedules may hinder traditional weekly therapy
- Intensive therapy provides a structured and efficient alternative to achieve their goals more quickly
Partners Facing Relationship Crises
- Couples dealing with extramarital or emotional affairs, financial betrayals, active addictions, or other forms of trauma
- Rapid assessment and an intensive forum for relationship recovery
Couples Experiencing Grief and Loss
- Partners coping with significant losses, such as the death of a parent or child
- Couples managing the challenges of raising children with disabilities or chronic illnesses
- Partners dealing with ambiguous losses or uncertain losses
Neurodiverse Couples
- Couples with at least one partner who has attention deficit disorder or dyslexia, or is on the autism spectrum who benefit from tailored strategies to address unique challenges
Expertise in Intensive Couples Therapy
Dr. McNulty is among a limited number of clinicians personally trained by Drs. John and Julie Gottman in intensive couples therapy. He was chosen to participate in a Gottman outcome study centering on this approach. Since 2018, Dr. McNulty has successfully completed weekend intensive sessions with over 120 couples.
Additional Credentials
For Dr. McNulty's full bio, including all areas of specialty, please click here.
Reviews
These reviews are from participants in a couples workshop led by Dr. McNulty in October, 2024. They describe his style and level of expertise:
"Prior to coming to this workshop, I was ready to leave my marriage. I felt we had the same fights over and over. Although I felt chose a great person that I married, I was feeling hopeless that things would change. I also had reached a point where I didn’t care. A friend recommended this workshop, and it has really helped us with tools & exercises to strengthen our friendship, and relationship as well as how to address our issues and rebuild respect and trust. We are so grateful to Dr. McNulty & The Gottman Institute for your years of experience and dedication to helping couples work through difficulties. Thank you!"
"This was a great workshop and my first of its kind. I will be back for a second round. It helped activate and build on areas where we are already strong in our relationship, and it brought light to areas that needed work and gave us practical and structured tools to manage conflict. We will take these theories, tools, principles, and apply them at home and even in some other relationships. Mike is so perfect for sharing and holding this workshop. We both felt very safe with him and agreed he had great input. It showed us the work it takes to win in marriage and what it can be."
- For additional workshop testimonials, click here and scroll down to testimonials.
- Reviews from intensives are available upon request.
How to Book an Intensive with Dr. McNulty
To book an intensive session with Dr. McNulty, please click the link below to get in touch. He will schedule a complimentary 20-minute meet-and-greet session with you, during which he will explain how intensives work and describe his approach in that context. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the process.
If you decide to proceed with an intensive, you can then book and pay for the session. The cost for a weekend intensive is $6,500, which reserves that weekend exclusively for you and your partner. The costs of briefer follow-up intensives vary.
Contact Dr. McNulty at mikemcnultyphd@gmail.com or call 847-328-0106.
