Dr. McNulty specializes in providing weekend "intensives" (also called marathons or retreats) for individual couples 

What is Intensive Couples Therapy? 

• Intensive couples therapy 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

• A concentrated focus on the goals that are most important to both partners 

What Are the 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: 

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

Couples Navigating Divisive Issues 

•  Partners facing critical issues that create divisions in their relationship 

Neurodiverse Couples

• Couples who may benefit from tailored strategies to address unique challenges 

Dr. McNulty's Training, Experience, and Areas of Specialty 

Expertise in Intensive Couples Therapy 

• Dr. McNulty is one of a select few clinicians personally trained by Drs. John and Julie Gottman in the art of conducting intensive couples therapy. He was chosen to participate in a Gottman outcome study focused on this approach.  This training is not yet available to the wider therapeutic community. 

• Since 2018, Dr. McNulty has successfully completed weekend intensives sessions with more than 120 couples.

• Reviews are available upon request. 

Additional Credentials 

• Certified in Gottman Relationship Therapy (since 2005) 
• Advanced Clinical Trainer and Senior Faculty for The Gottman Institute (since 2007)
  • Has regularly led the highly acclaimed Gottman's "The Art & Science of Love: A Weekend Workshop for Couples" in Chicago and Oakland and other cities since 2007 
• Trained in and practices psychoanalytically informed psychotherapy, drawing on contemporary theories that emphasize empathy, connection, and secure attachment 
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) trained 
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trained 
• Trained in Collaborative Couples Therapy 
• Experienced in working with neurodiverse couples
• Trained in Discernment Counseling 
• Published articles and book chapters on topics such as neurodiversity, affair recovery, and the impact of uncertainty during COVID-19, including a popular blog post on Gottman.com
• Regularly presents on neurodiversity and The Gottman Method of Relationship Theory at The Gottman Institute and for other groups. 
• Instructed courses and workshops on Couples Therapy, International Intervention, Trauma and Attachment Theory, Psychopathology, and The Gottman Method at various institutions, including:
  • The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
  • Institute for Clinical Social Work
  • The Crown Family School of Social Work at the University of Chicago
  • Concordia University - Irvine
  • Huntington University 

• Multicultural Experience 

  • Dr. McNulty intervened in the aftermath of the Boxing Day Tsunami (2004) in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, and returned 21 times to teach lay counselors about trauma counseling

  • He works with couples from a variety of backgrounds and is sensitive and respectful of cultural beliefs, spirituality, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and gender identity. 

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 an intensive is $6,500, which reserves that weekend exclusively for you and your partner. 

   

Is There Any Preparation Required Before the Intensive? 

• Once your intensive is booked, you will receive links to complete comprehensive questionnaires about your relationship. You will also be asked to provide information about your personal history and perspective on the relationship. This in-depth information will be reviewed prior to the intensive, allowing Dr. McNulty to understand you and your partner's dynamics thoroughly before the session begins. 
• For more information on intensives and how they can benefit your relationship, please contact Dr. McNulty at mikemcnultyphd@gmail.com or call 847-328-0106.