New Hope, Pennsylvania Couples Retreat
Intensive Couples Therapy in Bucks County
Whether you’re looking to navigate a relationship crisis or looking to spend a proactive weekend focusing on your relationship, our weekend intensives can help.
Join us in beautiful New Hope, Pennsylvania for what is often known as “Marathon Couples Therapy”.
What is “Marathon Couples Therapy”
Marathon couples therapy, also known as intensive couples therapy, is a 2-3 day process in which couples therapist spends 5-6 hours a day with you. Marathon sessions are found to be highly effective as they allow couples to avoid the “start and stop” experience of weekly couples therapy and truly dig in (and out) of issues they are experiencing together.
During the Marathon session, the couple will spend a time having the relationship throughly assessed and significant time with a therapist to identify patterns and work to undo them. The goal of Marathon Couples Therapy is to help you develop insight and deeper understanding and build skills that you can utilize at home to improve your relationship.
At A Better Life Therapy, LLC we utilize Gottman Method Couples Therapy during our intensive sessions. Gottman Method requires advanced training in couples therapy and is a highly researched format of couples therapy. Many couples comment that they prefer the Gottman Method due to the research backing and it’s structured style.
[Read more about Gottman Method]
Who is Marathon Couples Therapy for?
We have worked with many types of couples over the past decade for Marathon Couples Therapy. Each of their relationships have been unique and thei goals diverse. Some of the most common reasons people attend Marathon Couples Therapy include:
A very busy schedule that doesn’t allow for weekly appointments
Decision making around staying together vs. separating
Navigating a major argument/rupture
Healing after infidelity
Navigating a diagnosis together like a cancer diagnosis, mental health diagnosis, etc.
Preparing for a life transition, for example getting ready for a baby or a big move.
Finding a path forward in a highly contentious disagreement.
Being proactive about dealing with a foreseen issue
Parenting conflict
Navigating grief or loss together
The postpartum period
Pregnancy loss
What does a typical Marathon Therapy weekend look like?
Marathon sessions are scheduled for either 2 days or 3 days, depending on your preference. Below is an example schedule for the weekend, however each Marathon weekend is tailored for the couple and might look different depending on needs and timing.
Sample 2 day Couples Therapy Weekend in New Hope, PA
A week before meeting
Each partner will receive The Gottman Relationhip Check-up Assessment. This assessment is incredibly thorough and will allow the therapist to better understand your experiences in the relationship, your perspectives, and your individual needs.
Saturday
9 AM: Welcome + Getting to know each other
9:10-10:30 - Exploring your relationship (current and past)
10:30-11:30 - One partner takes a break and can relax in our waiting room or explore beautiful New Hope by walking to get a coffee or snack. The other partner stays for 1:1 time with the therapist.
11:30-12:30 - The couple switches, allowing the other partner to have 1:1 time with the therapist.
12:30-1:30 - Break for lunch. The couple can go explore New Hope and have lunch together at one of the many restaurants while the therapist compiles a full assessment of the couple and recommendations.
1:30-2:30 - The therapist will provide detailed feedback about the strengths and challenges in the relationship and will share a roadmap for moving forward. Each couple will be able to hear how their assessment relates to The Gottman Sound Relationship House.
2:30-3:00- The couple either participates in an activity together or wrap up begins and “homework” is given.
Sunday
9 AM - Noon - Interventions begin. These interventions might include conversations that create better understanding or healing, neogtiation, or decision making.
Noon - 1 PM - Lunch in New Hope, PA
1PM - 3 PM - Interventions continue.
3 PM - Wrap up and homework provided for continued growth at home.
Who are the Marathon Couples Therapists?
Each therapist who provides marathon couples therapy at our practice is trained in couples therapy/marriage counseling specifically as well as The Gottman Method. Each therapist also has their own specific specialties beyond couples’ therapy. For example, we have Marathon Therapists who are specialized in trauma, postpartum depression, affairs, substance use, high achieving couples, and medical family therapy.
Marathon Couples Therapists Based in New Hope, PA
Eman Almusawi, LMFT
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EMAN ALMUSAWI is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Fellow, and Master of Marriage and Family Therapy. Eman specializes in trauma, parenting, and affairs. She speaks English and Arabic. Eman is a Clinical Director at A Better Life Therapy, LLC
Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT, CGT
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ELIZABETH EARNSHAW is a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Gottman Therapist, and Clinical Fellow at The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. She has also been trained in Relational Life Therapy (RLT). Elizabeth founded A Better Life Therapy, LLC in 2013. She trains intern couples therapists and teaches about couples’ therapy. She also wrote the book I Want This To Work. Her specialties include high achieving couples and stress, grief and trauma, perinatal mental health (pregnancy loss, postpartum depression, etc.), and affairs.
Marathon Couples Therapists Based at Our Other Offices
Each therapist is available for travel to New Hope, Pennsylvania if you would prefer to meet with them in New Hope. we are happy to coordinate this with you. You are also welcome to meet with them at their primary office as well.
ardmore, pennsylvania
Ariel Stern, LPC, CGT
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ARIEL STERN, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Gottman Method Couples Therapist, and the Clinical Director of the Ardmore office. Ariel trains interns and therapists to conduct couples’ therapy. Ariel has extensive experience working with couples who are struggling with substance use, parenting, and the postpartum period.
Lily Skoke, LPC
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LILY SKOKE, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a certification in Mindfulness Based Stress-Reduction and Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Level 1-2). Lily works with couples experiencing difficulties with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relationship issues, stress management, trauma, or career and life transitions. She engages with her clients from a strengths-based perspective and takes a warm, direct, and individualized approach with each person.
Center City,philadelphia
Folashade Adekunle, LPC
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FOLASHADE ADEKUNLE, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Master of Clinical Psychology. Folashade (Shade) specializes in supporting people in relationships - whether this be more traditional couples, couples practicing consensual non-monogamy, friends, or co-workers. She is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Level 1-2). She provides Marathon sessions for any of these groups. She specializes in trauma, grief and loss, betrayal and affairs, and coparenting.
Emma Carpenter, LMFT, NCC
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EMMA CARPENTER, LMFT, NCC is a Licensed Couples and Family Therapist and Nationally Certified Counselor. Emma is trained in Level 1-3 Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Trauma and Attachment. She specializes in infidelity, attachment issues, and millennial couples.
Deepal Pandya, MA
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DEEPAL PANDYA, MA is a Pre-Licensed Professional Counselor. Deepal is trained in Level 1-2 in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy. She works with couples who are struggling with issues such as trauma, addictive behaviors, anxiety, and depression.
Galloway, NJ (Jersey Shore)
Deirdre Cosgrove, LMFT
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DEIRDRE COSGROVE, LMFT is a Licensed Couples and Family Therapist with a concentration in Sex Therapy. Deirdre is a Clinical Fellow at The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Certified in Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy, Certified in EMDR (trauma therapy), and trained in Internal Systems Therapy for Trauma and Level 1-2 in Gottman Method Couples Counseling. She works with couples who are struggling with issues such as trauma, infidelity, and perinatal mental health issues (postpartum anxiety, depression, pregnancy loss, and pregnancy).
how to schedule a marathon couples therapy weekend
If you would like more information about marathon couples therapy works, cost, or weekend availability, please contact the office at info@abetterlifetherapy.com or 267-838-0066. We would love to have the opportunity to support you.
A Better life therapy, LLC
A Better Life Therapy, LLC was founded in 2013 in Center City, Philadelphia with the goal to provide top tier mental health services to people in the Philadelphia area. Our passion is creating a comfortable, warm, and caring space for you to come and navigate life’s challenges. We offer individual and couples therapy as well as career counseling, immigration evaluations, and weekend intensives. We also train therapists through our internship program.
A Better Life Therapy provides services in person and online.
In person, we provide services in Center City, Philadelphia, Fishtown, Philadelphia, Easton, PA, New Hope, PA, and Ardmore, PA. We also provide in person services in Galloway, New Jersey near The Jersey Shore.
Online services are provided across the states of:
Colorado
Delaware
Florida
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Utah