Marathon Couples Therapy Brisbane
Brisbane Relationship Counselling
2-day Intensive
Designed to support meaningful, lasting change
Brisbane Marathon Couples Therapy -2 Day Intensive Couples Retreat
(& ‘Half Marathon’ Brisbane - 1 Day Intensive Couples Retreat)
What is Marathon Couples Therapy?
Marathon Couples Therapy is a condensed and focused approach with of 2 consecutive days of intensive, structured, evidence-based couples therapy with just you - one couple and one relationship counsellor. Each day of Marathon Couples Therapy has six hours of actual therapy, and an hour’s worth of breaks for meals or refreshments. While this is a significant period of time, this is offset by the environment within which we hold these couples retreats. Our preferred location is Mon Komo Hotel, Redcliffe (just north of Brisbane), a venue that is discreet, relaxed, and allows couples the time and safety to engage well with the process.
Why do couples choose Marathon Couples Therapy? - Efficiency benefits
A Marathon process also allows flexibility within the 2 days - we are able to continue a conversation to its end without feeling rushed by the need to finish within 50 mins, or 110 mins, or the demands of returning to work before or after the session. There are also greater efficiencies involved (for instance, with regular weekly therapy, time before and after each session is spent on transport, parking the car, etc., and the first few minutes of each session is spent settling in and catching your counsellor up on any significant happenings between sessions - this is time which adds up and which is saved when engaging in a full day or full two days where we are remaining focused on you, your partner, and the needs of your relationship without these interruptions.
What else do couples value about the Marathon format? - Massed practice effects
Further to these efficiencies, a Marathon Couples Therapy process takes advantage of ‘massed practice’ effects. Massed practice simply means intensive practice of a skill in a short period of time.
Couples often use a Marathon to:
work through attachment injuries in a concentrated block of time
build confidence to face issues
practise new ways of handling conflict
address what’s happening without long gaps between sessions
spend focused time on intimacy
More time to go deeper
Two full days gives time to go deeper than a 50-minute session allows.
What goes into the cost?
One of the factors involved in determining the cost of Marathon Couples Therapy is the dedicated preparation time on the part of your relationship counsellor. In ‘normal’ weekly therapy, your counsellor is able to engage in reflection and planning for your situation in the time between sessions. For Marathon Couples Therapy, much more treatment preparation needs to take place in advance as your relationship counsellor maps out a 2 day intensive tailored to your specific needs. This is the major contributing factor - the unseen additional work that your therapist undertakes. Secondary factors include preparation of materials and travel time to and from the Marathon venue.
Marathon Couples Therapy is not for everyone
If you are interested in Marathon Couples Therapy, please read further below. Couples interested in the process do need to undertake the Assessment Phase first in order to determine if this is the best fit for your needs.
A Marathon is especially beneficial for couples who don’t live near a trained Gottman Couple’s Therapist, those with overwhelming work schedules or those who need immediate help.
“Successful long-term relationships are created through small words, small gestures and small acts.”
- Dr John Gottman
Are you a busy couple looking for focussed, immediate support?
Marathon Couples Therapy is a condensed and focused approach consisting of 2 consecutive days of intensive, structured, evidence-based couples therapy with just you - one couple and one therapist. A Marathon is especially beneficial for couples who don’t live near a trained Gottman Couple’s Therapist, those who have hectic work schedules or couples who require immediate help.
Use our assessment phase to determine your eligibility
Some therapists may ‘jump straight in’ to therapy, but we utilise a brief, comprehensive assessment process to ensure that this is the right intervention for you. Before your Marathon Couples Therapy starts, each person in the couple completes an individual online assessment and has an individual session (by zoom, phone or in person). These assessments allow your therapist to rapidly develop an understanding of your relationship – an understanding that may otherwise take three to five hours of ‘normal’ therapy or conversation. An analysis of these assessments allows your qualified couples therapist to pinpoint specific needs relevant to your relationship, and to design your Marathon accordingly.
Grounded in Gottman Method research
Each activity or ‘intervention’ selected for your Marathon is based within the Gottman Method Couples Therapy framework – and is the result of rigorous testing and research. Your Marathon is planned around the two of you.
Skills you come away with
During your Marathon, you work together with your therapist to learn new skills to:
• Work through conflict together and practise new ways of reconnecting
• Deepen your understanding of one another
• Repair old hurts and resentments
• Unearth the values and life purpose you share
• Strengthen your friendship
• Ways to spice up your intimacy
Benefits
The Marathon Couples Therapy approach has been demonstrated to have significant benefits for couples. It often leads to a significant reduction of feelings of distress, resolution of specific problems, and a stronger relationship. In many cases, it has moved couples from thinking of ending their relationship to recommitting to it in new ways. Occasionally in our experience, it has assisted couples who were not a good fit to decide to amicably part with as little damage as possible.
In every case, couples who have engaged in Marathon Couples Therapy in the past have given positive feedback of the experience. They have frequently shared that they were able to process a range of unresolved issues, ‘leave the baggage behind’ and go home with a renewed sense of commitment, closeness and hope for building a closer, more satisfying and intimate relationship together.
Your Couples Therapists
Currently all our Marathons Couples Therapy intensives are facilitated by Matt James or Nahum Kozak. Both of whom have received Clinical Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy; which has been recognized as the gold standard in relationship counseling.
Matt James
Matt James is a seasoned and empathetic counsellor, specialising in couples therapy. Matt's approach is characterised by warmth and calmness, creating a safe space for clients to explore communication barriers, shared purpose, and emotional challenges. Matt is dedicated to helping couples navigate their relationships towards greater understanding and fulfillment.
Read more about Matt here.
Nahum Kozak
Nahum Kozak regularly provides marathons as a core part of his practice over the past four years. Along with his partner - and the Director of Lighthouse Relationships - Megan Kozak, he been called upon to work with couples from across Australia, as well as those seeking relationship counselling from other countries including New Zealand, Canada and the United States. You can read more about Nahum here if you wish.
Location
Your Marathon Couples Therapy will take place in an Ocean View room at Oaks Mon Komo Hotel Redcliffe (subject to availability). Environment can have a positive impact on therapy, and we selected Mon Komo because it affords privacy, comfort, peaceful surrounds, and discretion. However, we are more than happy to meet at an alternative venue of your choice that is equally conducive to the therapeutic process.
Oaks Mon Komo Hotel Redcliffe is one of our preferred Marathon Couples Therapy locations - peaceful, private, comfortable and discreet.
Inclusions and Fees for Marathon Couples Therapy
· An experienced couples therapist who has extensive training in the Gottman method of couples counselling
· 6 hours of focussed couples counselling per day
· An evidence-based process tailored to your relationship’s needs
· A comprehensive booklet containing the strategies relevant to your relationship to ensure you can continue to implement these strategies once therapy has finished (e.g. strategies to manage conflict, solve ongoing issues, how to communicate your needs, improve connection and continue to build intimacy)
· Cost for the Marathon Couples Therapy process starts at between AUD $5,250 (with a Registered Counsellor) and $5,650 (with our Senior Psychologist). This does not include accommodation. Once you have settled on dates with your therapist, a deposit of $850 is required to confirm those dates. (Deposit is refundable up to 2 weeks prior to date minus costs incurred. Note that the deposit will count towards the total cost; a separate invoice will be sent for the remainder, which is payable in the week prior to your intensive).
· Meals are not included - you can select from a range of cafes along the beachfront
Note: If your marathon date needs to be changed due to a change in availability for yourselves or your therapist (eg due to sickness), please note neither Lighthouse Relationships nor your therapist are responsible for costs incurred for changes to flights/ accommodation, etc. (If this is a concern we can commend taking out travel insurance).
