MARRIAGE/PARTNERSHIP INTENSIVES

Feeling like your marriage and/or partnership is getting bogged down? Not where you thought you’d be? Wanting to get back on track? Getting tired of old ground and wanting to jump into new territory?

These or other important concerns regarding your marriage and/or partnership might benefit from some intensive dialogue. Think about whether it would be beneficial for you and your partner to exit the hectic lifestyle for a weekend and start getting back on track to the partnership of your intentions. An intensive weekend allows more time to reflect on problem areas, as well as to create and integrate new thinking, attitudes, ideas and solutions - all in a peaceful environment far away from hecticity.

Enjoy collaborating with a well-trained, experienced, doctor of marriage and family therapy who respects and passionately supports your partnership, your intelligence, and your sense of where you want to go. Mary Ann has a sense of humor and you’ll often find yourself laughing in the course of some very serious dialogue. She is sensitive, warm, caring, insightful, quick and nimble… eager to work with you to create the partnership you intend to have.

Every intensive is planned around your own specific needs and interests, so it’s not really possible to delineate a universal template for what a weekend intensive would look like. It will be co-created with you when you arrive.
However, to satisfy your need to know, here’s what an intensive could look like:

FRIDAY NIGHT - arrive at Lake Windermere & rest up for the night after a good meal.

SATURDAY - the intensive begins after breakfast.

10am - 12noon
Here we start to get to know the problem, how it’s impacting your individual and collective lives, and how you’re impacting the life of the problem. We collaborate to clarify just what it is we are trying to get a handle on, and where we want to go with the relationship. We start to get a good grip on what’s interfering with your happiness.

Noon - 2pm
Break for lunch.

2pm - 4pm
Here we start to discover all the good things about the relationship and what is appreciated about each other. We look at the effects these strengths have on the partnership. We begin to put these strengths and resources to work in resolution of problematic areas.
As well, we identify the cutting edges of growth for each partner & identify what can be done to garner the required supports for those cutting edges to develop. We foster teamwork and emphasize helping each other out.

6pm - 8pm
Here we translate all the previous work into action. We practice different ways handling challenges while using the strengths & gifts of each partner. We reflect on what it would mean to each partner to help change the course of the partnership; and we reflect on the progress of the day, making sure to elucidate newfound trailmarkers toward progress.

SUNDAY - the intensive integrates & carries forward

10am - noon
Sunday morning we take the emotional pulse of the partnership. We refresh the new ground attained and underline new directions intended. We also recognize that mistakes always prove our humanity…so agreements are put in place to assure permission for slip-ups. A road map of how to deal with them is co-created.
A grand assessment of the weekend is made to consolidate gains and project what might be expected in the future, with an eye on how to approach the upcoming challenges in ways that are going to be creative and productive for both partners and the relationship. A maintenance recipe is co-designed so that gains are carried forward.

LODGING AND MEALS
It is intended that package deals will be developed over the next few months. In the meanwhile, visits to websites for Invermere, Radium Hot Springs, Fairmont Hot Springs and Panorama Mountain Village will provide information on meals and lodging.

COSTS
The hourly rate is $200.00 and a full weekend intensive is $1600.00. If the last session on Saturday is deemed not needed by the partnership, the cost would be $1200.00.

When scheduling permits, couples can opt for two or three hour intensives, should you desire a briefer work period.

TO SCHEDULE
Phone during office times (below): 250-342-0743.
Office times to schedule:
Mon - Thurs 9 to noon; and Sat. 9 to noon.
OR email anytime: afti@shaw.ca