Couples Intensive 1 Day Retreat (Saturdays: New Gottman Format)
★★★★★ Text Testimonial: Couples Intensive One Day Retreat (Saturdays) June 2024:
Hi Ghita, Thank you so much for yesterday. We got ALOT out of it, and are really excited to see what the future holds for us now with these tools. You were amazing, and we can't thank you enough for your time. Cass and Mitch (Elanora)
FAST-TRACKED Couples Therapy
This retreat is the '3 Step Gottman Package' packed into one day. A day many couples find is convenient is a Saturday or a public holiday. Importantly, many couples discover that they’re able to make more progress with an intensive Saturday couples retreat. In fact, being away from their normal context, in an undisturbed environment, couples have the time to resolve deep, difficult relationship patterns. Moreover, couples researcher John Gottman, advises couples to get away 3-4 times a year, by themselves: Aka, no kids and no friends or family.
As couples relax, and with expert coaching, it is easier to learn new ways of relating to each other. And Ghita will help you to create a clearly stated relationship maintenance plan of action to take away.
Why Choose a Package?
There is a Deeper Dive into the key relationship issues the couple experiences. The costs for intensive sessions are equivalent to the benefits of the weekly sessions, but they save you time and allow you to heal your relationship sooner. Acting sooner and promptly rather than leaving relationship issues to continue for a long time will save the high emotional and potentially high financial costs of a broken relationship, heartful marriage, fractured family or separation and divorce.
Furthermore, it’s an investment in your relationship, marriage and family. It’s a mutual gift to each other and your children. What else is more important in life?
Why do a Couples Retreat in One Day?
“Marathon sessions get so much momentum. Couples are so focussed on their relationship that they really move through interventions and process attachment injuries much quicker” – Julie Gottman
The average time couples spend in couples counselling is 3-8 hours. However, it is known that more is achieved in an a full day retreat, than in one hour sessions.
Ideal For Busy Couples
Are you struggling with communication? Do you feel lonely, sad or frustrated in your relationship? A popular way of working through issues, a full day retreat on a weekend is a good opportunity for busy professionals and parents to attend a retreat to enhance their skills and to learn more about what motivates their partners.
Location:
Set with beautiful views of Currumbin estuary, our Currumbin Rooms offer a comfortable lounge setting with relaxing herbal teas or coffee. Parking is available on the street, and there is easy access to the local cafes: The Boatshed, The Tarte Beach House, Throwers Fish and Chips, Apperitivo and The Pines - during the breaks. *This retreat does not include accommodation or meals.
93% Positive Feedback on Couples Counselling
Regardless of how long you have been married, or the nature of your marital problems, a Couples Retreat can offer huge benefits to a couple - provided that both parties are committed to repairing their relationship. Importantly, with gentle coaching and a new skills toolbox for your relationship, you can turn things around, stop fighting, learn to listen and feel deeply connected once more. You Can Be Lovers Again! …Be Best Friends Again …Be Happy Again! And we have many happy stories of couples who have done just that on the testimonials page. Testimonials
Relationship Transformation
Couples Counselling is a process based on decades of research, that has been proven, time and again, to have been a lifesaver for many relationships. But it requires time and focus: Intensive workshops, such as this one, can often turn a relationship around and do so much more than sporadic, couples therapy.
What Kind of Problems Can be Solved in a Marriage Retreat?
What Cannot be Solved in a Couples' Retreat?
Marriage Therapy Methods Included:
The methods included in this retreat to create your personalised 'Marriage Toolkit' are selected from the best of the best methods from around the world. Each retreat is tailored to your particular needs as a couple...
This retreat is the '3 Step Gottman Package' packed into one day. A day many couples find is convenient is a Saturday or a public holiday. Importantly, many couples discover that they’re able to make more progress with an intensive Saturday couples retreat. In fact, being away from their normal context, in an undisturbed environment, couples have the time to resolve deep, difficult relationship patterns. Moreover, couples researcher John Gottman, advises couples to get away 3-4 times a year, by themselves: Aka, no kids and no friends or family.
As couples relax, and with expert coaching, it is easier to learn new ways of relating to each other. And Ghita will help you to create a clearly stated relationship maintenance plan of action to take away.
Why Choose a Package?
There is a Deeper Dive into the key relationship issues the couple experiences. The costs for intensive sessions are equivalent to the benefits of the weekly sessions, but they save you time and allow you to heal your relationship sooner. Acting sooner and promptly rather than leaving relationship issues to continue for a long time will save the high emotional and potentially high financial costs of a broken relationship, heartful marriage, fractured family or separation and divorce.
Furthermore, it’s an investment in your relationship, marriage and family. It’s a mutual gift to each other and your children. What else is more important in life?
Why do a Couples Retreat in One Day?
“Marathon sessions get so much momentum. Couples are so focussed on their relationship that they really move through interventions and process attachment injuries much quicker” – Julie Gottman
The average time couples spend in couples counselling is 3-8 hours. However, it is known that more is achieved in an a full day retreat, than in one hour sessions.
- Fantastic progress in a short time: Learn skills fast and well
- Easier to fit into your busy lifestyle
Ideal For Busy Couples
Are you struggling with communication? Do you feel lonely, sad or frustrated in your relationship? A popular way of working through issues, a full day retreat on a weekend is a good opportunity for busy professionals and parents to attend a retreat to enhance their skills and to learn more about what motivates their partners.
Location:
Set with beautiful views of Currumbin estuary, our Currumbin Rooms offer a comfortable lounge setting with relaxing herbal teas or coffee. Parking is available on the street, and there is easy access to the local cafes: The Boatshed, The Tarte Beach House, Throwers Fish and Chips, Apperitivo and The Pines - during the breaks. *This retreat does not include accommodation or meals.
93% Positive Feedback on Couples Counselling
Regardless of how long you have been married, or the nature of your marital problems, a Couples Retreat can offer huge benefits to a couple - provided that both parties are committed to repairing their relationship. Importantly, with gentle coaching and a new skills toolbox for your relationship, you can turn things around, stop fighting, learn to listen and feel deeply connected once more. You Can Be Lovers Again! …Be Best Friends Again …Be Happy Again! And we have many happy stories of couples who have done just that on the testimonials page. Testimonials
Relationship Transformation
Couples Counselling is a process based on decades of research, that has been proven, time and again, to have been a lifesaver for many relationships. But it requires time and focus: Intensive workshops, such as this one, can often turn a relationship around and do so much more than sporadic, couples therapy.
What Kind of Problems Can be Solved in a Marriage Retreat?
- One party or both are contemplating a Separation/ Divorce: Long term distress, resentment and lack of attachment. Unpacking the issues.
- Post-Affair Repair: Delving into impact of the affair. Steps to rebuild trust, to forgive and to move forwards.
- Problems with Communication and Understanding Each Other: A framework for true honesty, vulnerability. Reestablishing a framework of communication
- Problems with Emotional and Physical Intimacy: Emotional distancing, attraction suffers, a cycle of disconnection. Tools for intimacy and trust.
- Living Like Flatmates/ Empty Nest Syndrome: Taking each other for granted, neglecting each other's emotional needs for periods. Reestablishing the link.
- Mid-Life Crisis of one partner: Certain milestones in career, retirement, life changes etc. can make a person question everything. Coping skills.
- Pre-Marriage Contracts - Negotiating the deals and addressing issues before the problems even begin.
What Cannot be Solved in a Couples' Retreat?
- Abuse: The core of this work is about establishing a foundation of trust. Every kind of family violence destroys trust and makes it impossible to safely open up to one another.
- Anti-Relationship Behaviours: Active compulsive behaviours involving substances, gambling, or acting single interfere with relationships - especially trust, safety and finances.
- An Active Affair: A huge part of the retreat is the commitment to each other and the relationship. This is not possible with affairs or open relationships.
Marriage Therapy Methods Included:
The methods included in this retreat to create your personalised 'Marriage Toolkit' are selected from the best of the best methods from around the world. Each retreat is tailored to your particular needs as a couple...
- Gottman Marriage Therapy (John and Julie Gottman, USA) - The Sound Relationship House/ 4 Horseman of the Apocalypse, Turning towards not away, Fair fighting rules: Gottman Method
- Carl Rogers - Active / Reflective Listening (USA) - How to Complain Constructively, How to be Heard/ Listen Actively
- Family Dispute Resolution (Australia, UK & NZ) De-escalating Conflict and Stating Your Needs, Objective Rather Than Subjective (Removing Emotions)
- Experiential Family Therapy (Virginia Satir): The dynamics of families.
- Esther Perel Methods (Belgium) - Infidelity (Why it Happens), The Gender Currencies, Motivations of Men and Women
- 5 Love Languages (Gary Chapman, USA) You and Your Partner's Love Languages: The 5: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, or Physical Touch.
- Ghita Andersen: Heart versus Ego Method (Australia) - Negotiating Marital Agreements and Pre-Marital Contracts, The Relationship Triangle Concept, Codewords for Couples, Eye Gazing Exercise, Acting from Heart Not Ego: Benefit of Doubt, Arguing with Your Monkey Chatter. Heart Versus Ego Pre-Marriage Preparation Course
- Neuro-Linguistic Programming NLP (Richard Bandler, John Grinder, USA) - The Language Influence: How to Talk to Your Spouse, How to Reframe.
- And more...
★★★★★ Feedback Testimonial Marriage Counselling Intensive 2022:
We had been to Couples Counselling before with another counsellor. We felt we were being sold a package last time rather than doing the work, so we did not achieve much. I was convinced that we were separating and it was too late. This session was very different. Ghita nailed our problem and made us negotiate.
After many years of arguing over the same thing, she showed us how to do deals. We should have done a pre-marital agreement long ago. I can see that now. I was of the mindset to leave, but one hour turned it around for us. We negotiated our personal time and even had a contingency plan for when things went wrong. Our homework was to fill in a full agreement covering all the other points we did not cover in session and to stick this on the back of a cupboard door. We both agree this session was nothing like what we expected. Thank you Ghita. - J & A Tovey. (Hope Island)
Package: Couples' Intensive One Day Retreat (Saturdays)
IMPORTANT: Because Ghita usually only conducts one retreat a month, it is important to talk with Ghita about dates and your situation via phone in case there is a better option for you.
Also, note that accommodation and meals are not included in this package: If you are not local, we recommend that you stay nearby in Currumbin, Palm Beach, Tugun, Bilinga, Burleigh or Elanora. (Motels/ Hotels listed at the bottom of this page.)
If you are coming from further away:
Try to settle into your accommodation the day before so you are not rushed. Make sure you have completed your forms online in time so that we can print them out and read them. Meet your therapist at our Currumbin rooms at 9 am.
Intensive Schedule: (Often a Saturday, although it can be on other days: Ask Ghita if you would like a different day.)
Line-up: Four therapy sessions over five hours with a break in-between.
Includes Active Listening and Family Therapy Worksheets
Diagnostic:
Package: $1099 - Save $201.
Includes Gottman Worksheet Folder to Take Home
*Intake Forms must be completed as soon as possible
Terms and Conditions of Package Four:
Please read our terms and conditions before purchasing. By booking this special, you agree to our terms.
IMPORTANT: Because Ghita usually only conducts one retreat a month, it is important to talk with Ghita about dates and your situation via phone in case there is a better option for you.
Also, note that accommodation and meals are not included in this package: If you are not local, we recommend that you stay nearby in Currumbin, Palm Beach, Tugun, Bilinga, Burleigh or Elanora. (Motels/ Hotels listed at the bottom of this page.)
If you are coming from further away:
Try to settle into your accommodation the day before so you are not rushed. Make sure you have completed your forms online in time so that we can print them out and read them. Meet your therapist at our Currumbin rooms at 9 am.
Intensive Schedule: (Often a Saturday, although it can be on other days: Ask Ghita if you would like a different day.)
Line-up: Four therapy sessions over five hours with a break in-between.
Includes Active Listening and Family Therapy Worksheets
Diagnostic:
- 9 am - 10 am: Individual Session One (One party has a creek/ beach walk, coffee or tea at a cafe)
- 10 am - 11am: Individual Session Two (One party has a creek/ beach walk, coffee or tea at a cafe)
- 11 am - 12pm: Couples Session: Unpacking the issues. Looking at the conflict dynamic from both sides. (From vulnerability comes intimacy)
- 12pm - 12.30pm: Break
- 12.30pm - 2.30pm: Two Hour Intensive: Active Listening, The Family Therapy Model, Code Words, Communication Strategies and New Skills Toolbox
Package: $1099 - Save $201.
Includes Gottman Worksheet Folder to Take Home
*Intake Forms must be completed as soon as possible
Terms and Conditions of Package Four:
Please read our terms and conditions before purchasing. By booking this special, you agree to our terms.
- 24 Hour Cancellation Policy. We cannot fill a full day at short notice.
- Have a chat to Ghita before booking. Full deposit is required upon booking this package (Credit card required).
- Do not book if there is any domestic violence - including chronic verbal abuse, violence, intimidation, financial control or addictions such as gambling or substances.
- No refunds on unused hours once begun: Eg: Client walkouts, Client Break-ups, Separations, Exhibited Chronic Verbal Abuse. No refunds with less than 24 hours cancellation notice.
- Please note that this retreat workshop is based in a private home by the beach and subject to neighbourhood noises. Parking may be limited on holidays.
- Accommodation and meals are not included. Teas and coffees however are included.
- Package valid 3 months from purchase date.
- Note: This type of retreat can be used more than once to tackle different issues.
- Health Funds: We do not have affiliations with any particular health fund as there are so many. Please check with your provider before purchasing. Invoices available.
- Intake forms need to be completed at least the day before to screen for family violence.
More Success Stories:
★★★★★ Google Review: 5 Week Marriage Counselling Package 2024:
'What a turn around!! My wife and I came to Ghita with very different communication skills. We were feeling EXTREMELY defeated in our marriage and were desperately seeking direction.
After just 5 sessions our communication skills are in a place we didn’t know were possible.
It’s been about a month since our sessions and our marriage is still becoming stronger and stronger every day. Ghita is an amazing human. She is smart, professional and extremely passionate about her work.
10 out of 10 recommend!' - Jason Eichenburger (Northern Rivers)
★★★★★ Testimonial: 5 Week Marriage Counselling Package 2023: 'Truthfully, I was ready to give up. Things were so bad. Since the five week program, we have nothing to fight about. The other day my husband used the code word 'Pineapple' to share something about his childhood: I stopped and listened without judgement - and I was fully present. Normally, I would half listen, avoid feelings and get defensive when he got frustrated. That would result in a whole day of ill feelings and sulking on both sides. The conflict would start with such small things. This has really changed how we see each other's triggers and motivations. We have never been so close. We don't take things so personally. We are stronger and we make time for each other.' - Suzie (Currumbin)
What Sets Ghita Apart?
Ghita Andersen (B.Soc.Sci: Psych & Coun; Grad Cert FDR, Hypnosis Cert.) is passionate about helping marriages to be successful and considered one of the HIGHEST-RATED couples counsellors on the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers. Through her post-graduate training as a Family Dispute Resolution Facilitator at Bond University (Gold Coast) and a decade of experience as a Counsellor, Ghita uses the best of the best Couples Counselling methods designed by the world's best relationships scientists and therapists - based on half a century of research. This means that the approach is 'Client Focused' and based on using the best method for your particular situation: Not just one method.
Are You Ready to Become The Best Couple You Can be?
Through your session together, you can expect a transformative experience that promotes genuine understanding, mutual trust, personal and relationship growth. And Ghita is known for getting to the heart of matters quickly.
So, before you book with anyone else, do yourself a favour and have a quick, no obligation chat with Ghita. Please feel free to text Ghita for a Free 10 Minute Call-Back on 0439 888 070.
Reviews and Testimonials
Ghita Andersen (B.Soc.Sci: Psych & Coun; Grad Cert FDR, Hypnosis Cert.) is passionate about helping marriages to be successful and considered one of the HIGHEST-RATED couples counsellors on the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers. Through her post-graduate training as a Family Dispute Resolution Facilitator at Bond University (Gold Coast) and a decade of experience as a Counsellor, Ghita uses the best of the best Couples Counselling methods designed by the world's best relationships scientists and therapists - based on half a century of research. This means that the approach is 'Client Focused' and based on using the best method for your particular situation: Not just one method.
Are You Ready to Become The Best Couple You Can be?
Through your session together, you can expect a transformative experience that promotes genuine understanding, mutual trust, personal and relationship growth. And Ghita is known for getting to the heart of matters quickly.
So, before you book with anyone else, do yourself a favour and have a quick, no obligation chat with Ghita. Please feel free to text Ghita for a Free 10 Minute Call-Back on 0439 888 070.
Reviews and Testimonials
Copyright Ghita Therapy 2024. Photos by Maarlen Noordanus and Ghita Andersen