Ready to reveal your story?
Counseling that starts with core issues, not with tips and tricks.
Your relationship, with yourself and a partner, is your most important invesment.
Telling yourself the truth is the deciding factor between coping with vs. loving these relationships.
Relationship issues persist because people aren’t aware of what they want or how to request it. Feeling disappointed, you blame yourself for wanting too much, or your partner for not being enough.
Trying to repress bad feelings or over sharing, hearing everyone else’s opinions, you shut down or get overwhelmed. You then react to your reactions, moving farther away from exploring why a problem exists and the best next steps.
Being nice, but not truthful, creates an unstable foundation, leading to a boring, unhappy, or toxic love life.
Martyrs aren’t trustworthy. Being nice hides a person’s full truth, creates tension and resentment.
Being reactive is less boring, but also not emotionally satisfying. If you’re not careful, you can become bonded via conflict and drama, disregulating your nervous system, making it hard to relax.
Being self interested–not self absorbed–builds a truly solid foundation. Tolerating the discomfort of being honest is the best investment you can make.
Intentionally designing your ideal relationship takes skill. An Idealized Design approach replaces bargaining and compromise.
If you prefer tips to add to what you already know, lots of professionals are accessible and inexpensive.
If you want to deeply invest in the rest of your life, expanding your understanding about yourself and/or partner with information you didn’t already know, but may have intuition about, this service is for you.
What is the Private Couples Retreat Program?
This is just for you, or you and your partner and the therapist. No groups.
Also: Individuals, Couples, Adult Siblings, Co-Owners, Family Owned Businesses.
A systematic Love Sex Trust approach accessing the deeper psychodynamic layers underlying how you love and why you fight.
What’s your return on investment?
Very likely much more than you expect. You receive a personalized diagnostic, suggested strategy for next steps and self-directed resources.
Somatic, trauma resolution, grief consolidation, systematic desensitization and coaching included.
Visual graphics, homework and estimated timetables suggested. Different options for follow up available.
No stone is left unturned.
Your relationship crisis– acute or chronic– intense or subtle, prompts an accelerated exploration of unresolved core wounding and negative modeling from your family of origin.
We start deep, giving pain points the attention they need to allow your adult relationship to reach its potential.
Why is this structured approach effective?
Avoidance is what people use to maintain relationships that aren’t so bad, but not that great.
The biggest adversary to change isn’t financial, it’s about staying focused and accountable to yourself.
Being accountable requires unlearning early training you received to minimize your needs and desires.
This program, based on decades of studying what works and what doesn’t, incentivizes you to make a serious investment in yourself and get to the bottom of issues, often for the first time ever.
You then have support to set goals, track progress, troubleshoot blind spots and build competency.
The process is more similar to getting a master’s degree, renovating your house, reparenting yourself (see the 11 month Idealized Design program option.)
You are building a solid foundation for yourself and generations to come.
Location & Why Travel?
counseling or consulting?
- If it’s a transformative experience for yourself or with your partner.
- Because you feel compelled to face yourself, to uncover, grieve, advocate for being treated unfairly, to break a cycle of intergenerational trauma, to forgive yourself, to start over or let go.
- This isn’t easy to accomplish; on your own, with AI, at book club, in hourly therapy squeezed into a busy life, at church or with psychedelics.
- This kind of focus is also not possible if you are working with a professional who wants you to feel better, but is uncomfortable with sex, anger, rage, abandonment, abuse or existential dread.
- These dark shadows often need to be faced directly, with wise support, to let the light of your truth shine through.
Where are you located and
what are my options?
I’d suggest you travel here to start, but telehealth also works fine. If you’re out of state, we can do consulting. I can also travel to you if we work out details.
I’m located in San Marcos, a small, college town in central Texas, 40 minutes from Austin or San Antonio international airports. Driving, it’s about three hours from Houston or Dallas, a bit more from West Texas or surrounding states. I’m down the street from a spring fed river, perfect for renewal.
You’ll return home with a lighter heart and a vision for your future based on a clearer understanding of your past.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I come alone? With a business partner, co-founder, adult child or sibling?
Absolutely.
Do I have to commit to the whole retreat?
No, the initial appointment is 2.5 hours, in person or via telehealth which results in a goals or relationship analysis and suggested strategy for next steps, to complete on your own or with a one or two day retreat. Two hour appointments may be available as a modification.
Are there groups? Why is it called a retreat program?
No, this is just you, or you and your partner, and the therapist. You stay and eat meals on your own, I just facilitate counseling. It’s called a retreat because it’s an immersive deep dive. It’s called a program because of the follow up, which includes visual psycho-educational materials, self-directed tools, structured coaching and an open door to return to troubleshoot or set new goals. I describe it like getting a master’s degree in yourself and your relationship. Or, like renovating a house.
Is it worth coming if we are likely to break up?
Usually the answer is yes. You learn an immense amount about yourself and how you got to where you are via analyzing your bonding and conflict patterns. It may lead to clearing up confusion and staying together. Or, you feel resolved and good about your decision to break up which benefits everyone for generations to come. If it’s not safe with a partner, come on your own.
Should I come if my partner isn’t as interested?
Yes, we can still work on your relationship. You may want to take the Stay or Go Quiz ($2.99)
What if I can’t afford it, want to avoid it, or prefer to accelerate current counseling?
See our Self Directed DIY resources which are cost effective, high quality resources to replace or accelerate your current counseling.
Do you have a payment plan?
Yes, let’s discuss options, no problem. This can be a high ticket item, but the investment yields a high return, not just in your love life, but for your whole life.
What is your approach?
Developmental, evolutionary psychology, psycho-dynamic, contemporary psycho-analytical, object relations, interpersonal neurobiology, somatic, trauma informed, attachment, elements of EMDR, guided imagery, performance, health, energy and financial psychology, solution oriented and postmodern theories, imago, Hakomi, discernment, mindfulness.
Communication analysis, cultural ethnography, entrepreneurial and career counseling, along with life experiences of being highly intuitive, adopted, divorced, step-parenting in a blended family, living abroad.
I’m a helping professional: a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, counselor, coach, physician, I already know a lot, can you help me?
Absolutely. I have advanced training resources specifically designed for the unique developmental and work-life needs of helping professionals.
I’m an attorney, I already know a lot, can you help me?
Yes, see above.
Do you like working with neurodivergent thinkers, creatives, day traders, vets, expats, digital nomads, adoptees, bi-cultural and bi-racial clients?
Yes, I can likely relate to your experiences. Reach out if this is you.
Is this available only where you live?
No, I can travel to a designated place with a lodging and travel fee applied. I can consult with you from anywhere.
Can I travel to you?
I would suggest that you do. I have an office in my little yard, with lots of windows. I’m located in a quiet, college town near the spring fed San Marcos river. A relaxing place to concentrate and unwind. I can suggest lodging close by in the picturesque hill country.
Is this only in-person?
In person is great, but telehealth is too.
