Sometimes You Need More Time Together
When a relationship has become difficult, it can be hard to know how to find your way back to one another.
You may find yourselves having the same arguments over and over again, or perhaps you've stopped arguing altogether and simply feel distant. You might still care deeply about each other but wonder how things have become so difficult.
Perhaps you've tried talking things through, promised yourselves that things will be different, or even had some couples therapy before. Yet somehow, the same difficulties keep returning.
Sometimes you need more than an hour or two each week to really get to the heart of what's happening.
The Safe Hands Intensive offers you the opportunity to step away from everyday life and give your relationship two days of dedicated attention.
Working together over two consecutive days gives us an opportunity to explore your relationship in a depth that can take considerably longer to reach through weekly sessions. Without the usual gaps between appointments, we can build on discoveries as they happen and spend time developing new ways of understanding and relating to one another.
We'll have time to slow things down, explore the patterns you've developed together and begin to understand why you sometimes find yourselves reacting to one another in ways that neither of you really wants.
I'm not here to take sides or decide who's right and who's wrong. My role is to help you understand what's happening between you, what each of you brings to the relationship, and how things might begin to change.
Two days won't magically resolve every difficulty, particularly those that have developed over many years. But having this time together can offer an opportunity for deeper understanding, important conversations and a different way forward.
Because even when things feel difficult, your relationship may have more possibilities than you can currently see.
Is The Safe Hands Intensive Right for Us?
You may have been together for many years, or perhaps your relationship is relatively new, but you've reached a point where things aren't working as you'd hoped.
You might find yourselves having the same arguments, struggling to communicate or feeling that you've gradually drifted apart.
Perhaps you know you love one another, but you're finding it increasingly difficult to show it.
The Safe Hands Intensive may be right for you if you're both willing to look honestly at what's happening in your relationship, including the part each of you plays in the difficulties you've been experiencing.
You don't need to agree about everything, and you certainly don't need to have all the answers.
What matters is that you both want to give your relationship a chance to grow and change.
Preparing for Our Time Together
Every relationship is different, and I don't believe that one approach fits everyone.
We'll begin with a free, 30-minute online consultation, with both partners present. This gives us an opportunity to talk about your relationship, what you're hoping to achieve and whether the intensive is right for you.
If we agree to go ahead, I'll ask you each to complete some questionnaires. I'll use what you share to prepare carefully for our time together, so that the two days are shaped around your particular relationship and needs.
What Happens During the Two Days?
The Safe Hands Intensive takes place in person in Lincoln, over two consecutive days, with seven hours set aside each day, including lunch and regular breaks.
We'll explore what's been happening between you, the patterns you've developed together and what makes it difficult to change them.
There may be things you've struggled to talk about, or conversations that always seem to end in the same way. Having this dedicated time gives us the opportunity to slow things down, understand what's happening and begin approaching one another differently.
I'll guide our work, but we won't be following a rigid programme. We'll respond to what emerges, taking time where it's needed and building on the understanding you develop together.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided, giving you opportunities to rest and reflect during the day.
My hope is that you'll leave with a greater understanding of yourselves, each other and your relationship, along with some practical ways to continue the work you've begun.
After the Intensive
The work doesn't necessarily end when our two days together are over.
You'll leave with personalised materials and resources to help you continue building on what you've discovered.
Some couples find it helpful to return for follow-up sessions after they've had time to put their new understanding into practice.
If you feel this would be useful, we can arrange further 90-minute sessions at the usual couples therapy fee of £150.
Fees and Booking
The Safe Hands Intensive is £2,300 for two consecutive days, including preparation, questionnaires, personalised take-home materials, lunch and refreshments.
The initial 30-minute online consultation is free, with no obligation to book.
Once we've agreed to go ahead, a deposit of £1,150 secures your dates, with the remaining £1,150 payable three weeks before the intensive.
If you need to rearrange your intensive, you can do so once without an additional charge, provided you give at least three weeks' notice and we can agree on alternative dates.
Full cancellation terms will be provided before booking.
Taking the First Step
If you've been struggling in your relationship and feel that you both want to find a different way forward, The Safe Hands Intensive may be worth considering.
The first step is simply to get in touch.
We'll arrange a free, no-obligation consultation, giving you both an opportunity to ask questions, find out more about how I work and decide whether this feels right for you.
There's no pressure to make a decision during our first conversation.
Your relationship is in safe hands.