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Retreats

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Retreats typically take two forms:

 

Individual Couple - providing private, fast start style of focussed learning.

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Group Work - where the learning is more social and informed by others perspectives.

 

There are different pro's and con's to each approach. My Couples Retreats are available in-person in Nottingham, UK and at our Retreat Centre on the Silver Coast in Portugal. Other locations in UK and Europe would be considered.

Nottingham, UK

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Join me in the gorgeous Park Estate, next to Nottingham castle in the heart of the city.​

Silver Coast, Portugal

Take an extra day or more and enjoy the culture and luxury of Portugal’s beautiful Silver Coast, or take advantage of the chance to visit Lisbon.​​

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Idyllic and relaxing Silver Coast in Portugal

Bringing Baby Home

A private 2-day retreat designed just for you and your partner

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Preparing for a baby is exciting—but it also brings big changes. This private, research-based retreat gives you and your partner space to step away from daily life and focus fully on each other before your baby arrives. Together, you’ll learn practical skills to strengthen your relationship, grow as a team, and build a loving, resilient foundation for family life.

Photo by Abi Howard on Unsplash

What to Expect

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Over the course of two immersive days, you and your partner will:

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  • Learn and practice research-based tools and techniques inspired by Gottman’s 20+ years of work with couples.

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  • Take part in guided exercises designed to deepen connection, improve communication, and handle challenges with care.

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  • Reflect on your hopes, values, and visions for parenthood in a calm, supportive setting.

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  • Share private time together to consolidate learning, practice skills, and reconnect as a couple.

Topics We’ll Explore Together

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  • How your relationship may change as you become parents.

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  • The transition from “two” into “three” as a family.

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  • Imagining your parenting roles and values.

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  • Staying connected while navigating challenges.

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  • Creating a strong, secure bond with your baby.

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  • Involving and setting boundaries with extended family.

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  • Building shared dreams for your family’s future.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Retreat Outcomes

 

By the end of the two days, you’ll leave with:

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  • Practical tools to strengthen communication and connection.

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  • Confidence in navigating conflict constructively.

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  • A shared vision of parenting roles and teamwork.

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  • Strategies for nurturing intimacy and passion as your family grows.

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  • A deeper sense of partnership, ready to embrace parenthood together.

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This private retreat is designed to be uplifting, engaging, and tailored to your pace—allowing you to focus solely on each other and the journey ahead.

Private retreats usually run Friday-Saturday in Nottingham, but it may be possible for me to travel to you. Please enquire directly in the box below.

7 Principles for Making Marriage Work

The retreat programme follows the popular 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work from Dr. John Gottman’s New York Times best selling book of the same name, and is a concise summary of his key findings of over 30 years of research and good practice.

 

If you already have a strong, loving relationship, this will provide you with insights and tools to make it even better. If your relationship is in trouble, then it will provide a roadmap for repair.

Gottman 7 principles for making marriage work

The The retreat is structured to give you and your partner time and space to focus on improving your relationship with each other. You will gain new insights, be coached in research-based relationship skills, have some quality time together and be able to relax with like minded people.

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We will cover how to:-

  • Cultivate a culture of respect and affection

  • Communicate clearly and effectively

  • Create an emotionally intelligent relationship

  • Resolve conflict and find common ground

  • Deal with solvable and also perpetual problems

  • Strengthen, maintain and celebrate the good things in your relationship

  • Deepen intimacy and build trust

Retreats for Intensive Individual Couples Counselling

A two day intensive focussed deep dive into a relationship can provide an effective and accelerated start to transforming a relationship. This would normally be over a weekend though could be two working days. The motivation can vary though is often prompted by an urgent need to address an important issue that may have suddenly, or over time, become critical.​

The process starts with a free explore call to assess whether individual couple intensive therapy is right for you. Followed by the Gottman Relationship Assessment questionnaire to be completed prior to the retreat.

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Photo by Andrey K on Unsplash

These sessions are a way to understand the value of ongoing counselling support with the issues and insights into your relationship. Historically I have arranged such events at the locations above as well as other bespoke requests.

Private Couples Retreat - After the Affair

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Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Couples who have experienced a betrayal often face deep emotional pain, mistrust, and uncertainty about the future of their relationship. An intensive retreat offers a focused, supportive environment to begin the healing process. 

Away from daily distractions, the couple can work closely on rebuilding trust, improving communication, and reconnecting emotionally.

The immersive nature of a retreat allows for deep reflection, guided exercises, and personalised strategies that lay a strong foundation for repairing the relationship and moving forward with intention and understanding.

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