A different structure
for couples work.
Concentrated. Focused. Effective.

What is an intensive and how is it different from weekly sessions?

An intensive concentrates the work into one or two dedicated days rather than spreading it across weekly 50-minute meetings. The extended format allows for deeper focus and continuity that's harder to achieve in shorter blocks.

How do we know which format we need?

The short version: if something specific is going wrong between you, start with the Mini or the Comprehensive Intensive. If you are getting married or expecting a baby, the Premarital and Before Baby Intensives are built around those transitions specifically.

Plenty of couples aren't sure, and that's genuinely fine — it's not something you're expected to work out about yourselves in advance. Book a consultation and we'll figure it out together.

How is the Mini Intensive different from the Relationship Checkup?

They answer different questions. The Relationship Checkup tells you where you stand — what's working, what needs attention, and what to do about it. It's a broad look across your relationship.

The Mini Intensive is narrower and goes deeper. It's an IBCT assessment, which means the focus is on one thing: the cycle the two of you keep landing in. Where do the real differences between you sit, what is each of you especially sensitive to, what outside pressures are making it worse, and what happens when all of that collides. The result is a formulation — an explanation of why this particular pattern keeps running between these two particular people.

The Mini also doesn't stop at the formulation. Once the pattern is on the table, the rest of the session goes to skills aimed at that specific cycle — so you leave with something to do, not just something to understand.

If you want a picture of the whole relationship, start with the Checkup. If there's one thing that keeps happening and you want to work on it, start with the Mini.

Should we do the Mini or the Comprehensive?

The Mini gives you the formulation and a first set of skills aimed at your specific cycle. Many couples take that into weekly therapy or work on it themselves from there.

The Comprehensive includes all of that and then keeps going. Two days is enough time to work through the harder material underneath the pattern — old injuries, the differences that are not going to resolve — and to practice with support rather than heading home to try it alone.

Do sessions take place in person or virtually?

All sessions are held virtually, over secure video. That means you can do this from home, without travel or time off beyond the days themselves — and it's part of why evening and weekend scheduling is possible.

Where can we be located?

For the Mini and Comprehensive Intensives, the two of you need to be in a state where Dr. Lenger is licensed, because those are therapy — you can see the current list here.

The Premarital and Before Baby Intensives are relationship education rather than therapy, so there is no location requirement. Couples anywhere can book them.

Are the Premarital and Before Baby Intensives therapy?

No. They are relationship education: structured, research-based, and led by a psychologist, but not psychotherapy. In practice that means three things — no diagnosis is made, nothing becomes part of a treatment record, and couples in any location can book them.

If something surfaces along the way that would be better served by therapy, Dr. Lenger will say so directly and help you figure out next steps.

Do you take insurance?

No. None of these formats are billable to insurance, and no superbill is provided. For the Premarital and Before Baby Intensives there is also no diagnosis or procedure code to submit, since they are not therapy.

What you pay covers your sessions, the preparation beforehand, your written feedback report, and follow-up.

What approaches do you use?

The therapy intensives draw on Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) and Cognitive Behavioral Couple Therapy (CBCT). IBCT combines acceptance and change strategies to help couples understand the deeper patterns driving their conflicts. CBCT focuses on identifying and shifting the thoughts, behaviors, and communication patterns that maintain distress. The Premarital and Before Baby Intensives draw on structured relationship assessment, research on communication and conflict, and the literature on how couples navigate major transitions.

Do we need to be in crisis?

No — and for two of these formats, the opposite. Most couples who choose the Premarital or Before Baby Intensive are doing fine and want to meet a big change well prepared.

Do you work with LGBTQIA+ couples or non-traditional relationships?

Yes. Relationship Health Collective provides inclusive, affirming care for couples of all identities, orientations, and relationship structures.

How soon can we get started?

Reach out to discuss availability. Evening and weekend scheduling is available to accommodate most couples.