Months of couples work,
in one or two focused days.
An intensive concentrates the work into dedicated time rather than spreading it across weeks of 50-minute sessions. It is couples therapy for partners working on something between them right now.
There are two formats. The Mini maps the pattern you keep getting caught in. The Comprehensive maps it and then does the deeper work of changing it.
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Same approach,
two depths.
Both formats are couples therapy drawing on Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) and Cognitive Behavioral Couple Therapy (CBCT). Both partners need to be located in a state where Dr. Lenger is licensed. See the current list.
Understand the pattern.
The Mini Intensive is an IBCT assessment focused on one thing, the cycle the two of you keep landing in. It looks at where the real differences between you sit, what each of you is 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 the two of you. Once the pattern is on the table, the rest of the time goes to skills aimed at that specific cycle, so you leave with something to do, not just something to understand.
What you leave withA clear explanation of the cycle you keep getting caught in
Skills aimed at that cycle that you can start using the same day
A written feedback report with patterns, insights, and next steps
Many couples take what they learn into weekly therapy or keep working on it on their own.
Understand it,
then change it.
The Comprehensive Intensive includes everything in the Mini and then keeps going. With two days, there is time to work through the harder material underneath the pattern, like old injuries and the differences that are not going to resolve.
There is also time to practice. Rather than naming a new way of responding and heading home to try it alone, you practice it with support while the work is still fresh.
What you leave withEverything included in the Mini Intensive
Time to work through what sits underneath the pattern
Guided practice changing how the two of you move through it
A written feedback report with patterns, insights, and next steps
Couples who want
focused, concentrated work.
Couples caught in a conflict pattern that keeps repeating no matter what they try
Partners who have grown distant and want to understand how it happened
Partners navigating a significant breach of trust
Couples who have done therapy before and want to go deeper in a more focused format
Couples with demanding schedules who find weekly attendance hard to sustain
Built around your
relationship's needs.
Every intensive is personalized. Dr. Lenger reviews your history and prepares a tailored approach before your first session.
A personalized summary of patterns, insights, and next steps, yours to keep.
Dr. Lenger reviews your history and coordinates with relevant providers before you begin.
Evening and weekend availability to accommodate most schedules.
Every intensive is grounded in the most rigorously researched approaches in the field.
Frequently asked questions.
Which format is right for us?
The Mini gives you a clear formulation of your cycle and a first set of skills aimed at it. Many couples take that into weekly therapy or work on it themselves from there.
The Comprehensive includes all of that and then keeps going. It is a better fit when the pattern sits on top of harder material, like old injuries or differences that are not going to resolve, and you want time to practice changing it with support.
If one of you is unsure whether to stay in the relationship, Discernment Counseling is usually a better starting point than an intensive. And if you are still not sure, the consultation is the place to 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, including what is working, what needs attention, and what to do about it. It is a broad look across your relationship.
The Mini Intensive is narrower and goes deeper, focusing on the one cycle the two of you keep landing in. If you want a picture of the whole relationship, start with the Checkup. If there is one thing that keeps happening and you want to work on it, start with the Mini.
How is an intensive 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 is harder to achieve in shorter blocks.
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. It is also part of why evening and weekend scheduling is possible.
Where can we be located?
Because intensives are couples therapy, both partners need to be in a state where Dr. Lenger is licensed at the time of your sessions. You can see the current list here.
Do you take insurance?
Relationship Health Collective does not bill insurance directly. Superbills can be provided in certain circumstances, and the consultation is a good place to ask whether that applies to you. See the Investment page for details.
What you pay covers your sessions, the preparation beforehand, your written feedback report, and follow-up.
What approaches do you use?
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.
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.
Preparing for marriage or a new baby? The Premarital and Before Baby Intensives are listed on the services page →
Not sure which format
is right for you?
The free consultation is the best place to figure that out. We will talk through your goals and find the right fit together.
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