Revitalise Your Relationship with a Couples Therapy Getaway
“Those who want a deep love in
their lives must collect and save for it,
and gather honey.”
— Rainer Maria Rilke
Breathe New Life Into Your Relationship
Couples retreats are suitable for:
Couples wanting to improve communication, learn to listen better, express their feelings and understand each other's perspectives
Those in need of a calming environment and time away from daily stressors in order to address relationship issues
Couples looking to enhance their intimacy and work through barriers to physical, emotional & mental bondedness
People open to personal growth, gaining insights into their behaviours and learning new coping strategies for lasting change
Those who have been in a marriage / partnership for a long time and want to enrich their relationship for the next chapter to come
Couples Counselling Retreat
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The Surrounds
Work inside or take time outside in the elements to soak in birdsong and nature
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The Space
A tranquil, restful space in the Blue Mountains with bushland views and access to starry skies
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Local Walks
Chase waterfalls after dark on a local spectacular floodlit night walk in Katoomba
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Local Waterfalls
Our retreat centre is within walking distance of healing Mini Ha Ha waterfall
Couples Retreat Therapy
Testimonials
“Ginny and Marcus created such a lovely, casual and safe environment for my partner and me to share our fears, learn and grow. They are both extremely knowledgeable and skilled at what they do and they both connected with us during the two-day retreat. I can't recommend them enough for anyone who needs a relationship check and the nudge of encouragement to continue to grow and evolve together. We can't wait to continue our journey with Ginny through ongoing couples counselling. The strength and vitality we have rediscovered in our relationship is truly moving, thanks to this wonderful experience.”
- Leah C
“We can't thank Ginny and Marcus enough for our valuable experience. They were both so insightful and have taught us a lot in our time of need. Highly recommend the couples retreat. We felt so comfortable as soon as we arrived. The bush setting is a tranquil bonus.”
- Sarah
“Marcus and Ginny are angels on earth. They took the time to listen and analyse our situation and helped us in the most spiritual, emotional, practical and holistic way. I would recommend the couples therapy weekend to everyone who needs help in their relationship and personal growth.”
- Mirasol M
“We highly recommend a couples retreat for every couple that wants to invest in their relationship. Ginny and Marcus were amazing, they were able to guide us through conversations, conflict and give us guidance on how to love ourselves and each other better. They are welcoming, warm and make the entire process about you as individuals and how you can show up better for yourself and your partner. The best couples therapy retreats!“
- Kat Krajsic
Relationship Retreat
Program Outline
Day One
Morning Session 9:30am - 12:30pm
You each have a one-on-one session with Ginny or Marcus to look at your individual healthiness within the relationship and have an opportunity to explore what you see as the fundamental issues in restoring or strengthening your relationship. Both of our couples therapists have distinct styles and will tease out different themes to focus on.
Halfway through the morning, you and your partner switch facilitators to complete a holistic picture of your concerns and core issues.
As David Whyte expressed, "If relationships are an overt opportunity for conversation, generosity and self-improvement, they are also a battleground for all of the unspoken, underground streams that are brought together beneath the steady flow of arrangements."
Lunch 12:30pm
Afternoon Session 1:00pm - 4:00pm
During this combined counselling session, you'll work with a facilitator to explore the issues that surface, as well as discuss foundational areas such as communication, conflict, and the strengths and challenges of your unique relationship.
Waterfall Walk (Optional) 4:00 - 6:00pm
Depending on the weather and your energy levels, you can use this time to take in a nearby bushwalk to our local waterfall.
Alternatively, you might want to play a couples board game or indulge in some of the relationship-themed activities available or simply just be together and talk about your experiences so far…
Dinner 6:30 - 7:30pm
Enjoy a home-cooked, organic meal or travel out to try one of Katoomba’s local dining facilities.
Evening (Optional) 7:30pm onwards
There is a range of optional evening activities for you to enjoy, such as listening to, reading or watching relationship-inspired material we provide.
Intensive Couples Therapy Retreat
Day Two
Breakfast 8:30am
Enjoy a homemade breakfast, tea or coffee on the verandah whilst the kookaburras and other local birds sing.
Morning Session 9:30am - 12:30pm
Working with the alternative facilitator to yesterday’s afternoon session, you'll have a combined counselling session which includes a plan outlining steps to take and resources to help improve areas that have been stumbling blocks as well as enhance your relationship.
Lunch 12:30pm
Afternoon Session 1:30pm - 4:00pm
The final session involves focusing on the strengths of one another and exploring the growth that your relationship offers you.
After wading through the challenges to your connection in previous sessions, we counter balance this with a celebration of your journey thus far and help you see each other with fresh eyes.
We believe in making this work affordable for people.
Cost: $1100 for a 2-day couples therapy weekend retreat or $1000 for a 2-day weekday program. We work with one couple at a time.
Inclusions: Our relationship retreats include accommodation, meals, workbooks, counselling and activities.
Location: Katoomba, Blue Mountains NSW.
Your Facilitators
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Ginny’s training in guiding and supporting others began with her hairdressing career, where she informally coached, listened and offered support to the thousands of clients she came to know both in Australia and abroad.
After navigating a crisis period where she had to take control of her life and steer it in a healthier direction, she found her calling to work with people who were also ready to reclaim their lives.
In addition to following Buddhist practices and doing extensive studies in self-development, she complemented her self-education with formal studies in Youth Work, Community Services and a Bachelor of Social Work.
Finding Breathwork to be a transformative form of healing, she has done much training in it and continues to deepen her practice. Ginny is also trained in Theta healing.
Taking an intuitive approach, Ginny found a gift for interpreting the messages offered by tarot cards, working as a spiritual healer and being a clear vessel for the collective unconscious to work through.
Counselling is something that Ginny both enjoys and has a natural affinity for, particularly in the area of relationships.After undertaking our couples therapy retreat, many couples continue with Ginny’s couples counselling to build upon the work completed during the retreat.
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Marcus studied Social Work and Education at University, grounding that knowledge through working in a diverse range of roles as an adult educator and caseworker.Through his time at Rudolf Steiner College, he realised the importance of holistic education and the need to focus on the whole person in contrast to the compartmentalised approach of institutions.
Deepening his knowledge by studying humanistic psychologists such as Abraham Maslow and Carl Jung and spending time in the Jungian community, he gained further insights into the challenges and opportunities relationships afford us.
After running a wide variety of workshops in Australia and overseas, he launched his initiative known as Writes of Passage Retreats, in the belief that contemplation, nature, carefully curated ideas and guidance are the ideal means for people to look at life with greater possibility and unearth their own dormant potentiality.
Through his retreat programs and individual counselling work, he has worked with a large number of individuals on their relationship issues, as well as through the intensive couples therapy retreat programs, employing ideas from relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel.
We promise not to issue matching robes!
Strengthen & Deepen Your Relationship
In A Blue Mountains Bushland Setting
Our relationship retreats for couples blends couples counselling with individual sessions. We take a tailored approach to focus on relationship issues particular to you as well as explore foundational issues such as communication, expectations, dealing with conflict, core values, family conditioning and sexual satisfaction.
Carl Jung once said, "Seldom, or perhaps never, does a marriage develop into an individual relationship smoothly and without crises; there is no coming to consciousness without pain."
Our approach is to view relationships as a vehicle for healing and supporting our self-actualisation. Just as an oyster cannot be formed without the irritation of grit, the inevitable trials of relationships can bring about a deepening of the connection if faced honestly and courageously.
Nestled on the quiet side of Katoomba, we are just a 5-minute drive to the centre of town should you want to take in local dining and activities.
We’re within walking distance to Mini Ha Ha waterfall for those after a tranquil bushwalk and the opportunity for a swim during the summer months.
FAQs
Why would I need to do a 2-day relationship counselling / marriage retreat?
Relationship intensives are ideal for a partnership that is in desperate need of a breakthrough. If you feel there is a real need to decide the future of your partnership, and you can’t afford to spend months doing couples counselling, a 2-day therapy intensive might be just what you need. It can be an ideal program for couples contemplating separation who want to know if concluding the relationship is the best outcome, they’ve done everything possible to remedy their challenges, lest they be carried on into another relationship.
If we don’t have any serious problems, is this 2-day therapy retreat still for us?
Definitely! You don’t have to have major struggles to want to improve your relationship. For those who are experiencing smooth sailing, it is valuable to take the preventative path of focusing on connecting even more deeply with your partner, celebrating your connection and building skills that will keep your trajectory upward. In this way, it's like pulling off the barnacles on a ship that you don’t notice easily and varnishing your boat’s woodwork so rot can’t set in.
What is the difference between your couples therapy intensives and traditional couples therapy?
Both involve couples therapy, but our retreat makes it accelerated and more effective. You’ll get to the core of the issues faster, experience significant breakthroughs, and leave with clarity and tools that help you sustain positive change.
In addition to the intensive 2-day aspect, we differentiate ourselves from standard couples counselling in that we incorporate depth psychology or a more holistic approach than simply talking therapy and intellectualising relationship problems.
Is the relationship retreat a group program, or will it just be focused on us?
Some places offer group programs as it is more financially rewarding for the organisers, but less focused on you as a couple. Our approach is to have two counsellors working with just you as a couple. We have found that two different approaches and styles give you a greater range of insights and perspectives on your relationship challenges.
Why is your couples counselling program so affordable compared to other centres?
We feel that two of the greatest modern pressures involve sustaining a partnership and navigating the escalating cost of living. By keeping our program affordable, it makes it accessible to a lot more people who can’t afford the $5000+ fees that many other 2-day programs are charging. We include accommodation at no cost, which is cosy and peaceful, but we are not targeting the 5-star accommodation market. For those who want to stay in more luxurious places, there is the option for you to be with us during the day at our centre and stay in local accommodation that suits your budget and lifestyle.
Have you been successful with infidelity issues?
Yes. We look at ways to heal the infidelity as well as delve into the causes of the relationship breakdown that led to such a fracture. Couples in which a person has ended their affair have a big journey to work through to overcome the betrayal of trust. Paradoxically, in some instances, it can be the impetus that breaks a couple out of stagnation and can lead, in time, to a healthier connection.
Our program can also help couples with intimacy issues, which invariably occur with long-term relationships. Every couple's relationship blueprint and sexual blueprint are wonderfully diverse, and having an outside perspective can breathe fresh life into this important part of a connection.
What if my partner is resistant to attending a couples therapy retreat?
It's quite typical for one person to be hesitant. They might fear being blamed or inadequate if you’re initiating things. You can assure your partner we’re not about assigning fault. We create a safe space where both of you feel seen, heard, and respected, regardless of what each of you thinks about the future of your connection.
It might help to ask them what they would like to have more of or less of in your relationship. You can then suggest that this program might help them in achieving that. They are welcome to give us a call to address any reservations, too.
Blue Mountains Retreats
“Great things are done when people and mountains meet;
this is not done by jostling in the street.”
- William Blake
Take in a local stargazing tour at night
Rejuvenate in the Blue Mountains natural wonders
Writing Programs, Self-Development Retreats, Career Counselling, Life Purpose Guidance & More
7 Seventh Avenue,
Katoomba, NSW
0402959946