🧠 Knowledge Base: Everything You Want to Know About the Come Closer Couples Retreat

Is this retreat like therapy?

One of the most common questions we’re asked is:
"Is the Come Closer Couples Retreat basically two days of therapy?"

The answer is no – it’s different.

Here’s how it works:

• The retreat is therapeutic, but it’s not the same as ongoing couples therapy.
• You’ll learn powerful, evidence-based tools from attachment and emotionally focused therapy – but in a relaxed, workshop-style setting.
• There’s no pressure to “bare your soul” or share anything you don’t want to.
• You can go at your own pace, dipping into exercises as you feel comfortable.
• You’ll work alongside your partner in private moments, guided gently by Jo (that’s me!) with plenty of space to pause, breathe, and reflect.
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What makes it different from therapy?

• It’s experiential, not clinical.
• You’ll spend as much time learning and practicing as you will reflecting.
• It’s designed to give you immediate tools and insight in a supportive, group-based environment (although you’ll never have to share your personal story unless you choose to).

Will it feel intrusive?

Not at all. Everything about this retreat is designed to help you feel safe, not exposed.
You choose how much you engage. You choose what you share.
You’ll never be put on the spot or asked to do anything that feels overwhelming.

In short:

If you’re worried this will feel like two days of “intense therapy,” breathe easy.
This is a gentle, guided space where you can learn, reconnect, and repair at a pace that feels right for you as a couple.

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Do we need to be in crisis to attend?

Not at all. Some couples come because they’re struggling, others because they want to prevent future drift, and some simply want to strengthen a good relationship.

This retreat is about nurturing your relationship health – just like you’d take care of your physical or mental wellbeing. You don’t need to be at breaking point to benefit.

Is this basically therapy?

No – it’s different.
The retreat is therapeutic, but it’s not two days of “intense counselling.” You’ll learn evidence-based tools drawn from attachment and emotionally focused therapy in a relaxed, workshop-style setting.

There’s no pressure to share personal details unless you choose to. You and your partner can go at your own pace and work privately during guided exercises.

Will we have to share our issues with other couples?

Only if you want to.
While there are group learning moments, all the deep work happens between you and your partner in a private, supported space. You’ll never be asked to share anything that feels too personal. The retreat is designed to feel safe, gentle, and non-intrusive.

What if my partner isn’t as open as I am?

That’s incredibly common, and it’s okay. The retreat is built to help both partners feel safe enough to engage without pressure. Many couples arrive with one person more hesitant than the other, and often it’s those couples who see the most meaningful breakthroughs by the end of the weekend.

What if we’re not sure we want to stay together?

You’re welcome here. This retreat can give you the insight and tools you need to make that decision from a place of calm and clarity, rather than pain and reactivity. Whatever the outcome, the goal is to help you communicate with honesty, compassion, and respect.

Is this retreat LGBTQ+ friendly?

Absolutely. All couples are warmly welcome, and the work we do is based on universal attachment and emotional patterns – not gendered roles or assumptions.

Will it feel intrusive or overwhelming?

Not at all. Everything is designed to help you feel safe, supported, and at ease. You’ll never be put on the spot or asked to share more than you’re ready to. Many couples are surprised at how gentle, even playful, the process feels.

What if we fight while we’re there?

Good news: you won’t be the first or the last couple to have a wobble during the retreat! In fact, those moments often become the most powerful opportunities for growth because you’ll have immediate support and tools to turn conflict into connection.

✨ In short…

• You don’t need to be in crisis.
• You don’t need to share anything you don’t want to.
• You can go at your own pace.
• And you’ll leave with tools, insight, and a renewed sense of connection.