Marriage Intensives: A Path Toward Healing, Hope, and Renewal
Rebuild Connection. Restore Trust. Renew Hope.
A Two-Day Marriage Intensive with Dan Jurek, MA, LPC, LMFT
Struggling in your marriage – or simply feeling painfully disconnected?
You’re not alone. Whether your marriage feels like it’s hanging by a thread or you just sense the distance growing between the two of you, there is hope. It is absolutely possible to reignite your connection, rebuild trust, and rediscover the love that first brought you together.
If you’re ready to transform your marriage, spend two focused days with me in my Lafayette, Louisiana office. Over the past several decades, I’ve worked with couples who felt stuck, weary, and alone, many who believed they had “tried everything” without success. But with the right tools, guidance, and a spirit of openness, I’ve seen couples experience true breakthroughs sometimes for the first time in years.
Let me walk with you as you learn the skills and strategies that can breathe new life into your marriage and restore the peace your hearts have been longing for.
What Is a Marriage Intensive?
A Better Way to Heal, Reconnect, and Rebuild
Many years ago, I began to realize that traditional hour-long therapy sessions often weren’t enough for couples in real distress. Just as we began to touch the heart of an issue, time would run out—leaving couples raw, unresolved, and carrying that tension home. By the next week, progress was often lost beneath a fresh layer of frustration or hurt.
That’s when I began offering Marriage Intensives—a different, more effective approach to relationship healing.
Rather than spreading out conversations over weeks or months, a Marriage Intensive offers ample time and sacred space needed to dive deep into what’s really happening beneath the surface. It allows couples to move beyond surface struggles and toward understanding, compassion, and renewed connection.
Healing rarely happens in quick bursts. It happens through focused, intentional time spent together—listening, learning, forgiving, and beginning again. A Marriage Intensive provides exactly that: the structure, guidance, and grace-filled space needed to find your way back to one another.
Why a 2-Day Marriage Intensive Works
A Transformational Experience for Couples in Crisis—or Disconnection
When I began offering 2-Day Marriage Intensives, I witnessed something remarkable. Couples who came in feeling hopeless—some reeling from betrayal or years of distance—began to make real progress. Many had tried other therapists and felt discouraged, wondering if lasting change was even possible.
But over two dedicated days, something shifts. Hearts soften. Walls come down. Clarity begins to emerge. And often, a sense of peace and hope takes root once again.
Here’s what makes this approach so powerful:
Over the years, I’ve watched countless couples walk into my office burdened by anger, grief, or disconnection—and walk out lighter, clearer, and filled with renewed hope. For many, this experience marks a true turning point in their marriage and in their faith journey.
Your Marriage Is Worth Fighting For
Whether your marriage feels like it’s barely surviving or simply needs renewal, a 2-Day Marriage Intensive offers you the chance to pause, reflect, and begin again—with understanding, grace, and purpose.
If your heart is telling you it’s time for a breakthrough, I invite you to take the next step.
The 2-Day Marriage Intensive is right for the two of you if you feel…
Get Help Now
FAQs
I’m so glad you’re ready to take this step, and I look forward to working with you to help you achieve your goals! Getting started is simple—just send me an email at dan@paxrenewalcenter.com with your preferred dates you’d like to schedule your intensive.
Once I receive your email, I’ll provide you with all the details you need to secure your spot and prepare for your intensive. Together, we’ll create a plan to set you and your relationship on the path to healing and reconnection. I can’t wait to get started!
Unlike many coaches who like to have a great deal of information about their clients in advance of their meeting, I prefer to start with a clean slate. Once your intensive is scheduled and you have made a deposit to secure the date, each spouse will receive the Gottman Connect marriage assessment via email. This excellent assessment is a research-based online tool that evaluates a couple’s relationship strengths and weaknesses. It consists of an automated questionnaire that assesses five key areas: friendship and intimacy, conflict management, trust and commitment, shared meaning, and individual areas of concern. The assessment provides me with a detailed report with specific, personalized recommendations for improvement. We’ll begin the intensive by reviewing the results of this assessment, which will serve as a personalized roadmap for the rest of the two days.
Most couples want to continue working with me and have in-person or video sessions after the intensive to solidify the changes made during the intensive. Sessions are scheduled based on couples’ needs, schedules, and progress. I am committed to working together until you’re completely confident that your changes have taken hold.
I often dedicate a segment of the intensive session to meeting with each partner individually. This private time allows each person to openly discuss any sensitive issues.
Cost of an in-person 2-day intensive: $4900
Cost of an in-person 1-day intensive when one spouse won’t attend: $2500
It’s not uncommon for couples to find themselves at a crossroads when it comes to their commitment to the marriage. Often, one partner is considering divorce, while the other is determined to work things out. If this feels like your situation, you’re not alone, and there are still options to consider.
A Space to Explore and Decide
If your spouse is unsure about continuing the marriage—or even leaning toward divorce—the 2-day intensive can provide the time and space both of you need to explore your feelings more deeply. Together, we’ll work to gain clarity about what each of you truly wants moving forward and what’s best for your family, particularly if children are involved.
Many people who initially resist the idea of an intensive because they feel “done” with the relationship often find themselves reconsidering. Through our work, they begin to see the possibility of a different, healthier future together. That said, it’s important to acknowledge that this isn’t always the outcome. Sometimes, couples decide to part ways—but even in those cases, the intensive can still be incredibly valuable.
Clarity, Growth, and Taking Responsibility
Whether your marriage continues or ends, the intensive focuses on helping both partners gain a deeper understanding of themselves and each other. It’s not about assigning blame—relationship problems are rarely the fault of just one person. Instead, we’ll work to uncover the dynamics that contributed to the breakdown of trust and connection, helping each of you take personal responsibility for your role in the relationship.
This kind of self-awareness is essential. Without it, unresolved issues often resurface in future relationships, creating patterns of pain and conflict. The clarity and growth gained during the intensive can help break those cycles and lead to healthier relationships moving forward—whether that’s with each other or with someone new.
Co-Parenting with Respect
If separation or divorce turns out to be the right decision, the intensive also provides a unique opportunity to focus on creating a collaborative parenting plan. This ensures that, no matter what happens to your marriage, your children’s well-being remains the top priority. Divorce is hard enough on everyone involved, but when anger, bitterness, and resentment linger, it can create long-term harm—especially for children, even adult children.
Through this process, we’ll work to minimize conflict and create a cooperative co-parenting relationship that puts your children’s needs first. This not only helps your kids thrive but also sets the stage for a more peaceful post-divorce relationship between you and your spouse.
If Your Spouse Refuses to Attend
If you believe your spouse won’t agree to an intensive under any circumstances, don’t give up hope. How you approach the idea of doing an intensive together can make a significant difference. I’d be happy to help you craft the best way to discuss this with your spouse in a way that feels respectful and encouraging. Feel free to email me at dan@paxrenewalcenter.com for guidance.
Considering a Solo 1-Day Intensive
If your spouse is unwilling to participate, you might consider doing a 1-day intensive by yourself. While it may feel overwhelming to address marital problems alone, many people find this experience incredibly helpful. A solo intensive can provide you with clarity, tools, and a plan to navigate your relationship challenges, even if your spouse isn’t ready to engage in the process.
If you and your spouse feel at odds or are unsure about the future of your marriage, a Marriage Intensive might feel like a big step. To help you better understand what to expect, here’s an overview of how our time together unfolds:
A Structured, Solution-Focused Approach
Each day of the intensive begins at 9:00 AM and ends around 4:30 PM, with a break for lunch. Unlike traditional therapy, which often spends significant time analyzing the roots of your problems, we focus on solutions. The goal is to pinpoint what’s keeping you stuck, identify practical steps for healing, and work toward a marriage that feels more joyful, connected, and fulfilling—both emotionally and physically.
There’s no unnecessary dredging up of childhood experiences or reliving painful moments just for the sake of “getting it out.” Instead, our time together is concise and purposeful. We begin by clarifying your goals for the intensive, gaining an understanding of why you’re seeking help now, and determining what steps you can take to transform your relationship.
Addressing Immediate Crises First
If you’re coming to the intensive because of a recent crisis (such as the discovery of infidelity), we’ll start there. It’s essential to address the most pressing issues upfront so that we can create a clear roadmap for healing. From there, we’ll also explore other aspects of your relationship that need attention, ensuring we take a holistic approach to strengthening your marriage.
A Research-Backed Therapy Model
Much of the work we’ll do together is based on Solution-Focused Therapy, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, and the Gottman Method. These evidence-based approaches emphasize your strengths and resources rather than dwelling on shortcomings. This approach is highly goal-oriented and has been used worldwide to help people create meaningful, lasting change. Drawing on my almost 3 decades of experience, education, and training, I help couples achieve breakthroughs and move forward with clarity and purpose.
Diving Into Your Relationship History
While our focus is on solutions, part of the intensive will involve an in-depth exploration of your relationship history. By reflecting on key events that have impacted the quality of your marriage, both of you will gain a deeper understanding of how the past has shaped your present. This process often allows couples to see their relationship from new, more compassionate perspectives.
Practical Tools for Better Communication
One thing I’ve observed in countless couples is the inability to have constructive conversations about heated topics. That’s why a portion of every intensive is spent learning down-to-earth, practical relationship skills that help you navigate disagreements without escalating into fights. These tools are designed to help you stop destructive patterns and start building healthier, more productive ways of communicating.
Specialized Support for Complex Issues
Beyond everyday struggles, many couples come to me because they’re dealing with crises that have shaken the very foundation of their marriage—issues like infidelity, midlife crises, or challenges with intimacy and sexual desire. Over the years, I’ve specialized in helping couples work through these deeply personal and often overwhelming challenges.
A Clear Plan for Moving Forward
By the end of the two days, you’ll leave with a written, personalized plan to help you follow through on the commitments you’ve made during the intensive. This plan serves as a roadmap for maintaining the progress you’ve achieved and staying on track as you continue to strengthen your relationship.
To ensure lasting change, you’ll also have follow-up options such as in-person sessions, phone or video sessions. Ongoing support is key to solidifying the breakthroughs made during the intensive.
The Results Speak for Themselves
The extended time of the 2-day intensive creates a unique opportunity for couples to fully address their issues without feeling rushed. Most couples walk away with major breakthroughs, a renewed sense of connection, and clarity about the steps they need to take to sustain positive changes in their marriage.
Marriage Intensives are not just therapy—they’re a focused, transformative experience designed to help couples rediscover hope, connection, and a path forward. If you’re ready to take that step, I’m here to guide you.