Four hours sounds like a lot. So does $1,500. If you are weighing a couples intensive against another year of weekly sessions, you deserve a straight answer about what you actually get.
For many couples, yes. A couples intensive gives you four focused hours in one day, then one or two follow-up sessions, so the work builds instead of starting over every week.
It is the right fit when you feel stuck, are short on time, or are in a crisis that cannot wait a week. It is not the right fit for every couple, and I will tell you honestly on your free consultation call which path makes more sense.
Why weekly therapy can stall
A weekly hour has a rhythm. The first part goes to updating me on the week. The middle is where the real conversation happens. The last minutes go to settling down so you can drive home. Often, just as something important comes up, the hour ends. Then six days of work, kids, and life fill the space before you come back.
For many couples, that rhythm works well. For others, it means circling the same fight for months. The Gottman Institute reports that couples wait an average of six years after problems start before getting help. By the time you sit down with a therapist, the patterns between you are well worn. A focused block of time gives those patterns room to actually shift.
What an intensive feels like
You spend four hours with me at my office in Temecula, both of you for the full time. Breaks are built in. There is space to slow down, to say the thing you have been holding back, and to understand what is really happening underneath the distance between you.
Within about two weeks, you come back for one or two follow-up sessions. That is where what started in the intensive gets tested in real life, and where we adjust. I share the specifics of how I structure the day on your consultation call, so you know exactly what you are walking into.
One focused day can move your relationship further than months of weekly sessions.
Janine Piernas, LMFTIntensive or weekly: side by side
| Weekly Couples Therapy | Couples Intensive | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 90 minute assessment, then 60 minute sessions | 4 hours in one day, plus 1 or 2 follow-ups |
| Pace | Steady, over months | Concentrated, over about two weeks |
| Best for | Couples who want ongoing support | Couples who feel stuck, are in crisis, or have busy schedules |
| Where | In person in Temecula or by telehealth anywhere in California | In person in Temecula |
| Investment | $375 assessment, then $250 per session | From $1,500 |
Per hour, an intensive costs a little more than weekly sessions. What you are paying for is what happens to the time. In weekly therapy, five hours of work is spread across five or more weeks, with a new start each time. In an intensive, those hours build on each other while you are both in the room.
An intensive is a strong fit if
- You keep having the same fight, and weekly sessions have not moved it.
- Your schedules make a standing weekly appointment hard to keep.
- You are in a crisis and waiting a week between sessions feels impossible.
- You want a reset before a big transition: a new baby, a move, an empty nest.
- You live outside the Temecula Valley and would rather travel in once than commute every week. Many of the couples I see for intensives travel in.
- Trust has been broken by an affair. My Affair Recovery Intensive is built for that.
When weekly is the better choice
- You want slow, steady support over many months.
- You would rather meet by telehealth. Intensives are held in person only.
- One of you is unsure whether to stay. My Clarity Session is designed for that question.
- There is fear, threats, or violence in the relationship. An intensive is not the right starting point. Safety comes first.
I am Janine Piernas, a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than 15 years of experience with couples. I utilize the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy.
My client is the relationship. I hold both of you at once, and neither of you is made the villain. More about me.
What it costs
- Couples Intensive with one follow-up: $1,500 (5 hours total).
- Couples Intensive with two follow-ups: $1,650 (6 hours total).
- Affair Recovery Intensive: $2,000 (6 hours total).
A 50% deposit by Zelle reserves your date, and the balance is due the day of your intensive. Intensives are available on weekdays and weekends. For the full fee picture, read How Much Does Couples Therapy Cost in Temecula? or see my Fees page.
Start Before Your IntensiveThe Couples Toolkit
$29
A printable set of the tools I want couples to have at home: how to settle a fight before it escalates, how to come back after one, and how to feel close again. Instant PDF download.
Get the ToolkitCommon questions
Is a couples intensive worth the money?
For couples who feel stuck, are short on time, or are in crisis, it often is. Per hour, an intensive costs a little more than weekly sessions, but the hours build on each other instead of being spread across weeks. The free consultation is where I will tell you honestly whether it fits.
How much does a couples intensive cost?
In my practice, a couples intensive starts at $1,500 for four hours plus one follow-up session. With two follow-ups it is $1,650. The Affair Recovery Intensive is $2,000.
Can we do a couples intensive online?
No. Intensives are held in person at my office in Temecula, CA. Many couples travel in from all over. Weekly couples therapy is available by telehealth anywhere in California.
Can we schedule an intensive on a weekend?
Yes. Intensives are available on weekdays and weekends.
Is four hours too long?
Most couples are surprised by how quickly the time goes. Breaks are built in, and the pace is set so that neither of you is pushed past what you can handle.
Do we need a consultation first?
Yes. Every intensive starts with a free 30 minute phone consultation so we can make sure it is the right fit for both of you.
One focused day. A real start.
Start with a free 30 minute consultation. No pressure and no commitment, just an honest conversation about where you are and whether an intensive is the right fit.
The relationship you want is closer than you think.
Book Your Free ConsultationSee How Intensives Work
Janine Piernas, LMFT #105849, is a couples therapist in Temecula, CA, offering couples therapy, couples intensives, and affair recovery in person and by telehealth throughout California. More about Janine
