A high-impact, private couples retreat designed for real results.
Communicate better, recover safe and secure intimacy, find each other again.
Available in person in Loudoun County, Virginia or online for Virginia and D.C. couples.
Reconnect. Reset. Rediscover.
PRIVATE COUPLES THERAPY RETREATS
IN LEESBURG, VA (IN PERSON OR ONLINE)
I’m Susan Saint-Rossy, The Relationship Therapist
For more than 20 years, I’ve helped high-achieving couples turn conflict, disconnection, and exhaustion into genuine understanding and renewed closeness.
I’m trained in the Gottman Method, EFT (Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy), and PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy). I use all of these approaches, but rely mostly on PACT, a neuroscience-based, experiential approach that works quickly to reset your dynamic and rebuild safety and trust.
I believe lasting love isn’t built through endless analysis—it’s built through presence, repair, and emotional attunement.
That’s what these retreats are designed to deliver.
Why Choose The [Relationship] Therapist’s Private Couples Retreat
Because your relationship deserves more than “just getting by.”
When your connection feels strained or distant, weekly therapy can feel too slow.
A retreat gives you the time and focus to truly shift how you relate—without months of rehashing old arguments.
Here’s what makes this work different:
Focused, concierge-level attention. Just the two of you—no groups, no distractions.
Methods that work. PACT integrates attachment theory, neuroscience, and arousal regulation for fast, lasting results. EFT and the Gottman Method offer research-based help.
Real change, not just insight. You’ll practice new ways of communicating and connecting right in the moment, in sessions.
Efficient for busy, high-performing couples. You’ll leave with clarity, tools, and a plan for continued growth.
Who Can Benefit From a Retreat
This experience is designed for couples who:
Feel stuck in repetitive conflict or distance—and want to find their way back to connection.
Have demanding, high-pressure lives and need an efficient, results-oriented approach.
Want to rebuild closeness and safety after years of growing apart.
Prefer deep, private work instead of generic group retreats or drawn-out weekly therapy.
You might be on the brink of burnout—or simply ready to feel close again.
You don’t have to stay in limbo land where you are not feeling satisfied or seen in your relationship.
With the right focus and support, you can rediscover the sense of “us” that got lost along the way.
What a Couples Therapy Retreat Is and Isn’t
A couples therapy retreat is:
A Focused Deep Dive – No small talk, no fluff. Just dedicated time to get to the root of a specific relationship struggle and start solving it.
A Fast Track to Change – You get the concentrated help so you can learn quickly what and how to change your dynamic.
Designed for High-Performing Couples – Tailored for those who expect results and need an efficient, effective approach.
Private & High-Touch – This is a concierge-level experience for just the two of you.
A Reset, Not a Band-Aid – Not about managing symptoms, it’s about fundamentally transforming the way you communicate, connect, and show up.
Active & Intense — A retreat is not intensive just because of the length of time. Couples should be ready and willing to do deep emotional work.
A couples therapy retreat isn’t:
A Magic Fix – If you’re looking for a quick “hack” or for the private retreat to “fix” your partner, this isn’t for you.
Just Talking About Your Feelings – This is action-oriented therapy. You’ll practice real techniques that shift your interactions.
A Rehash of Every Past Argument – We don’t waste time reliving old fights. We identify patterns and shift them in real time.
A Generic Therapy Session – Not cookie-cutter couples counseling. A retreat is tailored to you.
For Couples Who Have Already Checked Out – If one of you is halfway out the door and just looking to confirm it’s over, this isn’t the right fit.
For Couples Who Have Recently Experienced Betrayal — Emotions are too intense to benefit from a retreat intensive. Read about betrayal here.
What You’ll Experience
Each retreat is immersive, restorative, and highly personalized.
Across three days, we focus deeply on what matters most to your relationship: helping you interrupt negative cycles, rebuild trust, and reconnect emotionally and physically.
During your experience, you will:
Step out of daily chaos and focus solely on your relationship.
Get to the root of your struggles quickly—no small talk or spinning in circles.
Learn to communicate without defensiveness or shutdown.
Experience connection again, the kind that feels safe, real, and alive. If you stay locally, you’ll have time to enjoy activities in beautiful Loudoun County, VA, together to strengthen your bond.
Leave with a clear plan to sustain progress once you’re home.
This isn’t a vacation—it’s a turning point.
What Your Retreat Will Look Like
Every couple’s experience is custom-build, based on your unique needs. You can expect the full range of emotions, from tears to laugh, with a lot of brain work in between, all guided by a highly experienced relationship expert.
Here’s an example of how your retreat might unfold:
Before the Retreat
A pre-retreat process that helps you get ready for the sessions.
A consultation to talk about expectations and the process.
During the Retreat
5 hours of couples therapy on day one (and 3-4 hours per day on days 2 & 3) depending on the schedule your prefer.
In-session assessment and interventions based on The Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy. Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy.
Day One
Orientation, relationship history review, and goal setting
Mapping the core dynamics driving conflict
Foundational PACT exercises for safety and regulation
Day Two
Real-time practice of new communication and repair strategies
Deep work on trust, attachment, and emotional safety
Integration and reflection
Day Three (optional)
Refinement of tools for long-term connection
Planning for daily life at home
Closing session with next steps for continued growth
After the Retreat
A unique follow-up plan to couples continue the progress made at their retreat.
Referral to a couples therapy local to you, if the you want to continue with regular sessions. (Or continue with me, if appropriate.)
A check-in 30 minute session (virtual or in-person) to be used within 3 months of the retreat.
Techniques and tools to help you continue the progress and changes you accomplished during the retreat.
A free best-selling relationship book selected specifically for you to assist you in improving even more after the retreat.
Choose Your Retreat
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5 hours per day (with breaks), 4 hours day 2 & 3 (with lunch break)
Total: 13 hours of therapy
Investment: $5,750
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5 hours day 1 (with lunch break), 4 hours day 2 (with lunch break)
Total: 9 hours of therapy
Investment: $4,000 -
5 hours (with lunch break)
Total: 5 hours of therapy
Investment: $2,250
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A fully customized experience designed around your relationship goals and lifestyle.
May include restorative activities such as horseback riding, art experiences, or wine-country outings.
Pricing determined after consultation.
Schedule for Upcoming Retreats
NOTE: OTHER DATES MAY BE AVAILABLE. PLEASE INQUIRE.
When you hit the button to book, you will be taken to a page to schedule a free consultation.
Oct. 25-27, 2025—BOOKED/NOT AVAILABLE
Nov. 1-3, 2025—BOOKED/NOT AVAILABLE
Nov. 15-17, 2025
Location: Leesburg, VA or Online
Nov. 20-22, 2025
Location: Leesburg, VA or Online
Dec. 6-8, 2025
Location: Leesburg, VA or Online
Jan. 7-9, 2026
Location: Leesburg, VA or Online
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the wait to be scheduled for an intensive or retreat?
Usually the wait is three to four weeks because we have to find a time when I can schedule long sessions several days in a row. Retreat dates fill up quickly. Look ahead to book a time that works for you.
Are intensives or retreats covered by insurance?
Not usually. In general, health insurance companies do not even cover regular couples work because it is not considered a “medical” issue. There are exceptions to this rule, when the couples therapy is helping one person in a couple with a mental illness. We can talk more about this when you have your free consultation.
Can you help us find a place to stay if we want to come from out of town for a retreat or intensive?
Yes. Follow this link to discover places to stay and things to do in the surrounding area.
What happens after the retreat is over? Will we still need to continue our couples work.
That depends on you and your situation. Some couples feel they could benefit from more work with me and want to schedule sessions after the intensive. We can do that if you reside in Virginia or Washington, DC, where I am licensed. If you do not live in either of those places and you want to continue your work, I can refer you to a vetted couples therapist where you live.