Four sessions is not enough time to fix an entire relationship. But when you hit a severe deadlock, a sudden crisis, or a repeating loop that leaves you both completely exhausted, it can feel like you’re trying to patch a hole in your boat while getting actively tossed around by the storm. 

Open Sea is an intentional stop to repair that hole. We pull into a quiet harbor for four extended weekend sessions to temporarily pause the daily noise and focus exclusively on the mechanics of your relationship. Once we identify the damage and make structural changes, then you’ll actually be in a position to navigate the waters safely again. After that, couples can sustain positive momentum at a slower pace, whether they ultimately pursue additional therapeutic support or keep working on it just the two of them.

In Open Sea, we focus on the deeper pattern: what happens, why it happens, how each of you protects yourselves, and where the cycle can begin to shift. It’s possible to do that in typical 50 minute sessions too, but you might also find yourself spending the first 30 minutes recapping the week, and just as you get to the core issue, the hour is up.

The purpose of 2.5 hour sessions is to deeply investigate the core issues of your partnership, without that time pressure. My goal is for couples to feel fully understood because of the extra time dedication, and for both of you to leave each weekend intensive with a well-developed and specific plan of action for the weeks ahead. And if you’re worried about being exhausted by talking for that long, each session plan includes a midway break to step away from the couch and cool off. Because our office is steps from the water, you can take a walk, let the Pacifica breeze reset your system, and process what just happened without any need to talk.

This is incredibly common. Rarely do both partners experience the same level of readiness at the same moment. If your partner is hesitant, it’s usually not because they don't want the relationship to improve. But they might be terrified of stepping into a room just to be cross-examined, blamed, or double-teamed by a therapist (especially for two and a half hours).

Therapy with me is never a finger-pointing exercise. Even when one party might be considered “in the wrong” because they yell in anger, ignore conflicts, or have prior incidents of infidelity, my focus is entirely on the roots of those issues and the ways both of you get stuck in your assigned relationship roles. Making room for expressing healthy pain and anger is a top priority, but assigning blame is nowhere on my list. If your partner is on the fence, invite them to just complete the initial 15-minute consultation with me with no pressure or commitments.

Not at all. When a couple hits a crisis point, it can actually be a relief to take a few focused hours to deal with that crisis rather than letting it play out on the sidelines of your life, ruminating on your problems while trying to keep your everyday routines intact. Even the heartbreaking clarity that a relationship needs to end can be explored in a safe and healthy container, rather than an explosive argument or a cold and distant conversation. On the other hand, sometimes the dedicated effort of doing Open Sea together– including lots of practice rounds with communication and behavior changes– can help couples on the edge renew their desire to build a better future.

Open Sea is designed for romantic or domestic partners. Our practice is an intentionally safe, affirming, and respectful container for all relationships. I fully welcome LGBTQIA+, queer, trans, and gender-expansive couples. Please note that this particular intensive model is structurally optimized for two-partner relationships rather than multi-partner polyamorous systems. However, every kind of partner or marital status, as well as all expressions of gender identity and sexual orientation are deeply respected on my couch.

We break it down into four automated installments of $900 so you can comfortably plan your payments for the program over the weeks we work together.

Here’s exactly how it works:

• The Deposit ($900): Paid at registration to secure your weekend slots on my calendar. This covers Session 1 and is non-refundable.

• The Installments ($900 each): Your card on file is automatically billed the Monday morning before Sessions 2, 3, and 4.

The Exit Ramp: Once a payment processes, it is locked and non-refundable for that upcoming weekend. However, if you decide mid-program that this intensive isn't the right fit, just let me know before the next Monday billing cycle and I will cancel all remaining unbilled sessions with zero penalty.

I only work with one couple at a time in this program to ensure that I can provide maximum weekend availability and clinical focus. Each 2.5-hour session will be scheduled between 2–4 weeks apart to maintain appropriate spacing and momentum without couples burning out from weekly intensives. Once both partners commit to starting the program and make their initial deposit, the actual dates of sessions are flexible and will be mutually agreed upon by the program participants and myself.

Because weekend time is highly valuable for both of us, each couple gets one late reschedule without penalty for illness or a genuine emergency.

After that, late cancellations may be forfeited once the billing block has passed. When possible, I may offer a standard 50-minute couples session as a substitute, but this is not guaranteed and depends on availability.

No. Open Sea is designed for couples who are ready to slow down, look honestly at their patterns, and work actively in the room together.

It is not the right fit if there is active violence, intimidation, coercive control, or fear of retaliation in the relationship. It also may not be appropriate if one partner is being pressured into attending, if either partner is in an active mental health crisis, or if the main goal is for the therapist to declare one person “the problem.”

This intensive is also not a guarantee of a specific outcome. The goal is to create focused time, identify the cycle you are stuck in, and begin practicing a different way forward.

If you’re unsure whether Open Sea is the right fit, feel free to set up an exploratory call with me before scheduling.