Utilizing Stan Tatkin’s Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT), our practice founder and seasoned couples therapist, Susan Stork, LCPC, will walk alongside you and your partner as you take the necessary and intense steps required to facilitate deeper connection and relational commitment. Through PACT work, Susan will help you learn to read each other’s actions so you can navigate conflict and find more meaning in the moments you share together.

“I have faith in your ability to overcome challenges, and I believe there's a more effective way for you to heal your relationship. Many couples desire a quick healing process and noticeable changes, but dedicating just one hour per week often falls short. By transitioning to intensive sessions, the couples I've worked with have quickly addressed the core issues and witnessed significant transformations. Observing the consistent positive outcomes, I've committed to continuing with intensives and extending the same support to other couples. I'm eager to offer the same transformative experience for you.”

What is Intensive Couples Therapy?

Intensive Couples Therapy offers a deep dive into relationship dynamics, providing an accelerated path to resolving conflicts and improving communication.

how does it differ from traditional therapy?

Intensive Couples Therapy differs from traditional therapy in its condensed format, focusing on:

• Condensed Format: Focusing on immediate, intensive work over a short period, typically a week or weekend.

• Session Duration: Intensives are comprised of multiple, typically longer-than-usual couples’ sessions held over the course of a single weekend (Friday-Saturday-Sunday) or mid-week (Tuesday -Wednesday-Thursday).

This approach allows for a deeper and more focused exploration of relationship issues, offering rapid progress and resolution compared to the slower, more gradual process of traditional therapy with its weekly sessions over several months.

Intensive couples therapy sessions are ideal for couples who are:

• Separation or Divorce: Couples on the brink of separation or divorce

• Deeper Connection: Couples seeking a deeper connection

• Specific Life Challenges and Issues: Couples struggling with a single major issue such as betrayal, infidelity, infertility, Adoption, Moving Concerns, Adapting to Parenthood, Extended Family Concerns, K1 Visa Concerns & Family Planning

• High profile Couples & Entrepreneurial Couples: High profile couples, working professionals with over-scheduled lives and obligations and entrepreneurial couples struggling within small business and/or connection

• Changing Context: Couples that would prefer not to do couples work in their hometown

• Non-Rev Travel Couples : Couples in the aviation industry or Military - Non-Rev Travel to BWI

We proudly welcome and celebrate all relationships, including LGBTQIA+ and designer partnerships

Additional consultation beyond our initial phone consultation may be required if one or both partners struggles with any of the following conditions:

• Major drug or alcohol use or abuse

• Current or History of Physical Violence

• Untreated Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Major psychiatric illness such as schizophrenia

• Personality Disorders

• Active or Previous Suicidal Ideation or Self-Harm

“Please know that therapy intensives should not serve as a replacement for routine couples therapy sessions. Prior to and following enrolling in intensive couples work, I strongly recommend couples to establish and continue a therapeutic relationship with a couples therapist in their local area.”

If you need assistance searching for a couples therapist provider in your home town, please visit the PACT Therapist Directory, Psychology Today or click the link below to know more about SBCS couples therapists.

TELL ME ABOUT FEES AND INSURANCE?

Intensive Couples Therapy at Space Between Counseling Services begin at $4000 per weekend. Intensives are paid for in advance.

SBCS is not paneled with any insurance plans but can offer you what's called, "out-of-network" (OON) benefits. Not everyone has this as part of their benefits package so please call your healthcare plan and ask these questions:

Do I have out-of-network benefits?
What percentage of my therapist's fee does my plan pay for?

MOST OON benefit PLANS REIMBURSE BETWEEN 50-90% OF OUR FEES.

At times, insurance plans request upfront billing codes your therapist will be using. You can share this list of codes for their approval:

• 90791  Psychiatric Diagnostic Assessment (from 1-4 sessions depending on the problem)

• 90847  Family Psychotherapy, conjoint psychotherapy with patient present

• 90834 Psychotherapy, 45 minutes

• 90832  Psychotherapy, 30 minutes

When using OON benefits, your clinician would provide you with a document monthly called a "superbill" which is like an invoice but contains the service codes, dates of treatment, and monies paid during therapy. You would submit this to your plan directly and your plan would reimburse you directly as well.

You can get in-network therapy if this is out of your budget. Your plan can identify providers who are in-network should you need to use your benefits.

HOW ARE OUR RECORDS STORED?

We at SBCS utilize a HIPAA compliant, encrypted, electronic medical record called SimplePractice that holds all of our client's mental health records safely in it. You will get a link to a client portal where you fill in demographic information and can access documents like invoices and superbills on your own.

HOW DO I PAY MY THERAPIST?

SimplePractice has a credit card processing system named Stripe embedded in it.  If choosing to work with a therapist at SBCS, you would upload your credit card number and your therapist will charge after each session or late cancelation for the fee.  Your therapist will only have access to the last 4 digits of your card and it is completely secured.

DO YOU HAVE A CANCELLATION POLICY?

Intensives are paid for in advance and are refunded at 80% with 30 days’ notice; 50% refundable with 2 weeks’ notice, and not refunded if canceled within two weeks of intensive date. Exceptions may be made for emergencies such as sudden illness or accidents, at your therapist’s discretion. It should be noted that insurance does not reimburse for canceled sessions and HSA and FSA cards can't be used in these cases.