Online Virtual Retreats during COVID-19

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are conducting online virtual retreats using Zoom rather than meeting in person. This is because in-person retreats are far worse than other super-spreader events. See why in-person retreats spread COVID-19.

After conducting two dozen virtual retreats at the time of this writing, we are confident that our Zoom-based intensive programs are highly successful, as reported to us in the couples’ own words. Read testimonials from several of our virtual retreat clients.

We’ve been doing intensive marriage retreats for three decades. We know what you can accomplish in a short period of time, and we know how to help you do it.

And we have used online video for years with great results, both for follow-up sessions and when couples couldn’t see us in person.

The help you’ll get from us in a virtual retreat is every bit as effective as you’d receive in person. It may be even better! Surprised by that? We were too, until we figured out why.

Find out why virtual retreats can be more effective than meeting in person →

What Couples Say About Our Virtual Retreats

Having used online video for years, we effectively deliver best-in-class relationship help. Couples find our online intensive program to be equal in effectiveness to our in-person work. Here are excerpts from what couples said about working virtually:

“We didn’t want to do our retreat remotely, but decided to go ahead with it. We’re surprised by how well we improved our communication. Our barriers let down and we’re no longer defensive. We can repair upsets like we never could before. And now we sit down together every day and express our appreciation for each other.”

“During this stay-at-home period the online intensive we did with you has literally saved our marriage. We are so glad we found you, and thank you for the security we have found with each other through working with you.”

“I really liked doing the retreat from home. In our own house, in our surroundings, we felt more comfortable, we felt we could be more intimate, and it’s not unnatural in any way. And it felt like it was us doing the work, with you just making sure it kept moving along, so we didn’t get stuck.”

“When you go somewhere else, it almost makes it seem like this other place is the important thing. And people say, when they go on retreats, that they ‘come back to reality’ at home again to the same old thing. But with our virtual retreat, the transformation happened in our reality. There was no ‘back to reality.’ This is our reality. So it gives our changes a solid foundation.”

“This has been awesome to do during the Coronavirus time. We’re really grateful for you. We really weren’t doing very well. The emotional repair process you gave us has been huge. This all has been really effective. It finally feels like we are really a team and we own our relationship as real partners.”

“I first thought ‘I don’t want to do it virtually. I need the person right in front of me.’ I thought I wouldn’t get as much out of it doing it online. But now I can say that it was life-changing. Just the couple of days have really opened our eyes and our hearts. Doing it online was actually much better for us.”

“We were initially quite apprehensive about doing an intensive retreat online vs. in person. But John coached us the same as if we were together. In hindsight, there are no negatives to doing this online, and there are some real positives.”

“We’ve done an in-person retreat in the past, and now this virtual retreat. Being in our own home was much better than being in a strange place. It was easier. No stress from travel. Being here at home and scheduling the sessions to suit us helped us apply the tools and make the changes we wanted in our daily lives.”

“We’re definitely glad we did the retreat virtually. The comfort and safety of being in our own home made such a big difference. We wouldn’t have been as comfortable doing it somewhere else. Although getting away from home is the common idea about a retreat, that would not have at all been as good as how secure we felt at our place.”

“In the end, I thought the virtual retreat was preferable. If we had gone away it might seem the location made all the magic happen there. But here, it was in our own home we were making it happen. I really do think that doing the retreat virtually works quite well. I would never have thought it would be as productive this way. But now, I can say I prefer it.”

See the full testimonials from all of our virtual retreats clients →

Best-in-Class Help When You Need It

We know that part of the attraction of a retreat is to get away from home and stay in a beautiful travel destination. Of course, you can still do this for a virtual retreat. Many of our clients do go away to stay at special places for their Zoom retreats.

Yet most couples seek a retreat because their marriage is in serious trouble. And feeling the distress of that, they realize they need an intensive approach that provides competent help that makes a real difference.

That’s what we deliver, in-person, or via Zoom. We’ve been successfully working with couples for decades. Our approach is top-rated.

If your relationship is at a critical juncture, know that we offer best-in-class help. And we can give this help to you using Zoom just as effectively as meeting in person.

Working virtually over the last several months, we have consistently helped partners heal major issues with effectiveness equal to our in-person work. And they were not dealing with light-weight problems, either. On the contrary.

We helped some partners heal severe matters like infidelity, betrayal, and lying. Others were stuck in long term conflicts and fighting. Yet others were disconnected emotionally, avoiding each other, or living like room-mates. A few had filed for divorce.

We helped these couples successfully, every bit equal in effectiveness to the in-person work we have delivered for decades in our intensive retreats. Some of our virtual work was even more effective than our in-person work!

See why some couples said a virtual retreat was actually better →

Virtual Retreats Offer Flexible Scheduling

Conducting virtual retreats offers increased flexibility in how you can schedule and time your sessions. Our normal in-person retreats consisted of two 3-hour sessions per day for three to four days in a row.

In a virtual retreat, you can schedule sessions as you like. Do full 6-hour days or just one 3-hour session per day and spread your retreat out over a longer timespan.

And we offer two distinct virtual retreat programs. See our retreat details page for our two different programs, costs, and logistics.

We’d be happy to discuss how any of our virtual retreat programs can help you. Reach us by using our contact page or by giving John a call at (707) 536-5781.

When Will We Offer In-Person Retreats?

An in-person retreat is the most singularly dangerous super-spreader venue for COVID-19. It’s certain the virus would contaminate our center. Even if we became asymptomatic, we would unknowingly spread it to more clients.

Some clients are in the high vulnerability group. Beyond that, playing any role in spreading COVID-19 goes against an oath of the healing professional: “First, do no harm.”

Thus, since we’re informed by science and honor that healer’s oath, to us there appears to be no choice at this time. There is no way to protect against the virus and conduct an effective retreat.

So as much as we love to work in person, it looks like it will be a while before we can again conduct in-person retreats. Meanwhile, our current virtual work with clients shows: Our online retreats are as good or better than meeting in person →

See why in-person retreats are super-spreader events →