Marathon Therapy
Oregon City, Oregon
Sometimes you need more than an hour once a week.
Some relationship challenges are difficult to address one appointment at a time.
Maybe you're trying to work through the aftermath of an affair, navigating a significant relationship crisis, or finding that weekly sessions don't provide enough time to address what's happening.
Marathon Couples Therapy, sometimes called a couples intensive, offers extended time to focus on your relationship without the usual limitations of a standard therapy appointment.
What is Marathon Couples Therapy?
Marathon therapy involves extended couples sessions, typically lasting approximately 6–8 hours, with breaks throughout the day.
Rather than spreading difficult conversations across several weeks, couples have dedicated time to explore relationship concerns, understand patterns, and work toward meaningful changes.
The extended format allows for deeper conversations, guided exercises, and opportunities to process difficult emotions without having to stop after a typical session.
While marathon therapy provides more concentrated time together, it isn't a guarantee of immediate resolution. Some couples benefit from additional sessions or ongoing support afterward.
Who Might Benefit?
Marathon therapy may be helpful for couples who are:
Working through infidelity or betrayal
Experiencing significant emotional disconnection
Struggling with recurring conflict or communication breakdowns
Navigating a major relationship transition
Trying to rebuild trust
Facing difficult decisions about their relationship
Unable to consistently attend weekly therapy
Looking for focused time to strengthen their connection
An intensive format isn't right for every couple. We'll discuss your circumstances before scheduling to determine whether it is an appropriate option.
We do not start with one long session. We always start the process with a standard session first to discuss if we think this would be a good fit. Each marathon session is tailored to the couple's needs, but the day generally includes time to:
What Does a Marathon Session Look Like?
-
Explore your relationship history, current challenges, and the patterns affecting your connection.
-
With therapeutic guidance, address important concerns and the emotions underneath them.
-
Practice communication, understanding, and repair while identifying opportunities for change.
-
Discuss what you've learned, what needs continued attention, and whether follow-up support would be beneficial.
Breaks are incorporated throughout the day to allow time for rest, food, and reflection.
Meet Martha Bartlow, LPC
Martha provides marathon couples therapy at our in-person location in Oregon City.
Her approach is direct, practical, and informed by specialized training in couples therapy, including the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy.
She works with couples navigating difficult relationship challenges, including infidelity, emotional disconnection, recurring conflict, pornography addictions and major life transitions.
Marathon Therapy Fees & Insurance
Marathon therapy is a private-pay service and is not billed to insurance.
Because the format and length of sessions may vary, please contact us for current pricing and scheduling information.
We'll discuss the format and fees before you commit to an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Sessions typically last approximately 6–8 hours, including scheduled breaks.
-
No, you do not need to be a currentl client. However, an intensive session will not be your first session. Either virtually or in-person, we will do a standard intake session before committing to marathon therapy.
Contact us to discuss your circumstances and whether marathon therapy is an appropriate starting point.
-
Marathon therapy provides concentrated time to address important concerns, but meaningful relationship change may require continued effort and additional support.
-
It may be helpful for some couples working through betrayal, although if there is still an active affair that would need to end before therapy is appropriate.
-
Most couples find transitioning to standard couples therapy after an intensive session to be beneficial. That is something determined by the couple with the support of the therapist.