8 Best Marriage Counseling Retreats in the US for 2026

Marriage Quest has been offering private marriage retreats in Vermont for over 25 years and is run by Dr. Israel Helfand and his wife, Cathie Helfand. Before offering these retreats, this couple maintained a family therapy practice which they began in 1983, where they provided couples therapy together – one couple at a time. Their marriage retreats are located on the premises of their charming Vermont farmstead. At each retreat, they address a range of issues from crisis intervention (i.e., consideration by either member of the couple of ending the marriage), to marital bond enhancement, promoting increased emotional and/or sexual intimacy. The Helfands try to ensure that each partner feels heard and not blamed for any type of marriage discord, they also focus on healing and growth instead of marriage failures. This unique approach is further solidified by Israel Helfand’s years of experience as a sex therapist. While some retreats shy away from the subject, Marriage Quest considers sex to be “the biggest prognostic tool in marriage”, Israel and Cathie believe that if there was an attraction between partners in the beginning, the potential exists for it to be rekindled. Unlike many other retreats, their retreats are limited to one couple at a time. For cost information, contact the Helfands.

Sedona Soul Adventures was founded by Debra Stangl and offers incredible scenery and a custom-designed retreat for each couple in beautiful Sedona, Arizona. Sedona Soul Adventures’ marriage retreats (among others) emphasizes that no two couples are alike. Therefore, their retreats will typically not be configured in exactly the same way as another couple’s retreat. The focus is on healing while in a romantic haven, in which you will work in private sessions with experienced practitioners. Sedona Soul Adventures has been offering retreats since 2002 and works with over 40 practitioners, many of whom have over 20 years of couples counseling experience.

LIFE Marriage Retreats offer couples an all-inclusive experience. They get the chance to focus on their specific relationship goals and explore long-term solutions to meet their needs. For the duration of the retreat, each couple receives the following: couples’ own private bedroom and bathroom suite, gourmet meals, first-class training, private counseling, and choice of other activities. LIFE Marriage Retreats’ three-member team of professionals facilitate all small group retreats and have been successfully saving marriages for over a decade.  They are committed to providing each couple with a transformative experience and sending them home with everything they need to create their ideal relationship and maintain it for the rest of their lives together.  Besides their small group retreats (maximum of 4-6 couples), LIFE Marriage Retreats also offers exclusive private retreats.

The Gottman Institute, run by Dr. John Gottman and his wife, Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, offers more than 40 years of research in marriage counselling combined with 45 years of clinical work with couples, families and individuals. This professional couple understand why relationships between couples disintegrate, and they have built a set of marriage retreats that are designed to combat such relationship disintegration. Their goal is to help you identify and reach goals within the relationship, in order to strengthen couples’ bonds with each other as well as commitment to each other.

Retrouvaille means rediscovery in French. Catholic in origin, this Christian marriage program enables attendees of any of the Retrouvaille Marriage Retreats to get the chance to rediscover each other that led to choosing marriage with each other. While many marriage retreats only last for a few days, Retrouvaille offers a series of marriage retreats over a three-month period. These programs are offered in areas all around the country as well as some international locations. At these retreats, couples are encouraged to focus primarily on communication. Once they learn to communicate positively and effectively, couples will have the tools that they need to move forward in a healthy way.

Marriage Boot Camp is one of the most intensive four-day marriage retreats in the US and allows couples to acquire tools that they need to survive as a couple. Rather than focusing on counseling, couples play mental games, complete drills, and do experimental competitions that have been designed to bring them closer together. Typically, these activities run from 10 AM – 11 PM during the first three days of the boot camp, and then from 10 AM – 9 PM on the last day of the camp. The guide-to-attendee ratio is very low at these camps, and usually, at least one facilitator is available for every four participants. It is important to note that prices are subject to change, and the camp does offer scholarships to couples who need financial assistance.

Imago Relationships offers couples workshops and therapy based on a program developed by Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt. The core of the program is founded on the concept of imago (a Latin word that refers to the unconscious image of familiar love). Since what is learned about love as a child affects intimate relationships in adulthood, these are included as issues impacting marriage relationships. During the Imago Relationships retreats, participants are encouraged to identify and explore core issues affecting their relationship.  As illustrated in Dr. Hendrix’s book titled Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples, learning and teaching the “Imago Dialogue”, couples are assisted through therapy sessions to move from blame and reactivity to understanding and empathy. Imago sponsors workshops all over the country, including ones directed specifically at same-sex couples.

Marriage Retreats with John Grey offer more than just a place to get help with a trained psychologist. As a research psychologist and cofounder of a major research center at Stanford University, John’s evidence-based approach to helping couples is informed by current neuroscience and attachment research on what is needed for lasting satisfaction. His scientific background enables John to teach partners proven tools to overcome distress and strengthen their positive bond as a couple. (Note, you don’t have to be married to have a retreat). For the past 35 years, John has conducted intensive marriage retreats that give partners effective tools and strategies tailored to meet their specific situations and needs. He frequently works with couples in crisis and on the brink of divorce. In fact, the famous author (“Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus”) who shares a similar name, Dr. John Gray, included John on his preferred list of marriage counselors. Besides strengthening their interpersonal relationship, John helps couples to repair ruptures and reconnect, defuse conflict and reactive cycles, communicate effectively, heal from infidelity, overcome sexual blocks, and renew intimacy. Relationships routinely get transformed and partners take home the tools and strategies they need to stay on a positive track. John Grey’s private couples retreat is delivered virtually.