Key Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Couples Retreat or Intensive in Las Vegas
- Anabelle aka Dr Belle Bugatti PhD, (We ♥️ Therapy)
- 7 days ago
- 7 min read

A couples retreat or intensive couples therapy retreat in Las Vegas can sound exciting—you have the opportunity to make real progress in healing your relationship in just a few days, all while enjoying the world-class entertainment, dining, and shopping that Las Vegas, Nevada, has to offer.
However, not all couples intensives are created equal. To truly get your money’s worth and strengthen your relationship, you need to make an informed choice by understanding how the retreat works, who will conduct it, and what makes it effective.
In this article, we’ve created a comprehensive checklist of essential questions to ask before choosing a marriage intensive or relationship therapy retreat. With these insights, you can commit to an effective program that helps you gain new perspectives, rebuild trust, and deepen your emotional bond with your partner.
About Your Relationship Needs
When considering whether to attend a couples retreat or marriage intensive retreat in Las Vegas, it’s essential to reflect on what your relationship needs most right now:
What are the primary issues or goals that bring us to seek a retreat or intensive couples therapy? (e.g., communication, intimacy, betrayal, feeling disconnected). Are we seeking enrichment, repair after a crisis, or skills for a major transition?
Are both of us motivated and willing to fully participate, or is one of us reluctant?
Have we tried traditional marriage counseling before, and what were the outcomes?
Why These Questions Are Essential
These questions help you select a couples intensive or therapy retreat that truly fits your needs.
At Las Vegas Marriage Counseling, Dr. Belle—also known as Anabelle Bugatti, PhD, LMFT—offers a diverse range of marriage intensives and couples retreats for partners at every stage of their relationship.
Types of Couples Therapy Intensives Offered by Las Vegas Marriage Counseling
Marriage therapy retreat
Couples therapy retreats
Relationship therapy intensives
Intensive therapy for infidelity
Communication-focused couples intensive
Trust-rebuilding couples therapy intensive (healing after a betrayal)
Repairing/Healing unresolved issues and hurts that couples haven’t been able to move past
Reconnecting through couples therapy intensives
Emotional intimacy intensive therapy
Restoring sexual intimacy intensive therapy
Deepening Emotional Connection couples intensives
About the Retreat Structure and Approach
When selecting a couples retreat in Las Vegas, it’s important to understand how the program’s structure and approach will make your investment in intensive couples therapy effective. Asking the right questions will help you choose the retreat that best fits your relationship needs:
Is the program a private couples retreat (just the two of us with the therapist) or a group/psychoeducational workshop?
Is there an opportunity to speak with the facilitator before committing?
How many hours will be spent in actual therapy, and how is the time structured between sessions and activities?
What therapeutic approach is used? Is it evidence-based, such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)?
Does the retreat include a pre-attendance assessment? Are follow-ups or integration sessions offered afterwards?
Why These Questions Are Essential
Understanding these details ensures you’ll know exactly how your marriage counseling or relationship therapy intensive will work and whether it aligns with your expectations.
For instance, Dr. Belle offers private, customized couples therapy intensives using an emotionally focused, research-backed approach in Las Vegas Marriage Counseling. EFT intensives help couples dive deeply into their emotional experiences, repair disconnection, and strengthen attachment bonds in a concentrated timeframe.
Dr. Belle’s Couples Intensive Structure
Initial Zoom Consultation: In this introductory video call, Dr. Belle helps clients assess if an intensive couples therapy retreat is right for them. She will also explain what to expect, how to prepare, and how the process works.
Two Full Days of Focused Therapy (9 AM – 4 PM): Dr. Belle’s expert guidance as a certified EFT therapist is maximized in a concentrated schedule of two full days to accomplish 3-4 months of weekly therapy.
Flexible Lunch Breaks: Flexible lunch breaks are designed around session flow, giving couples time to recharge and enjoy the Las Vegas atmosphere.
Take-Home Workbook: Practical exercises are given to couples to continue their relationship growth and reinforce progress made during the retreat.
One-Hour Follow-Up Session (1–2 Months Later): This check-in is designed to track progress, reinforce skills, and identify any remaining goals.
Optional Coordination with Your Current Therapist: If couples choose to do so, they can continue therapeutic care for long-term relationship success.
This intensive retreat format allows couples to achieve meaningful breakthroughs in just days, rather than months of traditional therapy.
About the Facilitator’s Credentials
When choosing a marriage or couples retreat in Las Vegas, it’s vital to research the facilitator who will guide your intensive couples therapy. Their expertise, credentials, and specialized training can make all the difference in achieving lasting results.
Key questions to ask include:
Is the facilitator a licensed mental health professional? What credentials and experience do they have, especially in marriage counseling and relationship therapy intensives?
Do they have specialty training in areas relevant to our needs, such as infidelity recovery, trauma therapy, or conflict resolution?
Why These Questions Are Essential
Asking these questions ensures you choose a facilitator licensed by the Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors of Nevada, with the qualifications necessary to provide effective and ethical care.
Meet Dr. Belle, PhD, LMFT
At Las Vegas Marriage Counseling, Dr. Belle offers couples intensive therapy with exceptional expertise and credentials:
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Nevada
Certified Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Supervisor and Therapist
Holds a Master’s degree from New York’s Long Island University and a PhD from Northcentral University
Over a decade of experience helping couples worldwide
Dr. Belle specializes in guiding partners through couples retreats, marriage intensives, and relationship therapy for issues such as betrayal, emotional disconnection, and unresolved conflict. Her compassionate yet structured approach helps couples restore trust, deepen intimacy, and create lasting change.
Expectations and Logistics
It’s essential to know how progress will be measured and what logistical details to expect in a couples or marriage intensive. Asking the right questions can help you determine if the program truly meets your needs:
What are the expected outcomes of the retreat or intensive couples therapy, and how will progress be measured or reviewed?
How much does it cost, and what is included in the price—just therapy sessions, or additional services as well?
How will privacy and confidentiality be maintained during and after the retreat?
Why These Questions Are Essential
These questions ensure you’re fully informed about the structure, expectations, and investment required for your relationship therapy intensive. They also help you understand how your progress will be tracked to ensure your goals are met.
The Logistics Behind Dr. Belle’s Couples Retreat
At Las Vegas Marriage Counseling, Dr. Belle conducts private couples therapy intensives in a safe, confidential space where partners can openly work through challenges.
Personalized Goal Setting
In the initial assessment, couples share their therapeutic goals. Dr. Belle then tailors intervention strategies that can be measured and tracked for clear progress.
Session Location
All sessions take place in the private, welcoming environment of Las Vegas Marriage Counseling. Strict confidentiality protocols ensure a safe environment for open, honest communication.
Condensed Therapy Benefits
This marriage intensive format compresses the benefits of 3–4 months of weekly therapy into two focused days, allowing for faster breakthroughs and deeper connection.
Investment
$3,500–$6,500, with couples responsible for their own travel and accommodations.
Personal Readiness Questions for Both Partners
Before committing to a couples retreat or any other form of couples therapy, both partners must have an honest, open conversation about readiness. These questions can help ensure you’re starting the journey on the same page:
Are we clear about what we want to achieve from this intensive couples therapy experience?
Are we prepared to discuss difficult or vulnerable topics with honesty and openness?
Can we take time away from daily responsibilities to focus solely on our relationship?
Why These Questions Matter
Marriage counseling and relationship therapy intensives work best when both partners are equally committed to the process. Shared motivation and willingness to engage deeply increase the likelihood of achieving the goals you set together in therapy.
At Las Vegas Marriage Counseling, Dr. Belle creates a supportive, structured environment where couples can safely explore challenges, rebuild trust, and deepen emotional intimacy. However, the success of a couples intensive depends on each partner’s readiness to invest time, energy, and vulnerability into the process.
Red Flags to Watch For
Las Vegas offers many options for couples retreats and marriage intensives designed to help partners reconnect, resolve conflict, and overcome relationship roadblocks. However, not all programs are created equal, and some may not deliver the quality of care you need. To protect your investment of time, energy, and trust, watch out for these warning signs:
Retreats not facilitated by licensed or experienced professionals
Effective intensive couples therapy should be led by a licensed mental health professional with specialized training in marriage counseling and relationship-focused approaches.
Programs promising guaranteed results or unrealistic outcomes
Relationship progress depends on the commitment and participation of both partners; no ethical facilitator can guarantee success.
Lack of transparency about the process, goals, or follow-up support
A quality relationship therapy intensive should clearly outline what to expect before, during, and after the retreat.
By knowing these red flags in advance, you can avoid ineffective programs and choose a Las Vegas couples retreat that is safe, ethical, and grounded in evidence-based therapy.
Start Your Journey with Dr. Belle’s Intensive Couples
Therapy Retreats
The questions in this guide will help you evaluate couples retreats based on more than just location and amenities—they’ll ensure the program you choose is effective, personalized, and aligned with your relationship’s unique needs.
At Las Vegas Marriage Counseling, Dr. Belle offers intensive couples therapy retreats for partners who want to compress 3–4 months of weekly marriage counseling into just two focused days. This immersive schedule provides concentrated time to address your goals while still leaving space to enjoy the sights and sounds of Las Vegas together.
If you’re ready to receive the healing, connection, and renewed intimacy your relationship deserves, book an appointment with Dr. Belle today and take the first step toward lasting change.
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