Couples Counseling & Marriage Support in Akron and Medina, Ohio
Every relationship experiences challenges. Whether you're struggling with communication, feeling disconnected from your partner, or simply wanting to strengthen your marriage, taking time to invest in your relationship can make a meaningful difference.
At Avenues of Counseling and Mediation, we offer two ways for couples to work on their relationships: traditional couples counseling and our Gottman Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work Couples Retreat.
If you're looking for practical strategies to improve communication, manage conflict, and reconnect with your partner, our intensive weekend retreat may be an excellent place to start.
Explore Our Gottman Couples Retreat
Strengthen Your Marriage in One Focused Weekend
Discover Our Gottman Seven Principles Couples Retreat
What if you could dedicate one weekend to learning relationship skills that you can continue using for years?
Our Gottman Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work Couples Retreat is an intensive, two-day educational workshop designed to help couples build stronger, more connected relationships.
Based on the relationship research of Dr. John Gottman, this program provides practical tools for understanding one another, improving communication, managing disagreements, and nurturing friendship and intimacy.
Rather than scheduling recurring counseling appointments, couples participate in a concentrated weekend of learning, guided activities, and meaningful conversations.
What You'll Learn
During the retreat, couples explore ways to:
Strengthen friendship, appreciation, and emotional connection
Improve communication and understanding
Recognize patterns that contribute to recurring disagreements
Manage conflict more constructively
Build trust and maintain a positive relationship
Create shared meaning, goals, and traditions
Prioritize their relationship despite busy schedules
The workshop combines presentations, demonstrations, videos, and private exercises that partners complete together.
You will not be asked to share your personal relationship problems with the group. Couples work through their exercises privately.
A Weekend Investment in Your Relationship
Our retreat includes:
12 hours of relationship education across Saturday and Sunday
A structured program based on Gottman's Seven Principles
Private exercises with your partner
A Seven Principles Workbook Kit
Guidance from Rich Dempsey, MA, LPCC, a Gottman Seven Principles workshop leader with Level 1 and Level 2 Gottman training
Practical strategies you can continue using at home
Cost: $550 per couple
Retreats are offered at our Akron and Medina locations according to the workshop schedule.
View Upcoming Gottman Retreat Dates & Registration
Gottman Couples Retreat vs. Traditional Couples Counseling
Both approaches can help couples invest in their relationships, but they serve different purposes.
Consider Our Gottman Retreat If You:
Want to improve communication and connection
Find yourselves having the same disagreements repeatedly
Want practical relationship tools without committing to recurring appointments
Are preparing for marriage or another major life transition
Feel your relationship is generally healthy but could use a tune-up
Prefer setting aside a focused weekend to work on your relationship together
The retreat is an educational workshop, not psychotherapy. It offers a structured way to learn and practice relationship skills in a relatively short period of time.
Consider Couples Counseling If You:
Need individualized attention to complex relationship concerns
Are working through significant trust violations or unresolved emotional injuries
Have ongoing mental health concerns affecting the relationship
Need a therapist to help you explore patterns and develop an individualized treatment plan
Would benefit from continued professional support over multiple sessions
Some couples begin with a workshop and later decide they would benefit from counseling. Others find that the retreat provides the structured education and tools they were looking for.
The right option depends on your relationship's needs and goals.
When Is Couples Counseling Helpful?
Couples counseling provides a supportive setting to explore concerns affecting a relationship.
Common reasons couples seek counseling include:
Frequent arguments or communication difficulties
Emotional distance or reduced intimacy
Parenting and blended-family challenges
Financial stress
Infidelity and trust concerns
Life transitions
Different expectations or priorities
Difficulty resolving ongoing disagreements
Our counselors work with couples to understand their concerns, strengthen communication, and identify constructive ways forward.
Seeking counseling does not mean a relationship is failing. Many couples pursue support because they value their partnership and want to make it stronger.
What Happens During Couples Counseling?
Couples counseling typically begins with an assessment of your relationship concerns, history, and goals.
Your counselor may help you identify recurring patterns, understand each partner's perspective, practice communication skills, and explore ways to respond differently during difficult moments.
Treatment is individualized, and the length of counseling varies depending on the couple's needs.
For couples who primarily want structured relationship education rather than individualized psychotherapy, our Gottman weekend retreat may be a worthwhile alternative to explore first.
Couples Counseling and Marriage Workshops in Akron, Ohio
At our Akron office, Avenues offers couples counseling with clinicians experienced in relationship concerns, along with scheduled Gottman Seven Principles weekend retreats.
Couples from Akron, Fairlawn, Bath Township, and surrounding Northeast Ohio communities can explore both options.
Learn More About Couples Counseling in Akron
Couples Counseling and Marriage Workshops in Medina, Ohio
Our Medina office offers relationship counseling and hosts Gottman couples retreats according to the workshop schedule.
Whether you're looking for ongoing support or an intensive weekend focused on strengthening your marriage, Avenues can help you explore available options.
Learn More About Couples Counseling in Medina
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Gottman marriage retreat the same as couples therapy?
No. The Gottman Seven Principles retreat is an educational relationship workshop, not individualized psychotherapy. It focuses on teaching practical relationship skills through structured instruction and private exercises.
Can a weekend retreat help us without attending weekly counseling?
For couples seeking relationship education, communication strategies, and ways to strengthen their connection, the retreat may be a useful alternative to starting recurring counseling appointments. It does not replace individualized therapy when more complex concerns require clinical attention.
Do we have to discuss our problems in front of other couples?
No. Although the workshop includes group instruction, couples complete personal exercises privately with their partners.
Do we have to be married to attend?
The workshop is designed for committed couples, including those preparing for marriage and those who have been together for many years. Contact our team if you have questions about whether the program is appropriate for your relationship.
Where are the Gottman retreats held?
Avenues schedules retreats at our Akron and Medina locations. Available dates and locations are listed on the workshop registration page.
Take the Next Step Toward a Stronger Relationship
You don't have to wait until your relationship is in crisis to invest in it.
If you and your partner want to improve communication, strengthen your friendship, and learn practical tools for navigating conflict, consider beginning with our Gottman Seven Principles Couples Retreat
Explore the Retreat & Reserve Your Spot
For couples who need individualized support, Avenues also offers traditional couples counseling in Akron and Medina.