Couples Intensives
Deep, transformative work for couples seeking meaningful change
London , Portugal & Internationally
When weekly therapy does not feel like enough
Working week by week over several months may not reflect the urgency of what you are facing or fit with the demands of your lives.
You may be in crisis following infidelity or another breach of trust. You may be considering separation or divorce and want to explore whether your relationship can still be repaired. Demanding careers, international travel or living in different countries may also make regular weekly sessions difficult.
Whatever has brought you here, your relationship may need dedicated time, space and focused attention now.
What are couples intensives?
A couples therapy intensive is an extended therapy session in which you and your partner work with a couples therapist for a period ranging from four hours to three days. Instead of attending a 50-minute appointment each week, the work takes place within a sustained block of time. A three-day intensive provides 21 hours of therapy, bringing together the equivalent of approximately 21 weeks of weekly therapy within three days.
Weekly sessions can end just as something important begins to emerge, and some of that immediacy may be lost by the following week. An intensive allows you to stay with what is unfolding, understand the patterns beneath your conflict and work through them with the support of your therapist. It also creates space to reach greater clarity, develop practical strategies for moving forward and, where the future of the relationship is uncertain, make a more informed decision about whether and how you want to continue together.
The length of the intensive matters. Four hours may suit a specific, contained issue that you already understand to some extent. A full day or several days provides the time needed to explore something broader or more complex, such as a relationship crisis, infidelity or a pattern of conflict that has developed over many years.
Intensives take place in London and, where appropriate, at your own location.
When an intensive may be right for you
A couples therapy intensive may be right for you if your relationship is in crisis, you are recovering from infidelity or another betrayal, or you are considering separation and need clarity about whether to stay together.
You may have been returning to the same conflicts for years, feel that previous therapy has not reached the heart of the problem, or need to understand your relationship before making an important decision. The format can also suit couples with demanding careers, international lives or schedules that make weekly therapy difficult.
You do not need to have decided what the outcome should be. You both need to be willing to look honestly at your relationship, take part in the process and consider what may need to change.
Choose the time your relationship needs
The right format will depend on what has brought you to therapy and how much time is needed to work with it properly. Some couples come with a particular issue or decision. Others are facing difficulties that require a longer, more sustained process.
During your initial assessment, we will explore what you need and recommend the most suitable format.
Available intensives:
Four hours
One day
Three days
Rous & Most was founded by Elena Miari and Marina O'Connor, two specialist couples therapists with complementary expertise and a shared vision of couples therapy as deep, focused and transformative work.
Elena is a London-trained psychotherapist, Director of Heathwell Therapies, BACP accredited and a member of COSRT. Qualified since 2008, she specialises in infidelity recovery, neurodiverse relationships and working with expat and international couples.
Marina is an advanced relationship and trauma therapist with a postgraduate degree in clinical psychology. Registered with COSRT, EATA and IARTA, she specialises in high-conflict relationships, infidelity, neurodiversity and working with entrepreneurs and high-performing couples.
Elena and Marina first met during their psychotherapy training, and later became colleagues and collaborators. While their theoretical approaches developed in different directions, they discovered a shared belief in working beyond surface-level solutions, a belief the name itself carries. Rus, Greek for process, reflects depth and movement. Most, Russian for bridge, reflects connection. For Elena and Marina, one leads to the other: real connection is only possible through real process. Rous & Most grew from this conviction, a vision of couples therapy as a deep and transformative process, opening the door to real change.
Who we are
Where we work
Our couples therapy intensives are designed for couples with busy, international lives, as well as those based closer to home.
We work from London and Portugal and can offer intensives in other locations by arrangement. Online intensives are also available where appropriate. If you are travelling to work with us, we will help you identify the right format and plan the intensive around the time you have available.