Couples in Residence

The Ultimate Relationship Investment

Some relationships require more than an intensive—they require complete immersion in the healing process. Eden Vale's Couples in Residence program provides the most comprehensive relationship therapy experience available anywhere in the world. For 3-6 weeks, you and your partner live at our luxury retreat in Portugal, receiving daily therapeutic care in an environment designed entirely around your healing and reconnection.

This program is designed for couples facing the most serious challenges: complex trauma affecting the relationship, mental health conditions that complicate connection, long-standing patterns that have resisted other interventions, or simply a desire for the deepest possible therapeutic experience. When your relationship is your priority and you're ready to invest fully in its transformation, Couples in Residence offers an unparalleled opportunity.

Unlike shorter intensives where you return to hotels or rental properties between sessions, residential clients live in our private suites with full access to our clinical team and retreat amenities. This continuity allows for therapeutic work to happen naturally throughout the day, with formal sessions complemented by organic conversations, shared experiences, and real-time coaching in relationship skills. The result is transformation at a pace and depth impossible in any other format.

Who Chooses Residential Treatment?

Couples in Residence serves those facing complex relationship challenges that require extended, intensive intervention. Many couples arrive after multiple failed attempts at traditional therapy or shorter intensives. They recognize that their situation requires more—more time, more support, more immersion in the change process. Our residential program provides exactly that.

We also serve couples where one or both partners have mental health conditions requiring psychiatric oversight. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder—these conditions profoundly affect relationships, and treating them in isolation often fails. Our residential program allows integrated treatment where mental health and relationship issues receive coordinated attention from our multidisciplinary team.

A Day in Residence

Your days at Eden Vale are structured to support healing while allowing space for rest and reconnection. Mornings begin with optional yoga or meditation, followed by a gourmet breakfast in our dining room or delivered to your suite. The morning therapy block typically includes 2-3 hours of couples work with your primary therapist, focusing on the deep issues identified in your treatment plan.

Afternoons alternate between individual therapy sessions—each partner works with their own therapist—and experiential activities that support connection. You might have a guided couples communication exercise, equine-assisted therapy, or simply time to practice skills learned in sessions. Evenings include gourmet dinners, time in our spa, walks on the grounds, and opportunities for organic connection. The rhythm supports intensive work while preventing burnout.

Integrated Clinical Care

The residential format allows for truly integrated care. Your couples therapist, individual therapists, and psychiatrist (when involved) meet regularly to coordinate treatment. When something arises in couples work that requires individual attention, your individual therapist can address it that same day. When psychiatric medication adjustments affect one partner's emotional availability, the couples work adapts immediately.

For couples dealing with trauma—whether from betrayal, shared traumatic experiences, or individual histories affecting the relationship—the residential format allows for trauma processing work that would be too destabilizing in an outpatient context. With 24/7 clinical support available, we can go deeper faster, knowing that both partners have the support they need.

We also integrate cutting-edge approaches not available in traditional settings. Neurofeedback can help regulate nervous systems dysregulated by chronic conflict or trauma. Couples massage therapy builds safe physical connection. Art therapy provides alternative avenues for expression when words fail. The residential setting allows us to offer a truly comprehensive approach.

Transitioning Home

After weeks of intensive work, returning to daily life requires careful planning. The final week of your residential program focuses heavily on transition preparation. We help you identify potential triggers and challenges in your home environment and develop specific strategies for maintaining your progress. You'll leave with a detailed action plan for the first month home.

Our follow-up support for residential couples is particularly robust. You'll have weekly video sessions with your couples therapist for the first month, then biweekly sessions for two more months. Many couples establish ongoing monthly sessions for continued support. We also help you connect with qualified couples therapists in your home area if you desire local support. Your investment in this program deserves protection, and we're committed to ensuring your transformation endures.

Frequently Asked Questions