Intensive retreats are offered throughout the year.  They could be an intensive therapeutic weekend for one couple, or offered to a group as a condensed workshop. Some take place locally, some take place abroad. They can be offered as a week-long retreat in a warm destination. Please inquire for further information.

"Art and Science of Love Niagara Weekend Couples Retreat!"

• What: This exclusive weekend retreat is based on 40+ years of John Gottman's research and world-renowned Gottman Method for couples. 
• It will be facilitated by Mike Fidler with assistance from Melissa Johari. 
• Space is limited to facilitate a more intimate setting.
• Through the longitudinal study of the masters and disasters of marriage, we know what predicts lifelong commitment and happiness within marriage. Their Love is deconstructed into understandable components that have specific skill sets. Although we are all called to love, learning how to love well does not come naturally. Each couple has their own unique expression of love. We are committed to helping couples find their way to an even more satisfying love.
• We know through research that 85% of couples have lasting relationship benefits that come from attending our couple workshops and that the love experienced and expressed by the masters of marriage can be applied to all friendships and family relationships. We are eager to support you on this journey!
• When: Friday October 25, 2024 at 4pm to Sunday October 27, 2024 at 2pm
• Where: Prince of Wales Vintage Hotel in the heart of downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake. 6 Picton St., Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Room availability is limited.

• Who: This retreat is appropriate for couples who are pre-engaged, premarital, or newlyweds, all the way to long-time married. It is great for couples who want to enhance their relationship, have more closeness, and are seeking better conflict management tools. 
• This retreat is not appropriate for couples who are experiencing severe relationship distress, emotional abuse, domestic violence, active addictions (alcohol, drug, sexual, gambling, etc), or serious mental health problems in one or both partners.
• Topics: Improving your friendship/ fondness/ admiration; enhancing romance/ intimacy; managing conflict constructively; gaining skills to address perpetual and solvable problems; and creating shared meaning
• Format: The meeting room will be set up with round tables (not board room table) for a comfortable atmosphere. There will be lectures/presentations, class exercises, couple exercises and homework activities. You will not be asked to share personal problems in front of others. This is a psycho-educational skill-building retreat, and not a couple therapy support group. There will be two highly trained therapists facilitating this limited-availability retreat.

• Disclaimer: if you are an existing client to either Mike or Melissa, and chose to participate in this retreat, it is possible that your participation in couples therapy may become evident through participation in this retreat. Please be mindful and cautious in sharing in the group. Please know that we make every effort to respect your privacy and confidentiality around our work. You would not be identified as a client or asked to talk about our couple work in class.  
• What is included: Early Bird $4300 per couple if register before August 1, 2024. After August 1, 2024, the cost is $4999 per couple. This includes two nights stay with King-sized bed at the luxurious Prince of Wales Boutique Hotel in downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake, plus all meals at this upscale hotel. 
• This high-end dining includes dinner Friday, all meals/snacks Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Breakfast is 7-9am, Lunch noon-1pm, and Dinner 7-9pm
• The weekend retreat also includes the Gottman Connect questionnaire, the Art and Science of Love Couples Set, and customized journals for each individual. 
• Also included: free access to hotel fitness centre and pool, free shuttle service within the historical Niagara-on-the-Lake district, access to The Gardens across from Pillar and Post, free wifi, access to electric car charging station, and free parking.
• Bonus: 10% off spa service at the hotel if six or more people book a service in for Friday October 25th before 2:30pm (must call in before August 25, 2024 to guarantee spa service availability; excludes RMT massage). Group Spa Reservations may be made by calling 905-468-1362 ext. 4345
• The closest vinyard is Pellar Estates and Two Sisters
• This retreat will be offered in 1-3 seminars per day over 3 days. 
• Please check with your benefits provider to see what may be covered through them for psycho-educational workshops. Melissa is a Registered Social Worker and will be providing receipts for each day of the retreat
• 50% non-refundable deposit due upon booking. 
• Remaining balance due by August 25, 2024
• Please message Melissa to register!

More about Mike:

• Mike Fidler, MSW, RSW, has spent close to 45 years helping other people, children, teens, parents, and grandparents, individuals, families, and couples to have a better life through his roles as a Social Worker, Child Abuse Specialist, Therapist and Teacher.
• Mike is an advanced trainer with the Gottman Institute Seattle Washington. He has spent 20 years with a small group of 35 international trainers led by John and Julie Gottman studying how to make over fifty years of the best research on relationships, inform couples, train therapists, and now inform teens on how to make their relationships work.

To learn more about Melissa, please refer to her bio.

Book Retreat Now!

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"7 Principles for Making Marriage Work Mississauga Weekend Couples Retreat!"

• What: This weekend retreat is based on John Gottman's book, "The 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work"
• When: Friday March 22, 2024 at 4pm to Sunday March 24, 2024 at 2pm
• Where: Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, 1617 Blythe Rd., Mississauga, Ontario L5H 2C3 (This is a Christian retreat centre, and this 7 Principles retreat will be offered in a secular format. All are welcome)
• Watch a tour of the retreat centre here. You can see the rooms, dining hall, meeting room, and some of the grounds.
• Who: This retreat is appropriate for couples who are pre-engaged, premarital, newlyweds to long-time married. It is great for couples who want to enhance their relationship and are seeking better conflict management tools. 
• This retreat is not appropriate for couples who are experiencing severe relationship distress, emotional abuse, domestic violence, active addictions (alcohol, drug, sexual, gambling, etc), or serious mental health problems in one or both partners.
• Topics: Improving your friendship/ fondness/ admiration; enhancing romance/ intimacy; managing conflict constructively; gaining skills to address perpetual and solvable problems; and creating shared meaning
• Format: There will be lectures/presentations, class exercises, couple exercises and homework activities. You will not be asked to share personal problems in front of others. This is a psycho-educational skill-building retreat, and not a couple therapy support group.
• Disclaimer: if you are an existing client and chose to participate in this retreat, it is possible that your participation in couples therapy may become evident through participation in this retreat. Please be mindful and cautious in sharing in the group. Please know that I make every effort to respect your privacy and confidentiality around our work. You would not be identified as a client or asked to talk about our couple work in class.  

UPDATE:

The March 2024 Couples Retreat was a great success! Six couples from engaged to married over 30 years! The participants were enthusiastic with the exercises, appreciated the role plays/videos demonstrating the Gottman techniques, involved with the discussions and gave encouraging feedback! Couples reported feeling closer at the end of the weekend retreat together.

Thank you again to Mike Fidler, my Gottman Mentor, who came to support me in hosting my first retreat! Also, thank you to Kristen Parselias, my University of Toronto MSW intern, who was a great help through the weekend. In addition, thank you to Susan Netterfield, MDiv Tyndale Student, who came quite spontaneously last minute and was a lovely help as well!

Pictured here is me with Mike and Kristen :)

Pictured here is me with the door prize winners (posted with their permission)! Congratulations P and J! Thank you again for coming and for all your input in the class discussions! They won a Gottman Love Maps/Open-Ended Questions Card Deck and some other goodies!

The next one at Queen of Apostles is scheduled for May 2-4, 2025. Please contact me to get on the wait list for this while registration is pending.