Since 2010, Dr. Lisa Blum and Dr. Silvina Irwin have hosted transformative weekend workshops for couples in beautiful retreat locations. Several hundred couples have participated in this workshop over the years, and the feedback is consistently and strongly positive: 100% of participants would recommend the program to a close friend or family member.
The Next Hold Me Tight Workshop will be held Feb 23-24, 2024 in Pasadena, Ca.
Registration is now open! Please learn more about the workshop by clicking below:
“Amazing and revelatory experience...deeply profound and meaningful weekend. ”
“After struggling for years, and on the verge of divorce, we have finally found a way to communicate our feelings and needs.”
“My husband and I are connecting in ways we NEVER had before and for that I am forever grateful.””
Our Workshops
Hold Me Tight® Workshop for Couples
Hold Me Tight® is a weekend retreat for nurturing emotional closeness with your partner. This workshop is based on the international best-selling book "Hold Me Tight: 7 Conversations for a Lifetime of Love" by Dr. Sue Johnson.
The educational and experiential workshop introduces core concepts of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples, heralded as one of the most effective couples therapies.
Get unstuck from repeating arguments or silent distancing that cause frustration and pain
Make sense of the strong emotions and needs that can surprise both of you in the relationship
Begin the process of repairing relationship injuries, even old ones, and understand how to move forward
Change how you communicate so you can really open up to each other with your true feelings and wishes
Increase feelings of trust and intimacy, playfulness, and fun
Learn how to take the great conversations you start at the workshop and keep them going at home
Coming soon: Hold Me Tight® for Newlyweds, Newly Engaged, and Those Thinking About It
Hold Me Tight® Is a Registered Trademark to Sue Johnson
Sex, Intimacy, Desire and Connection: Your Whole Relationship
Sex, Intimacy, Desire and Connection: Your Whole Relationship is our next-step workshop that takes couples who have already participated in a Hold Me Tight workshop, or who have had a course of EFT couples therapy, into an exploration of their sexual relationship to re-inspire desire and strengthen physical connection.
Explore and understand emotional and physical blocks in your sexual relationship in the safety of our workshop.
Experience a variety of exercises in private -- talking, breathing, safe touch, nonverbal attunement, writing, imagery.
Learn about your own and your partner's sexuality and desire, and how to enhance or restart touch and sensuality.
Discover together how you both want to construct a fulfilling, meaningful, rewarding, and pleasurable sexual relationship -- in whatever form that takes you.
Drs. Blum and Irwin are experienced couples therapists with advanced training and certifications in EFT. Though they have advanced training and education in sex and sexuality, they are not certified sex therapists. Their expertise is in helping couples merge sexuality and physical intimacy into a healthy, safe, loving, and whole relationship.
Customize a workshop for your community
If you would like to host one of these workshops for your church or temple group, parents’ group, an LGBT support group, divorced and remarried group, adoption group, cousins circle, or any other kind of community, our team is happy to customize any of our available workshops to fit the specific needs of your group or community.
Our team members have expertise in topics such as parenting, blended families, interfaith and intercultural relationships, trauma recovery, spirituality and faith, LGBT relationships, premarital counseling, and sexuality. We work with you to tailor a workshop to address your group’s interests. The weekend retreat can be at your site or one of ours, in almost any suitable location (we are happy to travel). The cost remains much the same for our other retreats, except for some travel and design expenses.
We love being creative and are happy to talk to you about any specific needs or focus you may want in the workshop. Contact us to begin the conversation.
Do you have questions about our workshops? Check out our Workshop FAQ’s and see if we answer them for you. Feel free to reach out to us for any additional questions you may have!