More on our Intensive retreats

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This, First of It's Kind, course is designed to help BOTH individuals solidify their self-worth, accept their ever changing roles, and experience passion and fulfillment in the relationship. (No one chose to have the" uninvited 3rd wheel", of physical pain, in the relationship. But it’s a part of your life non the less. So, empower yourselves with as many tools as possible to live a joyful life together.)

Nearly 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain and many of them have a long term partner.

Research with couples has shown that some people living with chronic pain report improvements in their intimate relationships, such as feeling closer, because they have faced a challenge together.  Other people report that pain leads to problems in their intimate relationships, especially difficulty communicating, and difficulty managing feelings like anger and frustration. Chronic pain is not just the physical “hurt” experienced by people living with it, it is all that the pain takes away from them, including the toll on their most important relationships. The care giving partner may become overwhelmed by their loved one’s pain and sadness, and find it is more difficult to provide support. Many couples report that pain disrupts their relationship, limits what they can do together, and interferes with the quality of the time they spend together.

 Providing support, every day, to someone with chronic pain can add a great deal of stress to a relationship. "It has been shown that relationships in which one partner has chronic pain tend to be more strained, have more marital distress, more conflict, and a greater likelihood for divorce,”. The potential for pain-related discord to spread into the rest of the relationship has been well documented. The Stanford Division of Pain Medicine is involved in groundbreaking research into effective pain therapies that include Integrative Medicine (OWR introduces many of these techniques in this course). Investigating relational, emotional, and cognitive factors that influence pain. Research suggests that issues in close relationships have a significant impact on the severity of pain experienced, the levels of physical disability and the levels of depression experienced.  Whereas strong, healthy relationships have the inverse affect, reducing pain, disability and mental health issues.

We are not a detox or treatment program. This is for couples are navigating the dynamics of a relationship that includes a life of recovery from addiction. If you have not yet sought help for your addiction call 1-800-662-HELP.

Unique circumstances you might be experiencing could be: broken promises/trust, ability to manage one’s own emotions, learning and adapting to new coping skills, feelings of resentment, hurdles in healing from the past, altered social dynamics/friendships/family acceptance, and demands on time and energy spent on person in recovery.

Healthy relationships are proven to increase the possibility of long-term sobriety. Creating a safe environment for both people to flourish and connections to become stronger and healthier. Co-dependency can easily become a part of a relationship living in recovery. Learn how to acknowledge triggers, set boundaries, and communicate honestly to achieve the connection you both desire.

  Providing support, every day, to someone in addiction recovery can add a great deal of stress to a relationship. Individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD) often have fewer social support network resources than those without SUDs. Findings in a medical study recently suggest that, to reach and maintain abstinence, it is important to maintain positive relationships and to engage self-agency to protect oneself from the influences of negative relationships.

Compassion, patience, accountability, and forgiveness are indeed needed for both parties to achieve the level of trust and understanding that must be present in a healthy relationship. There are many new tools and techniques that may benefit you both into living the life that you want to achieve.

Think of your past relationships as" an opportunity for transformation". Appreciate the beauty in them for what they were, what they brought you, and all the many things they taught you. Use those gifts and new knowledge of yourself, to empower your current relationship and being! Find gratitude for your partners prior chapters of life and their role in developing this wonderful person, that YOU now have the privilege of loving!

We all have a past, present, and future. Learn to embrace them ALL and connect with your partner in a way like never before. Learn tools to USE your previous struggles, hurt, and disappointments to empower yourself in finding the personal fulfillment you desire. Arm yourself with tools to fight off jealousy, past triggers, insecurities, and anger.

Realize that everything we go through in our lives, has the opportunity to teach us something. I know. I know…you’ve heard that before. But, when your mad, sad, scared…do you think about the fact that the person your upset with, may have not had the same opportunities for learning? Our diverse pasts and experiences give us diverse knowledge. We do not all love the same. Learn the same. React the same. 

You may have learned things from past relationships, that your partner has yet to learn and visa versa. Don’t assume that just because you have both had past relationships- that you have learned all your lessons and things should be perfect this time around! 😊 Some things you know about yourself:  what you want in a partner, what you don’t want in a partner, what your triggers are, what side of the bed you prefer,  what your pet peeves are, etc. But, Isn’t it GREAT that there is still so much to learn about yourself. And about your partner ,too! Whoo-hoo. Let’s do this!