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A True Learning Experience

A Hold Me Tight®️ retreat is a transformational learning experience for couples. Two words there are key: learning and experience. First, what do you learn? You learn fascinating insights from attachment science. You learn that emotions are what drive us. Think about it: the word “emotion” contains the word “motion.” Emotions move us, motivate us. Emotions incite behaviors, actions and reactions. Emotions inform every level of our existence. And our most powerful, most vulnerable emotions are beneath the surface.

What’s Beneath the Surface?

It’s like an iceberg. Only about one fifth of an iceberg is visible above the waterline. Most of its force and mass lies unseen, hidden. So, too with us, our most “forceful” emotions are often out of sight (and maybe out of mind). Our deepest fears, needs and longings, we don’t show (and may not even know). That’s because those emotions make us vulnerable. We usually hide them, bury them. We hide them behind anger, criticism, sarcasm, blame. As they say, “The best defense is a good offense.” So we attack, lash out and hide that we are really sad or afraid or ashamed. Or we cover our deeper emotions by withdrawing, going away. We become indifferent, sullen or stoic. 

Either way, we show one thing on the surface when underneath, our true emotions are very different. All of us have an inner reality that doesn’t always show in the surface.

See Through an Attachment Lens

At Hold Me Tight®️, couples learn to see their relationship through an “attachment lens.” And we learn how our emotions contribute to conflict. We learn to see and change old habits, old patterns. We learn about vulnerability and how to truly connect with the one we love. We learn to create safety and the assurance that we are there for our partner and our partner is there for us. 

Learn AND Experience

There is so much to learn at a Hold Me Tight®️ couples retreat. But, the second word we mentioned above is crucial too. Hold Me Tight®️ is a learning experience. The word “experience” means that you won’t just learn—you will do. You will put what you learn into practice—in real time. So, you won’t just hear about closer connection. You will actually do it.


At Hold Me Tight®️ you will get to practice new skills and have new conversations with your partner—conversations that you didn’t know you could have, that you didn’t know how to have. And because you actually do it, you leave competent and confident as a couple. You leave with a roadmap for lifelong connection. And, as with any roadmap, you still have to go, but you will know how and you will much more likely enjoy the journey. 

Hold Me Tight®️ is two days of learning and experience for couples. But, rest assured, this is not therapy. It is a laid back, enjoyable weekend. Couples go at their own pace. No one is put on the spot or singled out. It’s not “pass/fail.” It’s a chance to see how much you and your partner have in common with other couples facing the same issues, the same struggles as so many others. 

So, whatever your status, age or stage, whether you’re really struggling in your relationship or you just want to go from good to great together, Hold Me Tight®️ can make a world of difference. You’ll be amazed at how far two days can take you. But, don’t take my word for it. Our next workshop is only a month away. Sign up today. All the details are on this website.


  • Learn more about Mark and Vicki.
  • Sign up for our contact list.
  • Prepare for a transformational learning experience.

Have a Safety Plan

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In this blog, I’d just like to share a few reflections on our most recent Hold Me Tight®️ couples retreat. As always, it was nothing sort of amazing. No two retreats are the same, but they never fail to amaze Vicki and me. Last weekend, we welcomed eight couples to our Winter Park (Orlando) FL venue. That is a little smaller group than usual, but it only makes for a warmer experience. It’s always exciting to meet new couples for the first time, to hear their stories and what brought them our way. The couples in this retreat varied in age and number of years together, from 4 years to about 40 years. It was clear that some were very stuck, unsure that they could figure out their relationship, but willing to try. Others were happy together, but wanted to make their good thing even better. Later, we learned that at least one couple saw the Hold Me Tight®️ retreat as sort of a “last best hope” before throwing in the towel on their marriage. You wouldn’t have guessed it to look at them, but they weren’t the first such couple to come to a Hold Me Tight®️ retreat as a last resort.
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