Based on over 40 years of research with thousands of couples, The Art and Science of Love retreat offers new insights and research-based skills. These can dramatically improve intimacy, friendship, and conflict management in your relationship.
The Art and Science of Love retreat is designed to strengthen relationships through engaging presentations and experiential activities. If you have a strong relationship, this retreat will provide you with the insights and tools to foster further closeness, friendship, and trust. If your relationship is distressed, this two-day retreat will provide you with a greater understanding of your relationship and a road map for repair. We welcome couples of every culture, religion, ethnicity, race, ability, and sexual orientation to attend.
Dr. John Gottman has learned what really makes marriages work by studying and following over 3,000 couples in four decades of research. Drs. John and Julie Gottman have designed this experiential workshop to teach you exactly what successful couples do to foster romance and harmony in their marriages.
This retreat is proven to achieve results similar to 6 months of therapy.
Learn to recognize the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and what to do if they are attacking your relationship.
Identify your relationship’s specific strengths and learn how to build upon them together.
Learn about the effects of physiological flooding and how it may affect conflict resolution.
Use the Fondness and Admiration System to renew, respect, and care for one another.
Create an Emotional Bank Account that you can draw upon in times of stress.
Develop your problem-solving skills, including the six skills for effective conflict resolutions.
Dr. Vagdevi Meunier, Psy.D. | Gottman Master Trainer
Dr. Vagdevi Meunier is a licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas. Vagdevi has over 25 years of experience as a therapist, consultant, and educator. She has also been a certified Gottman Couples Therapist and a certified Gottman Workshop Leader since 2006. She offers the Art & Science of Love Workshop for couples twice a year in Austin and has presented clinical trainings in the US, Canada, and India.
Attend a live Zoom info session with retreat leader Dr. Vagdevi Meunier.
Dr. Vagdevi Meunier (aka Dr. V) has over 40 years of experience as a therapist, educator, and consultant. She has been a certified Gottman Therapist and workshop leader since 2006 and has conducted Gottman professional trainings as well as couples retreats over 100 times nationally and internationally.
Dr. V has a private clinical and consulting practice in Austin, TX and is the founder and executive director for The Center for Relationships in Austin, a counseling center that focuses on relationship therapy, retreats, and community education.
This retreat is for couples of all ages, jobs, backgrounds, religions, abilities, and orientations who are in a committed relationship (married or unmarried).
If your relationship is strong, this workshop will give you tools to improve your friendship, intimacy, and trust. If you are facing challenges, these two days can help you find ways to repair and understand each other better.
This Gottman-backed retreat is shown to have similar benefits to that of 6 months of relationship therapy. In fact, 94% of participants say they see positive results after attending.
Every couple and situation is different. Couples who come to our workshop usually fit into two groups: those looking to strengthen their relationship and those seeking to work through challenges. Before the workshop, one of our trained staff will have a short phone call with you. This gives you a chance to talk about any concerns you have.
But if you are both eager to learn new skills and use them regularly, you could join the 94% of couples who see a positive change after the workshop.
No. You and your partner will complete activities together in private. You do not need to share anything with the group at any time.
There will be between 15 and 30 couples in attendance. Every couple has the same chance to learn new skills and get their questions answered throughout the weekend.
The two days are divided into approximately eight 90-minute sessions. In each session, we start by discussing various findings from Dr. John Gottman’s research and then provide couples with an activity designed to help them develop the skills needed to apply those findings. More than half of the two days is dedicated to you and your partner working together to build new skills, deepen understanding, generate new ideas, and create plans to make your relationship happier, closer, and more satisfying.
No, your privacy is respected, and you will not be asked to share any personal information with other workshop participants.
A great way to start is by sharing some of Dr. John Gottman’s research and videos with your partner. Another option is to read The 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work. This easy-to-read book introduces the principles taught in the workshop and is an Amazon Best Seller with over one million copies sold.
We offer 10% off for mental health students and professionals. One discount per registration.
Continuing Education Units (CEU) are available for qualified mental health professionals who attend for the entire event with their partners and complete a survey and test of knowledge at the end. CEU certificates cost an additional $40.
Email events@thecenter4relationships.com for more info.
Yes, you are eligible to attend The Art and Science of Love with no out-of-pocket expense. Your registration fee is paid for by your EAP plan through Wellspring Family Services. Email events@thecenter4relationships.com for EAP reimbursement. Proof of identity will be required. One discount per registration.
We are proud to support the military and their families. All active-duty military and veterans are eligible to receive a 10% discount to attend The Art and Science of Love workshop. Email events@thecenter4relationships.com for more info. One discount per registration.
