Couples Reconnect Retreats
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A guided experience to help you reconnect, communicate better, and strengthen your relationship.

LIVE IN-PERSON | NEW JERSEY | NORTH CAROLINA | CALIFORNIA | NEW YORK | ONLINE

Two Days to Transform Your Relationship

The Hold Me Tight® Couples Retreat

A guided 2-day experience to reconnect, repair, and strengthen your relationship.

Join couples who have transformed their relationships through the Hold Me Tight® approach, developed by Dr. Sue Johnson and grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). This research-based method helps you understand the patterns that create distance and reconnect in a deeper, more meaningful way. We offer this experience in North Carolina, California, New York, and New Jersey, with select retreats designed for the Jewish community.

Over the course of two days, you’ll be guided through a proven process that combines expert insight with real conversations, helping you create lasting change, not just temporary improvement.

We welcome couples of all ages, backgrounds, sexual orientations, relationship stages, faiths, and cultures. Our retreats are designed to create a supportive, respectful space where every couple feels seen, valued, and welcome.

Meaningful Change in Just 2 Days

A focused retreat experience designed to create deeper connection, clarity, and lasting relationship growth.

Real Couples. Real Transformation.

Couples leave feeling more connected, understood, and equipped with tools to strengthen their relationship.

Rooted in the Hold Me Tight® Approach

Grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), a research-based method for creating stronger emotional bonds.

Upcoming Retreats

Explore upcoming couples retreats designed to help you reconnect, improve communication, and strengthen your relationship in a supportive, guided environment.

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Support for real life, real emotions, and real change.

Couples retreat designed to rebuild connection, improve communication, and strengthen emotional intimacy.

A guided, supportive experience where you and your partner can slow down, feel understood, and grow together.

Whether you’re navigating communication struggles, recurring conflict, emotional distance, or simply want to strengthen your relationship, this retreat creates space for connection, clarity, and healing.

We help couples with…

  • Communication Breakdowns

  • Recurring Conflict Patterns

  • Emotional Disconnection

  • Trust & Relationship Repair

  • Navigating Stress Together

  • Deepening Emotional Intimacy

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A calm, collaborative space where you and your partner can grow together.

You don’t have to figure everything out alone.

Communication & Conflict

 Learn how to break negative patterns and respond to each other with empathy.

Emotional Disconnection

Reconnect and rebuild a deeper sense of closeness and understanding.

Trust & Repair

Heal past hurts and restore emotional safety in your relationship.

What Couples Say About Their Experience

"Thank you for bringing me and my wife closer. We are currently in separation and were moving towards a divorce. This workshop was incredibly helpful in understanding one another and listening to each other. I hope more couples take the chance to come and experience how fulfilling it really is."
"This workshop experience has been one of the most profound experiences of our marriage. Although my husband and I communicate often, we can now identify our demon dialogue and we hope to have countless successes stopping it in its tracks. We've learned that we are not one another's enemies. Moreover, the "forgiving injuries" portion provided us with essential tools for moving on after hurts occur in our marriage. The activities and models (via video) helped us view our own relationship with a new lens. I've learned the rationale for many of my behaviors. I have the utmost confidence that your delivery, presentation, and tools will strengthen our marriage."
I am so happy that my wife and I attended the HMT workshop. I have never been to any group environment before like this. The program really made me delve deeper into our relationship and myself. It brought out some inner feelings that have been buried forever while providing the tools to learn how to begin to communicate them with my wife. You both were great presenters of the program and it was evident that you both have a passion and knowledge of it. Because of this, I think that it was very effective. I really believe that we are in a much better place leaving than when we arrived. Now we need to continue into our daily lives with what we've learned. Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"I must admit that I was skeptical coming to your workshop. Having witnessed my parents attend a "Marriage Encounter" weekend back in the 80's that didn't go so well, I had a lot of fear that this weekend would make things worse. Not so!. I am so grateful for the closeness my husband and I have been able to achieve. The exercises were orchestrated in a way that allowed us to establish a deep level of trust that was necessary to break through fears that we've secretly been dealing with for decades. I have a certain amount of regret that we've wasted so much time. But I am so happy to be leaving here today in a place in our relationship that is both vulnerable and strong. You have helped us by giving us tools to move past hurt, fear, anger, and shame."
"I am so grateful for this workshop. Before coming here this weekend I was feeling like my relationship was entering a hopeless place. With both of your help, I was able to understand my husband more than I have ever before, along with understanding some things that I hadn't realized about myself. I was able to open up about things I feel inside that I had pushed back because of that hopeless feeling and was also able to see things about my husband's feelings in a new light and realize that a lot of our fears were very much alike. I realized his pain was as great as mine. You have given us a fresh start and for that, I am so incredibly grateful! Thank you both so much. I think this workshop is the best thing that could have happened to us."
"Thank you for this opportunity! Opportunity to look at my marriage, revisit my fears in a safe place, and learn to share them with the man that holds my heart. Thank you for providing a secure place where my husband and I could learn how to communicate... and most of all, that we are not broken because of each other and unfixable. Instead, it is not our fault, and together we can have what we both want, a connection, through better communication and identifying the dance. This weekend has allowed me to see my husband more as a man with feelings and the importance of talking about our feelings in a safe way. I didn't realize what part I played until this weekend and I really appreciate that. Thank you."
"I feel like this weekend has changed my life! I felt like our relationship would never be okay, but you have given me hope. We now have tools and I feel we will be okay. It will be hard work but it is worth it. Both of you are exceptional facilitators. You know so much about the topic and leave no stone unturned. Please continue your great work! Thanks again.
"The experience of the workshop has been an eye-opening one and I'm truly grateful that we came to this point at an earlier stage in our marriage and establishment of our family. I've gained new confidence in myself and the bond with my wife this weekend and am able to take these newfound tools with me to continue to strengthen our relationship. I was so unsure of my connection with my wife and truly crippled by my own insecurities before going through the workshop that I would have continued down the same hopeless path. Thank you so much for the gift you've given us and the breath of fresh air that I now feel like I have. I will never forget this experience and it's been one of the most meaningful experiences of my relationship with my wife, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you!"
"The night before the workshop, I said I wasn't going to come. I was so hurt and disconnected from my husband for so long that I thought there was no hope. For some reason, I decided to come. Never in my life have I felt more open, vulnerable, and connected with anyone. The attachment model is so on target. My husband has never opened up or been vulnerable with me before this weekend. Today he looked me in my eyes, revealed his fears, and asked me to keep fighting. He also stopped and heard me truly. I know we have uncertainties to work through but I have intense hope that we can grow and overcome these obstacles now that we know how to stop the insanity and work together in a deep and connected way. Thank you."
"Wow! That is all I can say. There are no coincidences so it is not by chance that my husband and I ended up spending the weekend with you. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We are so grateful to have the tools we now have to help us on the wonderful journey of our marriage. We felt our scenario was a bit different than many others in our group but had many similar struggles nonetheless. The entire workshop from start to finish was relevant, engaging, and informational. The two of you together are like a well-oiled machine. Your level of expertise and ease at which you presented very delicate topics put everyone at ease. The videos were all very touching and the sense of safety you created for all in the room was truly what allowed us to open up so freely. We are so ready and willing to move on and create a loving, happy and successful life together for us and our blended family. I feel so light and free right now thanks to your leadership and guidance. Many blessings to you both."
"Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge with my husband and me and the rest of the group. It was a very emotional experience to be a part of - and I even got so much out of watching other couples have breakthroughs here this weekend. I am feeling raw from all we discussed, but it's a good raw. Forcing me to bring issues to the surface even though it is much safer to keep them stuffed away. I leave knowing my husband loves me very much, that we still have a lot to work on, but also that we have come a long way! Hopefully when we walk through our "thorn bush" we will start to stop before we get stuck in it. And maybe eventually we will cut that "thorn bush" down. Many thanks."
"This session meant and impacted us so much and hit home more than ever - the do's and don'ts - staying away from the demon dialogues. I truly loved and appreciated the safe and secure environment that was created through this workshop which allowed us to explore our relationship without falling into any dangerous pitfalls we so often find ourselves in. We came close but managed to come back and regroup. I just hope and pray we can take these tools and lessons and create a safe place ourselves when in the face of adversity. It feels like we may be able to help ourselves to create a safer and more loving relationship because of the workshop awareness. At the very least avoid the triggers that create the demon dialogues. Thank you."
"I love my husband deeply and feel blessed, but have had a place of "missing" something. Being taught and then invited to experience what was learned opened up a piece to our relationship that is so valuable. I have unfairly accused my husband of being shut down emotionally when in reality water seeks its own level. Debi gave me courageous feedback about my own disconnected process so I could then slow down and be more available. Both of you do a good clear job of explaining the Hold Me Tight process. You both exude respect for the model and a playful appreciation for one another. This has been a great opportunity for strengthening our loving connection. Oh if others would be able and willing to partake it would make a huge difference in their marriage."
"Wow. It is really hard to put into words the gift you have given to my marriage. I am exhausted but in a good way. My husband and I love each other and have always known it, but that's it - we forgot how to feel it. You gave me the space to go to that vulnerable, insecure place with my husband, where I am afraid of rejection, being laughed at, being unlovable - You helped me feel safe enough to show him these fears, and more than that, you helped him to be there for me, and to open up to me, so I could be there for him. The gift you have given us is the best - invaluable gift - that keeps on giving - LOVE - a deeper love and connection. Debi & Jeff - the human beings that you are, the accepting, generous, open human being that you are, is a gift for anyone who knows you. I feel so lucky to have met you - my life changed. I truly feel the next 30 years of my life are going to be the best. Thank you!"
"Wow. Thank you so much for your time, your effort, your passion, and most of all, your authenticity and vulnerability in running this workshop. What a special two days - time carved out of a chaos-filled life - it was an amazing gift to be here and focus on our marriage. You both have a fabulous and warm partnership that complements and balances each other and gives a rich, rounded touch to the HMT curriculum. Thank you so much!"
"Thank you so much for this HMT weekend. It definitely surpassed my hopes and expectations. It took me one year to convince my husband to come with me and we both arrived on Friday slightly anxious about what would happen. We really learned a lot. I was afraid we would not put our defenses down, but we did. Jeff really helped my husband get to a new place of vulnerability on Saturday, and it was so connecting and moving for me to watch him allow himself to go there - that is a moment I will treasure and take with me. It was hard to get vulnerable during some of our private conversations, but regardless the conversations were still meaningful and helped move us to a new connected place. Thank you so much!"
"Thank you so much for this awesome workshop. The two of you are what made this workshop great and the material come alive. I am a heady, analytic man who typically only shows my wife vulnerability I have already figured out, that I feel safe sharing. You, and the material, and the workshop format helped me to crack my shell and show my wife vulnerabilities that I felt truly fearful about. showing her - and she didn't run away. I can't believe it! And I was also able to listen to my wife, have my reactions kick up, and not run away. I was able to stay, listen to her. Whether the situation is right or wrong, her feelings are her facts. I respect that and am here for the long haul. Thank you, thank you, thank you."
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How The Retreat Works

A Proven Guided Experience
This retreat is rooted in the Hold Me Tight® program, developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, and informed by decades of research in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Combined with Debi’s 15+ years of experience facilitating couples workshops, this structured 2-day format is designed to create real, lasting change.

A Deep, Hands-On Experience
Over two days, you’ll learn how attachment shapes your relationship, identify negative patterns, and gain tools to repair conflict and strengthen connection. Each topic is followed by guided, private conversations with your partner, with support from trained EFT therapists when needed.

Tools That Last Beyond The Retreat
You’ll leave with a personalized handbook tailored to your relationship, outlining your unique patterns and offering a clear path toward healing, repair, and deeper connection. This resource is designed to support you beyond the retreat, giving you practical tools and guidance you can return to as you continue growing together.

Real Couples. Real Results.

Hear directly from couples just after completing the retreat as they share what shifted, what they learned, and how their relationship feels moving forward.

Meet Your Retreat Leader

Hello and welcome. My name is Debi Scimeca-Diaz. In my 30 years of experience working with people in relationships, I have found our relationships are the most powerful connections we encounter. Relationships can bring us great joy and happiness, as well as great pain and sorrow. We often get hurt in relationships, so it is in relationships where we heal. I am committed to helping people heal.

I have studied and trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). I am one of a small group of international ICEEFT Certified Trainers. Dr. Sue Johnson, director and founder of the International Center for Excellence in EFT (www.iceeft.com), has put her heart and soul into creating, researching, and spreading the life changing benefits of EFT.

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Ready when you are.

Taking this step can feel vulnerable. You’re welcome to reach out with questions or reserve your spot when it feels right for you both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us

No problem. We offer an online version of the retreat so you can participate from anywhere. You’ll still be guided through the same core process and conversations, with a more accessible price point and flexible format.

Our retreats take place in Brooklyn (NY), Malibu (CA), Lakewood (NJ), and Oak Island (NC).

The retreat includes two full days of guided sessions, along with light breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Lodging is not included, so couples will need to book their own accommodations. We’re happy to share recommendations in the area to make planning easier.

If at the close of the 2nd day you do not have a deeper understanding of your relationship.  Let us know and we will refund your money. All Guarantee claims must be made via email within one hour of the workshop/retreat ending.

Your registration fee is non-refundable. If unforeseen events prevent you from attending, you are welcome to transfer your registration fee to the next online retreat date.  Please contact us for the next steps.  All workshops are enrolled on a first come first serve basis.