Date & Location:

October 24 – 27, 2024

Algonquin Park, Northern Ontario

All-Inclusive Retreat
A transformative journey in a safe environment that guides couples to create satisfying and long-lasting relationships.
Cost: $1200

Next Year’s retreat will be from October 24th – 27th.
Registration is now open.

Retreat Fee accomodation, meals and facilities is additional

INCLUSIVE & Extended retreat in beautiful Algonquin Park, Ontario

This is an opportunity to create the relationship of your dreams over the course of 3 nights and 4 days.

While the workshop itself will follow the curriculum for all Getting the Love You Want workshops, as described below, there will be increased opportunity to practice the tools, discuss the content, and to integrate the material into your retreat experience in this beautiful nature retreat centre.

The Getting the Love You Want workshop is uniquely designed to help couples in committed partnerships to develop and restore connection, safety and passion in their relationship. This particular workshop experience is designed to integrate your learning into the natural and picturesque setting of Northern Edge retreat centre.

The cost of this workshop is paid in two parts. You will register with Anna & Tim of Replenish Relationships first, following which you will be able to register with Northern Edge, choosing your accomodation through them.

We gather on Thursday, October 24th in the afternoon to explore the retreat centre and settle in, with the retreat closing on Sunday, October 27th after lunch.

  • 3 nights accomodation (of your choosing) at Northern Edge
    (note: all participants must stay on site)
  • All of your meals (supper Thursday night through lunch on Sunday), snacks, coffee, tea, etc…
  • Activities (which may include such things as yoga, paddling, sauna, walks, and other)
Our award-winning mealtime steward, Greg Waters, and our Culinary experiences have been recognized by the tourism industry as some of the best in Canada.

Meet your guides Anna & Tim

Tim & Anna met as graduate students in 1987. It was at a Halloween party when they first laid eyes on each other. As with most romantic relationships, it was their similarities which appeared to draw them together. Discovering early on their shared love of reading, movies, long hikes, music, and family connections, they had a wealth of interests and values to discuss.

In 2008, 20 years into her counselling career, Anna was inspired by a wise mentor to explore IMAGO therapy. With her existing passion for helping relationships heal and grow, becoming a certified IMAGO therapist ignited a new and exciting next phase of her practice journey.

When Anna was required to attend a ‘Getting the Love You Want’ workshop as part of her certification process, Tim agreed to join her for both the experience itself and to demonstrate his support of her enthusiasm for this work. From that point on there was no turning back.

In 2014, they attended The Workshop Presenter’s course in Toronto, recognizing that Tim’s passion for and experience in adult education was an ideal complement to Anna’s therapeutic background. They have been engaged in co-facilitating Getting The Love You Want workshops, and developing further related programs ever since.

The Workshop

Getting The Love You Want

Based on the book of the same name by Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt, this workshop is delivered internationally with Replenish Relationships (Anna & Tim) offering English language only programs in Southern and Northern Ontario, and Canary Islands, Spain.

The workshop is designed to ‘meet’ couples wherever they are in their stage of relationship. It is renowned for its positive impact on any couple who wishes to enhance their connection, build a more meaningful, conscious relationship, repair hurts and resentments, learn how to interrupt their core fight and change the pattern, or simply build a more meaningful relationship.

This engaging and powerful workshop is both experiential and educational in nature. It is commonly considered equivalent to 3-6 months of regular couples’ counselling. A main focus of the workshop is to teach couples Imago communication techniques, specifically the intentional dialogue, which is at the core of all IMAGO work. All couples have many opportunities to learn and practice within the safety and privacy of their own ‘couple-ship’.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the workshop and therapy?

The GTLYW workshop is an intensive (though fun) workshop which takes up most of one full weekend. It is often considered equivalent to 3-6 months of regular couples’ therapy. Couples learn new and effective communication tools, and discover at a deeper level why conflict and disconnect occur and what to do about it. During this workshop the facilitators do not spend time with each couple helping them to navigate the uniqueness of their situation. The amount of information shared in the workshop cannot easily be offered in private therapy. In addition there is a profound positive impact which occurs through meeting other couples and understanding the universality of the challenges of being in a committed partnership.

Couples’ therapy can precede the workshop, come after the workshop (or neither or both). IMAGO therapy allows a couple to work privately with a certified IMAGO therapist in order to deepen their understanding of their unique dynamic and relationship. The therapist acts as a facilitator to support the couple in meaningful dialogue to ‘unpack’ their stories, and increase their compassion, understanding and empathy for one another. Typically couples therapy occurs over a period of time…weeks, months and sometimes even years.

Will we have to share what is private about our relationship?
The workshop is not a group therapy experience. While there is lots of evidence to support the value of group work, sharing of intimate information is not required. You will have the opportunity to share how you met, along with some of the positives about your connection. Participants regularly note that while they were anxious in anticipation of a ‘group’ experience, the value of learning alongside others far outweighed these concerns.
Is there a different or separate workshop for same sex partners? Or those who identify as non-binary?

Some workshop presenters do offer same-sex-specific workshops. While Anna & Tim originally intended to do this, they have received feedback that all couples, regardless of orientation, identity, and relationship partner, have felt welcome at their workshops. If you do wish to participate in a same-sex specific workshop, you can visit Imago Relationships North America and search for these. There are some wonderful presenters offering these workshops listed there.

What is the ideal stage of relationship for taking this workshop?
The short answer is “any stage at all”. The longer answer is that depending on the stage of the relationship you are in, you will likely absorb or relate to some parts of the material more than others. This workshop is designed to walk you through the various stages of a relationship in order that you can understand where you are, and how to become increasingly relationally competent! So, whether you are six months into a relationship or have been together for 40+ years, you are welcome and will experience benefits.
Would this workshop be helpful for marriage/committed relationship preparation?

Definitely! One of the components of this workshop is learning the skill of dialogue. Dialogue allows for deeper and more productive communication. All committed relationships require the fundamental and often ignored skills of communication. You will leave this workshop understanding what has drawn you together, and how to navigate a healthy relationship moving forward. Having excellent communication skills will serve you well as you pursue a healthy and respectful life long love together.

My partner is very reluctant to attend with me, do you have any suggestions regarding how to encourage them?

We recognize that there is often one partner who is more keen than the other. We also know that as long as one person in a relationship is experiencing challenges, these need to be addressed. Often the reluctance to attend a workshop has to do with worry about privacy, and the anxiety about being in a ‘group’ setting. You will not have to share any of your relationship details in this workshop. This is a confidential and safe setting. Consider conveying to your partner that you have their back, that you won’t reveal anything that they do not want you to and that you will work privately in your own ‘coupleship’ unless, together, you agree that you do want to share something. Learning in a group setting is one of the most powerful ways to grow. It is wonderful to note the way in which the shared experience of participating in a group workshop helps others to feel ‘normal’ in their struggles, worries, patterns of behaviour etc…

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