Physician, Heal Thyself!

I’ve been a licensed counselor for twenty five years, specializing in treating couples for the past ten. And I’ve been co-facilitating Hold Me Tight®️ couples workshops for eight years now, averaging four a year. Hold Me Tight®️ is the most fun I have professionally. But, this past week, for the first time, my wife Debbie and I did something we’ve wanted to do for years. We attended a Hold Me Tight®️ workshop—as participants. For the first time, I wasn’t leading the group; I was in the group. It’s a different perspective.

You might wonder, after leading so many Hold Me Tight®️ workshops, what could I possibly learn by attending one? That’s a great question and the answer is: a lot! I was certainly familiar with the material we covered. But Hold Me Tight®️ is not just about learning. It’s about doing. Couples get to practice new conversations. They get to connect in real time. And that made the workshop come alive for me and Deb.

The conversations couples have in Hold Me Tight®️ are not meant to be “one and done.” They are conversations to have many times, over a lifetime. And with practice comes confidence. Every couple faces conflict, challenges and changes (even counselors!). Hold Me Tight®️ creates safety and strength to face those thing over the long run. Debbie and I (and the other couples in our group) left feeling more capable, better equipped and more in love .

No two couples are the same. But, all can benefit from a road map for connection. Hold Me Tight®️ offers you that. This is a two day, low key, fun experience leading you to greater vulnerability and deeper intimacy. You go at your own pace. No one will push you. And many couples say they come away feeling closer than they ever knew they could—after just two days.

So, let me invite (let me challenge) all couples, but, in this blog, I’m calling all counselors, healthcare professionals of every stripe to take some of your own medicine and do something good for your own relationship. A strong relationship is an indispensable part of good health (both physical and emotional). So, colleagues, the best thing you can do for your career and your clients may actually benefit you and your partner most of all. Sign up for Hold Me Tight®️.

Join me and my colleague, Vicki Kennedy next month, November 13 & 14 outside Orlando for our next Hold Me Tight®️ couples retreat. It’s Fall. If it’s getting chilly where you live, we still have sunshine and warm days in Florida! All the details are are www.hmtcouplesworkshops.com.

As the old saying goes: “Physician, heal thyself!” I promise…this won’t hurt a bit!