®
Hold me Tight ® is a registered trademark of Sue Johnson Inc
September 19 & 20, 2026
10:00am-5:00pm
Cost $650 per couple
Early Bird $600.00 per couple
*Early bird rate is available until September 1, 2026
**Participants must attend as a couple
Lunch and light snacks are included
**This workshop will be held mostly outside and we will be integrating ground work with horses.
**Please wear closed toed shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. This will take place rain or shine.
During this workshop, you and your partner will learn how to:
Saturday Agenda | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Building the Foundation
We’ll begin our weekend together by exploring the science of love and attachment—including the important role connection plays in our emotional and physical well-being and in our relationships.
Together, we’ll begin to build curiosity about your own emotions, your partner’s emotions, and the patterns that can develop between you. We’ll work toward making sense of the moments in your relationship that may feel confusing, frustrating, or difficult to understand.
This will be the most content-rich portion of the weekend and will provide a strong foundation for the conversations and experiences that follow.
Before beginning our work with the horses, we’ll also review basic horse safety and communication. Throughout the weekend, you’ll have opportunities to get to know the horses, interact with them, and experience how they can help us slow down, become more present, and notice patterns of connection in a different way.
Understanding Your Relationship Patterns
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from both horses and practicing psychotherapy, it’s that things unfold in their own time. Sometimes, we need to slow down in order to truly move forward.
With that in mind, the weekend is intentionally flexible. Our goal on Saturday is to explore:
Conversation 1: Recognizing the Demon Dialogues
We’ll look at the negative cycles couples can become caught in when they feel hurt, disconnected, unheard, or uncertain of one another.
Conversation 2: Finding the Raw Spots
We’ll begin identifying the deeper emotions and vulnerable places that can sit underneath conflict and influence how we respond to our partner.
As we explore how romantic partners tend to respond to one another when things become difficult, you’ll have opportunities to:
There will be opportunities for group discussion throughout the day; however, sharing personal information with the group is always optional. Much of the meaningful work will happen privately between you and your partner.
Lunch and light snacks will be provided.
Sunday Agenda | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Moving From Understanding to Connection
We’ll begin Sunday by slowing things down and making space to reflect on Saturday’s experiences. You’ll have an opportunity to notice what stood out, what you learned about yourself and your partner, and anything that may have shifted in the way you understand your relationship.
From there, we’ll continue into:
Conversation 3: Revisiting a Rocky Moment
Using what you’ve learned about your cycle and your deeper emotions, you’ll begin looking at difficult moments in your relationship through a new lens and practice responding differently.
Conversation 4: Hold Me Tight
We’ll focus on creating greater emotional accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement with one another—helping you strengthen the sense that “I am here for you, and you are here for me.”
Conversation 5: Forgiving Injuries
If time allows, we’ll begin exploring how couples can understand and work through relational hurts that continue to affect connection and trust.
As with Saturday, the day will include a combination of learning, reflection, partner exercises, supported conversations, horse demonstrations, and hands-on ground activities with the horses.
Our intention is not to rush through the material. Every couple and every relationship moves at its own pace. We will allow the weekend to unfold in a way that supports meaningful connection rather than simply trying to complete a checklist.
Any conversations from the Hold Me Tight® program that we are unable to explore fully during the weekend will be introduced and supported with materials and outlines that you can take home and continue working through together.
Lunch and light snacks will be provided.
A Weekend Designed for the Two of You
This weekend is about creating space to slow down, step away from everyday distractions, understand your relationship in a new way, and reconnect with one another.
The horses add an experiential element that allows couples to move beyond simply talking about connection and begin noticing, practicing, and experiencing it together.
There is no riding involved, and no previous horse experience is required. All equine activities are completed from the ground and will be adapted to each couple’s comfort level.
Because much of our time with the horses will take place outdoors, please wear closed-toed shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather. The workshop will take place rain or shine.
