The Couples Blueprint
An Intimate, Customized Retreat Experience for Four Couples
October 12-17, 2025
Transform Your Relationship with The Couples Blueprint Retreat
Imagine stepping into a retreat created just for you and your partner, alongside three other couples who, like you, are ready to explore the heart of their relationship. This intimate, personalized experience combines my Wholehearted Communication approach with a customized assessment that goes beyond the basics. Together, we’ll dive into the unique dynamics of your relationship, uncovering what matters most to you both. Through interactive, tailored sessions, you’ll build the tools to nurture a resilient, deeply connected partnership long after the retreat ends.
Is This Retreat for You?
If you’re ready to go deeper—beyond surface-level fixes—and want a space where your specific needs are seen and supported, this retreat is for you. With just four couples, we’ll create a close-knit, supportive environment where you can heal, strengthen, and grow together. The Couples Blueprint Retreat is designed to give you the clarity, connection, and commitment that will transform your relationship.
Our Story
Michele O'Mara has been blazing a trail for lesbian couples since 2005 with her unique relationship-transforming experiences. Her journey began with weekend workshops at her Indianapolis office, where couples discovered relationship-enhancing skills without the extensive time commitment typically associated with couples' counseling.
In response to the growing demand for more immersive experiences, Adventures in Love was born. In 2018, Michele and her wife Kristen merged their love for travel with their passion for relationship enrichment, giving birth to Lesbian Adventures in Love. These retreats are designed to offer transformative vacation experiences for lesbian couples, set in intimate, luxury Airbnb accommodations.
Adventures in Love Couples Retreats are extraordinary experiences, leaving couples with consistently positive feedback like:
Our retreats are not about generic advice or temporary fixes. We offer comprehensive, no-nonsense programs tailored to the specific needs and unique challenges lesbian couples face. With a focus on practical tools and actionable steps, we're here to guide you from conflict to connection. We are committed to helping you transform your relationship dynamics in profound and lasting ways.
What couples say about our retreats.
Removes External Stressors for Focused Progress
Work, family, and daily responsibilities interfere with relationship repair. A retreat eliminates these distractions, allowing undivided attention on connection and problem-solving (Gottman Institute).
Stronger Results Through Community Support
Engaging with other couples fosters deeper insight, normalization of struggles, and enhanced motivation—something individual therapy lacks (Feldman & Silverman, 2004).
Faster, More Meaningful Change
Intensive couples therapy has been shown to lead to quicker and greater improvements in relationship satisfaction compared to traditional weekly sessions (Doss et al., 2016).
A Transformative Experience Instead of Gradual Change
Traditional therapy results in incremental progress, whereas a retreat fosters a pivotal, game-changing shift in the relationship dynamic that partners can carry forward.
Real-Time Practice of Relationship Tool
Rather than learning concepts over months with little practice in between, a retreat guides couples through structured exercises immediately, reinforcing new communication and conflict-resolution skills.
Experiential Learning for Lasting Change
Intensive, hands-on experiences lead to better retention and application of skills than weekly sessions that rely on discussion alone (Kolb, 1984).
Accelerates Emotional Reconnection
Couples often report more progress in five days of a retreat than in an entire year of weekly therapy, as the immersive setting deepens emotional access and breakthroughs.
Deeper Emotional Engagement
Couples in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) intensives report up to 75% recovery from distress and 90% significant improvement, largely due to the ability to work through emotions in an uninterrupted setting (Johnson et al., 1999).
Creates a Safe and Supportive Growth Space
Retreats provide a dedicated environment for connection, free from everyday stressors and distractions, which helps couples rebuild emotional safety and trust faster.
Breakthroughs Without the Stop-and-Start Effec
Weekly therapy often suffers from "pause and restart" disruptions, whereas an immersive retreat allows couples to stay engaged in the work without external distractions (Gottman Institute)
Retreat Location and Space
We have room for four lesbian couples to join us on Old Orchard Beach, where long stretches of soft sand, endless ocean views, and a relaxed, welcoming vibe offer the perfect backdrop for connection and relaxation. Old Orchard Beach is a true escape—a small-town coastal retreat where you can unwind, stroll along the shore, and enjoy moments of quiet in a beach town that feels like it’s all yours.
With just a quick 20-minute drive to Portland, you get the best of both worlds. We will adventure to the city to experience Portland’s lively and inclusive LGBTQ+ scene. Portland offers a vibrant arts culture, fantastic restaurants, and welcoming LGBTQ+ spots, all close enough for an effortless extension of the retreat.
What to Expect
How to Communicate Effectively
Learn Michele’s unique framework designed to transform how you communicate. Develop tools to build trust, cultivate compassion, and strengthen emotional connection, creating a foundation for open and fulfilling dialogue in every part of your relationship.
Personalized Assessment
Each partner will complete a comprehensive relationship assessment to understand the heart of your relationship strengths and vulnerabilities.
Customized Agenda
No two relationships are the same—your retreat schedule will be uniquely designed based on your assessment, ensuring you focus on what matters most.
Tailored Blueprint
Identify patterns, reconnect over shared values, and gain insights into how to nurture your relationship’s potential. Walk away with practical tools and personalized strategies to continue growing together long after the retreat ends.
Private Couples Session
Each couple enjoys a 45-minute private session to explore individual insights and perspectives in a safe, supportive space.
Immersive, Guided Connection
Through curated exercises, guided reflections, and meaningful conversations, this retreat is your opportunity to reconnect, realign, and refresh your partnership with lasting tools.
Retreat Schedule
Sunday | October 12, 2025
5:30pm | Check in to room and get settled
6:30pm
Monday | October 13, 2025
8:00am Breakfast (included)
9:30am - 12:30pm Session 1: Personalized Communication Foundations
12:30pm - 5:30pm Free Time (Beach time)
5:30pm-7:00 pm
Session 2: Self-Protection vs Connection
7:00pm Dinner (included)
9:30am - 12:30pm Session 3: Navigating Conflict and Repair
Addressing and Understanding Unmet Needs
Repair Strategies
12:30pm - 5:30pm Free Time (Beach time)
5:30pm-7:00 pm Session 4: Intimacy and Connection
Exploring intimacy and closeness
Custom Dialogue
8:00am Breakfast (included)
9:30 am - 1:00 pm Session
9:30am - 12:30pm Session 5: Dreams, Desires and Enjoyment
My Request Dialogue
12:30pm on Free Time
8:00am Breakfast (included)
9:30am - 1:30pm
7:30pm - 9:00pm Closure Session
8:00 am - 9:00 am Breakfast (included)
10:00am - Exit Airbnb
Getting Registered
Payment Plan
$4650 (per couple)
________
$1500 Deposit, then
14 Monthly Payments of $225.00
Frequently Asked Questions
Specifically, you can expect to:
While we prefer that retreat participants be vaccinated and boosted, we no longer require this.
Cancelation POLICY
Our Workshop cancelation policy is as follows:
1. Cancel 90 days prior to the workshop start date; 100% refund minus the $95 cancelation fee and e-commerce fees (3%).
2. Cancel 60–89 days prior to the workshop start date; 75% refund minus the $95 cancelation fee and e-commerce fees (3%).
3. Cancel less than 60 days prior to the workshop start date; no refunds.
No one books a workshop with the intention of canceling it, yet unexpected events do occur, so please consider purchasing travel insurance (see below), especially if you are flying.
It is your responsibility to read and understand our cancelation policies. Exceptions cannot be made for any reason, including weather, injury/illness, or personal emergencies.
No refunds or credits for failure to attend, failure to complete the workshop, or for arriving late or leaving early. A breakup does not change anything. You are still encouraged to attend.
Lesbian Adventures in Love is not responsible for expenses, including but not limited to flights, lodging, meals, and transportation incurred for delays and/or detainments beyond the trip itinerary as a result of circumstances beyond our control, such as an upsurge of COVID-19, war, weather, etc.
No refunds will be made for any pre-paid excursion or other planned activities that the participant misses or decides not to participate in for any reason.
TRAVEL and MEDICAL INSURANCE
We recommend that you purchase your own travel insurance. We encourage you to purchase trip cancelation insurance to cover your trip fees should you or your partner have a medical problem before or during the trip. Trip insurance should also be purchased to cover medical expenses if you have an accident while in the workshop.
Consider the companies below to assist you in your search for travel insurance:
https://trawickinternational.com
https://www.worldnomads.com
Be sure to quote “cancel for any reason” coverage and inquire about your ability to receive reimbursement for payments made to Adventures in Love. Most travel insurance must be purchased within 14 days of making your reservation.
Cancelation BY LESBIAN ADVENTURES IN LOVE
In the unlikely event that the workshop does not reach minimum enrollment, the workshop organizers reserve the right to cancel workshops. In this case, all money paid to Lesbian Adventures in Love Workshops will be refunded. Notification of cancelation for this reason will occur at least 59 days prior to the workshop start date. Lesbian Adventures in Love cannot be held responsible for personal expenses, such as airline tickets, due to itinerary changes or workshop cancelations.
No compensation will be made when a cancelation arises before or during the trip from circumstances beyond our control (force majeure), such as an upsurge in COVID-19, war, strife, civil disobedience, strikes, terrorist activity, adverse weather conditions, fire, natural disasters, etc., unless or until the workshop organizer is able to recover any workshop related sums. In the event of cancelation arising from circumstances beyond our control, workshop-related sums recovered by the workshop organizer will be distributed equitably to the participants after the workshop organizer deducts all out-of-pocket costs and related expenses.
DIGITAL IMAGES
By participating in a workshop, participants acknowledge and agree to digital images of their being and likeness taken by Lesbian Adventures in Love and other participants and that such images may be shared at will online and publicly.
TRANSPORTATION
All of your transportation to and from the workshop, as well as during the workshop, is your responsibility. No reimbursement will be provided for transportation expenses you incur in the event the workshop is canceled for any reason.
RELEASE OF LIABILITY
Participants acknowledge and accept responsibility for the risk of injury while participating in any activity while at the workshop and waive any rights, claims, and causes of action arising out of participation in any activity while at the workshop.
Participants acknowledge and promise not to participate in activities unless medically and mentally able.
Participants accept and assume the risk of contracting COVID-19, a variant of the virus, or any other infectious or other disease that may prevent them from participating in coaching services or any other activities while at the workshop and will not hold Adventures in Love reliable for any illness or disability she may sustain, or for medical costs or care or any other related economic loss incurred as a result of contracting said virus or other infectious disease while at the workshop. Participants also accept that she will not be reimbursed for any fees or costs she has already expended on coaching services or activities while at the workshop if unable to complete or participate in the workshop.
Portland (PWM) Airport
The nearest airport to Old Orchard Beach is Portland (PWM) Airport which is 9.7 miles away. Other nearby airports include Manchester (MHT) (67.6 miles), Boston (BOS) (86.3 miles), Lebanon (LEB) (97.5 miles) and Bangor (BGR) (118.7 miles).
Transportation will be necessary to participate in our adventure to Portland, Maine. You may find it more affordable to rely on an Uber or Lyft ($30-40 from airport to retreat). Also, you may have the option to share rides with another couple who has personal transportation. However, we cannot guarantee this. Prior to the retreat, we will create a group chat for couples to share information about their travel and discuss transportation issues.
MICHELE O'MARA, PHD, LCSW
Dr. O’Mara is committed to continually enhancing her expertise with multiple relationship trainings and certifications including: Gottman Method Level 3, Certified Imago Therapist, EFT trained, and Discernment Counseling Certified. In 2014, she earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Sexology, focusing on lesbian sexuality, and remains passionately dedicated to exploring lesbian love and relationships.
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