Hold Me Tight® Weekend Workshop

Mark your caledars!

Next workshop October 12 & 13, 2024

What is a Hold Me Tight® Weekend?

This workshop for couples is based on the bestselling book, Hold Me Tight, by Dr. Sue Johnson. Created for couples struggling with communication, intimacy and security issues, Hold Me Tight® is a two-day intensive Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) workshop to help couples open up to each other, reconnect, heal, and create new and healthy relationship habits. This workshop is led by seasoned couples therapists Tobi Bakken and Emily Barben, who will help you and your partner feel safe, welcome, seen and understood. Goals of the workshop include:

  • Understand where and why you get stuck in your communication

  • Learn to change these old patterns that leave you frustrated and alone

  • Engage in guided conversations to create a secure bond

  • Build skills to become a strong team

    Keep scrolling for more information or sign up now…

Who will benefit from Hold Me Tight®?

Hold Me Tight® benefits all types of couples in committed relationships, and all are welcome!

Studies show that 70-75% of couples who participate in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) move from distress to recovery and approximately 90% show significant longterm improvement. Hold Me Tight® is based solely on EFT principals, however, HMT offers more direct instruction than a typical therapy session.

More FAQs

Do I have to talk in front of other couples?

Kind of. All intimate conversations between couples take place in private. Group processing is a part of the workshop, but no one is required to talk and you get to decide how much you want to share.

What is the financial investment?

The investment for the workshop is $800. We want to make the material as accessible as possible, so we have also created a sliding scale for those experiencing financial hardship. Please contact the hosts if you want more info. {Call 406-414-7053}

What’s included in the price?

The price includes 14 hours of focused time devoted to improving your relationship alongside highly skilled couples therapists. For perspective, 14 hours of couples therapy with one therapist may cost about $2000, and would take at least 4 months to complete! In just two days, you will gain valuable skills for having hard conversations, learn relationship science, access resources, and have many opportunities to practice with expert guidance. It also includes delicious, morning and afternoon snacks, hot and cold drinks, and a participant toolkit.

What time does it start/end?

The workshop starts at 9am and ends at 5pm both Saturday and Sunday, with about a 90 minute break for lunch.

Will this be death by PowerPoint?

No way! The workshop does include a teaching aspect, with helpful and engaging information but it is mainly experiential—meaning group conversations, media/music clips, role-play demonstrations, and private conversations between you and your partner.

How many couples will be there?

This is a small, intimate style group and registration is limited to 4 couples.

Where is the workshop?

The workshop takes place in a lovely, bright remodeled group space in Bozeman. Each couple will have their own sitting area and private space for having personal conversations.

Is there any reason we shouldn’t sign up?

If you have untreated mental illness, untreated addiction, ongoing infidelity, ongoing physical, emotional or verbal abuse, or other safety concerns, please contact the hosts to see if this will be the right fit for your relationship. All participants may be screened by the hosts to assess appropriateness for group work. {Call 406-414-7053}

What if our plans change and we can’t make it?

Part of our effort to create the best quality experience is by limiting the number of seats available at the event. Last-minute cancellations can leave empty seats that otherwise could have been filled by another couple eager to attend. Thus, two weeks prior to the workshop, you may receive a refund, minus an administration fee of $250. No refunds are offered for cancellations made less than two weeks prior to the event.

Meet Your Hosts

  • Tobi is an EFT Counselor, and owner of Connect Counseling in Bozeman. She has been specializing in relationship counseling for the last 7 years. This will be Tobi’s fourth Hold Me Tight Workshop! She has been involved as a leader, a helper and as a participant with her husband. She found the workshop so valuable that she was inspired to begin hosting them.

    Learn more about Tobi here.

  • Emily is a certified Emotionally Focused Therapist and owner of Emily Barben Counseling. She has specialized in helping couples navigate conflict and disconnection, heal from emotional wounds, and restore their connections for the past 6 years. Emily has been a facilitator and a participant in Hold Me Tight workshops. She believes these workshops are incredibly bonding and effective and is excited to be your host!

    Learn more about Emily’s work here.

"Hold Me Tight®" is a registered trademark to Sue Johnson