Testimonials From Happy Couples
Online Reviews
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Emails From Past Couples
I am thankful to you for opening my eyes to the "bigger picture". I feel we have gained more skills in our toolkit to plan for success. I learned a lot and as the days continue to unfold I am happy to be able to apply it to even more areas of my life. I am learning to say what I am feeling and not assume people know. I think some of the things you covered are basic in nature but complex in practicality. The sessions help to create awareness and get conversations started.
To have helped me pass on to new avenues in my life, cleansing some of the demons, awakening the spirit inside of me that I had stopped listening to - being a father to my children and a partner to my wife and reinforcing the path I am on is sacred - for those who have led me as well as to whomever I may have the opportunity to lead - this and more are borne by work we have shared.
I never thought that it would be enough time... but now after doing it I realize that it was a lot of time.
I am extremely grateful for your help and guidance this past weekend. I do wish we had met you 15 years ago but nonetheless you have been incredibly caring, insightful and have played a crucial role in improving our lives.
One thing my wife and I have talked about and agree on is that our experience with you was the catalyst behind the long road to recovery for our relationship. Obviously one weekend could not instantly repair what had been missing and the damage that had been done. It did though serve as the wake-up call for me that I was just so unable to find before. Although you might scold us for not always using the tools you taught us, I can assure you that we pull out that tool box whenever we find ourselves having trouble communicating. Obviously we are always looking to improve our communication skills, but having that skill set there when we are struggling has been invaluable. The mirroring has been especially helpful because we had a hard time hearing each other in the past. Bottom line is that we will never regret the money spent for our visit to you. I am confident that we would not be together today had we not visited you. Thank you so much for helping us.
I have often thought of writing you, mainly to thank you. I don't know how I would have gotten through these difficult times without the retreat. It was such an amazing experience! I wish we could do it every month. Since the retreat we have done very well, but have not been working hard enough as far as reflective listening and our other work. We just recently discussed that, after our first big argument and agreed to spend more time on this. I hope you have a wonderful summer.
My wife and I are still trying to work on our relationship and currently living together. It has not been easy, but we really love each other and have found it extremely difficult to let go! I do feel that we have a much better understanding of each other and have been communicating better. I often think back to a lot of the things we discussed and that has truly helped me. Thank you again for all your help. I know that our relationship was a professional relationship, however, often times it seemed like I was talking to a good friend. I guess that is a sign of a good doctor!
It's hard for me to believe there are people such as yourself in the world. You showed me such hope. I want you to know how deeply your caring, sharing, and understanding have touched my heart... my life. Because of you and your support, my life will never again be the same. I will never again be the unknowing victim accepting pain and shame as a fact of life. I have a long path to walk, but you have shown me that life will allow for peace.
Thank you from my heart, I feel such gratitude for your caring and compassionate help.
I am really happy to let you know that we are doing very well. Our marriage is finally back on track. Communication was definitely our problem as it is in most marriages that are in trouble. I know the sessions we had with you, as well as those we had together, helped get some of these things out. We both learned some things and have very few disagreements or misunderstandings. Those we do have are solved very quickly and with less anger. We have always had the best marriage coming and going because it is based on mutual respect as well as love. I am happy to say we are back there again - Thanks!
Thanks. It was a powerful weekend for us-vastly exceeded my expectations.
We are doing great! We are enjoying each other and our wonderful family. We take the time to talk and share with each other. We really enjoyed our weekend with you both and learned alot about ourselves and each other. It was hard work and worth every bit of the effort. We immediately felt closer and it put us on the right path for success. Thank you again for everything!!
What a difference a year makes. I learned a lot about myself that weekend and my tendencies; I have become better at self regulating and have worked to moderate my reactions to some of his actions and dialogue. We don't always practice all the communication techniques we learned, but for us I think it was the will we both had as we knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. My husband is who he is, and I am who I am and that is not going to change too much, but how we accept and deal with each other seems more respectful. I am better able to see the good with the not so good, and I believe he better sees my strengths as an advantage for both of us, rather then a threat. Thanks for your contribution to where I am today, and to the fact that we are enjoying, supporting and loving each other again.
Thank you... Wow... I didn't believe it was possible.
Just checking in to let you know we are both doing okay! We registered to take a pottery class together once-a-week that starts mid-May - we're both pretty excited about it! We've also been able to commit to a once a week date night that is helpful. I feel we're listening better and being more patient with each other. Monday we'll be opening our joint account. So - things are moving along and feeling better than before the retreat! Thank you! We'll keep you updated periodically!
I want to thank you both for the wonderful sessions we shared with you. I feel strengthened by the tools provided and hopeful for our future.
My husband is talking to me!
I have learned more about my husband in 3 days than I have in 7 years.
I believe you gave me a lot of the tools I need... and I am grateful to you. I find myself talking with my husband in very different ways now... sharing my fears and insecurities, rather than blaming and accusing him. I can remember one conversation I had with you when we role-played... this has been so helpful to me as I now can talk to him about me and my feelings, rather than blaming. I also find that my husband and I are doing things much differently with conflict. We are not perfect, but we are definitely so much better. Instead of ignoring/stuffing it, we deal with it. Yeah!
We have been doing amazingly well since we all met, I didn't see this coming for us back then, but my wife and I have become so much better in so many ways in our relationship. I can't pinpoint one thing that helped the most, but what you taught us I still here in my head when I'm trying to communicate with her. Her feelings for me have grown all over again and I couldn't be more happy and appreciative for that. Thank you so very much for everything you taught us, and in helping us keep our marriage whole.
I shall always be grateful for your patience and for understanding me. You have helped me to open up my life in so many ways. May the best be yours always.
After we left, my husband said we should have gone to see you the day after we got married in order to have the necessary tools to maintain a healthy relationship. I never would have believed that after just three short days I would be willing to make such a huge effort in my marriage again.
I just wanted to take a moment to say thanks. My wife and I are doing amazing after our retreat. We look forward to another session in the future to help keep our marriage healthy and happy.
Thank you so much for such a powerful and enlightening weekend. He and I gained so much insight on ourselves as individuals and how that transfers into our relationship. Your guidance through it all was comforting and we truly appreciated everything.
Thanks for introducing us to some techniques and thoughts, but way more importantly, for making us look clearly at what we would lose if we continued on the path that we were on.
We will keep practicing, I promise. Things are good...better than EVER before!
The great thing is that we are parting as friends, and we weren't headed in that direction before.
I have worked through so much emotional garbage. I am happy in a way I never have been, I am making choices, feeling free! I am able to love my kids like never before. I like being a single parent, I enjoy my work, I have some good friendships, my relationship with my parents and siblings is changing, I just met a young man with whom I can communicate like I have never ever been able to. Real intimacy!
I have reached a point where I can recognize 'the problem' and best of all, I can now talk about it. I no longer feel the frustration of being 'trapped' and know I can make it on my own. You are not only professional, but just plain super! Thanks!
Three months after going there we can honestly say it's been a quantum leap in the right direction.
Your insight and compassion have opened our eyes to feelings locked away for years. We have a found a new connection and understanding of each others feelings, wants, and needs that seemed out of reach until now.
My (our) weekend with you was so life-affirming and joyous-really! We came home with more and better communication methods (as well as sexual methods!) and we both truly thank you for being in our lives to guide us.
I am thankful to you for opening my eyes to the bigger picture. I feel we have gained more skills in our toolkit to plan for success. I learned a lot and as the days continue to unfold I am happy to be able to apply it to even more areas of my life. I am learning to say what I am feeling and not assume people know. I think some of the things you covered are basic in nature but complex in practicality. The sessions help to create awareness and get conversations started.
Your aftercare plan is very comprehensive and personalized... and I really know because I am an attorney and write contracts all of the time.
I am so thankful that my husband is starting to realize that he has been lost in the dark desert. I have not had my husband in 1-1/2 years because he detached from the family. So much is clear now, even for the children. Thanks again.
It was scary! It was hard!! It was intense!!! It was great!!!! It was perfect!!!!! revitalized !!!!!
Thank you so much for your amazing insights, training and caring. We came to your retreat at one of the most pivotal moments of our married life together. We were not sure what to expect, but I can honestly tell you that your talents, skills, and approach led to deep and profound realizations and learning. Marriage Quest far exceeded our expectations. I hope to meet you and work with you again in the future. Thank you for sharing your abilities and experiences with us. I think it was extremely educational and enlightening. And that makes me feel happy :-)
I have had more fun in the bedroom than I have had in years.
I think we both needed this retreat to motivate ourselves to connect and move on together in a positive direction. Your directives and coaching are very valuable and we will definitely practice the skills you have discussed with us.
Thanks so much Dr H! it really was a pleasure working with you. We are really happy to feel so connected and intimate again, and we’ve used the communication skills to discuss a few more difficult things, with a really positive outcome!
Thank you so much for your call and your kind words. We have had a lot of “I’m Sorry, we can not help,” in the last two weeks and felt discouraged with humanity. Be well, knowing you gave someone hope. We look forward to our next meeting.
We would highly recommend Dr. H. We took part in an intensive couples therapy retreat. The 3 days we spent with him were insightful, very interesting, challenging, and pushed our relationship to uncomfortable places at times. What he taught us felt foreign at first and was difficult, but in the end proved to be a much more effective way of communicating. He is very easy to talk to, a greater listener and made us feel very comfortable, as If we had known him for quite some time. While we might have been exhausted by end of each session, we left feeling more positive and hopeful for our future.
We tried to come up with something that we thought would improve our time with Dr. H. but we couldn't come up with anything. Thank you for all the help!
Forever grateful for the help and insight you gave us to heal our relationship. We had a pretty bleak outlook for awhile, and going through the course and continuing to use the communication skills you taught us has changed everything for us. Never stop dating your partner great advice, finding time to be a couple and not just mom and dad or one without the other has made a huge difference in things. You gave us the tools to change the entire course of our lives, and we will be forever thankful. I couldn't imagine life without my husband now, and he shows his appreciation to me like never before, it's always going to be a work in progress, but it most definitely worth the work now. Thank you again!
Your work with us has done wonders, and I am so grateful. Thank you!
I came to you when my life seemed to be at its darkest. I felt as if I was losing everything and there was no hope for me. I saw my life as the half-empty glass. You allowed me to see the glass as half full. At a time when I had no faith in anything, you gave me faith in the future. It's a small step on a very long journey but at least I found the path to take. I still need help, but at least now I can admit that I do, and I can seek out those people who can provide that help and not be afraid to show my weaknesses to them.
My head is still spinning from all I learned and continue to work on. I feel so much lighter and that a huge weight has been lifted. It isn't perfect but I now know that there is nothing that we can't talk about. Things have gotten so much better between us, I just can't tell you what your work has done for me and for US. Perhaps we are still in the "honeymoon period" but the tools are there for us to use when needed. We are talking together, sleeping together, and doing fun things together, and I look forward to the time rather than fearing it. When talking with friends or family now it is all I can do to keep from insisting that they seek you out.
I always felt that you had our best interests in mind
Something is working. I feel more loving towards my wife than I have in a long time.
It has been a while. I suppose it is time to give you an update on the status of our marriage. The counseling and insights received from that weekend together still resound in my heart and mind -- and has immensely clarified my relationships and outlook on life. No more victim mentality -- and a much closer examination of what I tell myself about what others speak.
I wanted to let you know that we finalized a decision to divorce. As you know, it is not what I wanted, but given his mindset, dragging it out seemed too painful for both of us. He actually did me a kindness in being definitive, which relieved for me the pain of uncertainty and frustration. I am still glad we made the trip to Vermont. I think we both gained sympathy and empathy for the other and got past the worst of our anger. We did a lot of talking between the sessions and after returning home, and although I thought it was bringing us together, at least I think we softened considerably. Since finalizing our decision, I feel like my head is clearer to see what happened and why. I can even begin to see how, given who we are and where we came from, there was some inevitability to it and maybe, at this point, it's even for the best. This whole thing has been incredibly painful and screwed up, though, which I still don't fully understand. But, thank you for making a terrible situation more bearable and understandable, and for shortening it. I appreciate all your efforts.
We have decided to stay together as best friends... cohabitating and sharing our lives together. The relationship is constantly changing as we rediscover each other and what we value in our relationship. Each day is better as we talk, share and grow, seperately and together. Thank you for starting us off in the right direction and giving us the tools to make us better.
Our weekend with you was so powerful for us. We have certainly had our ups and downs since, but have managed to hang on. I know we'll be back up some day.
It opened doors, I can start building bridges.
I really learned a lot from our sessions and do see things differently now. Mostly I am less combative with myself and the world. Well, I mean I still come on very agressive but am learning to give others a chance. The kids helped me with that attitude real quick. Ha Ha!
I have been learning to trust my own feelings and judgements during this very confusing time. We are slowly working things out and building up the trust again.
I learned more about my wife in the last 2 hours than in all of our past therapy sessions together.
The fear and anxiety of being at fault or manipulated evaporated in the first 15 minutes. Firmly and with sensitivity, Israel and Cathie enriched our understanding of underlying behavior issues in our 15 year marriage without judging or blaming. We arrived as strained husband and wife and left as best friends knowing that our personal development was to be best served by going forward apart, yet with the desire to enjoy each other as friends.
I am in a better place, and that is because of our weekend with you. Thank you again for opening my eyes and my mind, and guiding me down a path to find 'my truth'.
My husband and I got more done in 3 sessions with Dr H than in several years of therapy with multiple therapists.
I came to the retreat feeling very hopeless, and I am leaving with a lot of tools and feeling that eventually everything will be alright.
Hello Dr. H. I hope this finds you well. I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate the work you did with us. Our daily check ins continue and things are going well for us. Sometimes the check ins are short and sometimes they are longer, but they are always heartfelt. The best part is that we actually listen to each other. I can honestly say that I have not felt this close to my husband (physically and emotionally) in years. We are so grateful to you!
Thank you again for what you have done to help my marriage and family. Yes, these are quite stressful and uncertain times. We’re on the wave and will riding it out the best we can, and now we are definitely in a better place than before.
My husband and I learned how to be more open and honest. Dr. H. taught us how to communicate and listen deeply. We take time for our relationship now. We have check ins almost every day and we truly enjoy sharing our celebrations and things to work on with each other. It's been almost a year since we worked with Dr. H. Although we still have difficult times periodically, the skills we learned help us talk our way through them more effectively and respectfully than we did before.
Our virtual weekend session with Dr. H. was more personal than I expected it to be. I worried that the screen between us would diminish the effectiveness of it, but it really didn't. He was "present" and wholly aware of how we were doing and what we had to work on. He noticed little things too, like the blanket that I had on my lap every day, a comfort that I wouldn't have had if our sessions had been in person. His gentle probing was non-threatening yet elicited honest responses from both of us.
Things have been much better between us since our retreat session with you. We both know it will only be a matter of time before our new lifestyle and communication skills will be even more fulfilling and get more comfortable. Thank you for all your help with getting us to jump start our lives back on the road to recovery; you were exactly what we needed and had searched for. He loved it so much he was wishing we had one more day to spend with you!!!
Some information above has been changed to protect confidentiality
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