Love That Lasts Couples retreat
Love That Lasts Couples retreat
Doe Bay Resort & Retreat 105 Doe Bay Road Orcas Island, WA 98280 United States
Up to 20 in group
Apr 23 - 26, 2026
Retreat Highlights
- Immersive 4-day couples retreat on Orcas Island
- Grounded in John Gottman’s Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
- Cozy cabins, yurts, and domes nestled in nature
- Fresh, organic meals from the on-site garden
- Guided group sessions, private couple exercises, and reflective activities
- Learn tools to deepen friendship, improve communication, and manage conflict with care
- Sauna, soaking tubs, and quiet time for connection and relaxation
- Create shared meaning, rituals, and a lasting vision for your relationship
- Optional extra activities: cold plunge, spa, stargazing, and extended stay
- Small, intimate group with personalized support throughout
About this Retreat
Your Guides
Ivana is a Licensed Professional Counselor with the Oregon Board of Licensed Counselors & Therapists, specializing in relationships, trauma, depression, anxiety, and major life transitions. Her greatest passion is supporting couples and individuals in navigating relationship challenges, improving communication, and rekindling intimacy.
She integrates a variety of evidence-based approaches, including the Gottman Method Couples Therapy, EMDR, IFS, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment Theory, Mindfulness, Trauma-Focused CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Ivana works collaboratively with clients to identify patterns that lead to defensiveness or feeling “not heard,” and develops practical strategies for positive change.
In addition to her clinical work, Ivana draws inspiration from nature as a source of well-being and resilience. She is an advocate of mindfulness, cold water immersion, and connecting with the natural world as a way to build strength and presence—practices she weaves into her retreats to help couples slow down, reconnect, and restore balance.
Ivana has completed advanced training in EMDR, Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Levels I & II), and holds a Master of Science in Psychology with a focus on couple, family, and individual psychotherapy. Her warm, accepting approach creates a safe space for participants to explore, grow, and rediscover connection with themselves and their partners.
Details of this retreat
Love That Lasts: A Gottman Couples Workshop
April 23–26, 2026 • Doe Bay Resort, Orcas Island, Washington
Step away from the busyness of everyday life and immerse yourselves in a long weekend of connection, restoration, and discovery. Love That Lasts is a couples retreat grounded in the research of John Gottman and his Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.
Over four days, you’ll slow down, reconnect, and learn science-based tools to deepen friendship, navigate conflict with compassion, and rekindle intimacy. This retreat is ideal for couples at any stage—newlyweds, long-term partners, or those preparing for marriage—seeking to strengthen their relationship and rediscover the friendship at the heart of lasting love.
What to Expect:
Guided group sessions, private couple exercises, and reflective activities
Cozy cabins, yurts, or domes nestled in 38 acres of forest, gardens, and waterfront
Fresh, organic meals from Doe Bay’s on-site garden
Sauna, soaking tubs, and quiet time for walks, reflection, and connection
Tools to deepen friendship, improve communication, and create lasting rituals
Whether you want to resolve recurring conflicts, rekindle romance, or simply reconnect, this retreat offers both the science of love and the space to nurture it. Over four peaceful days, you’ll gain practical tools, inspiration, and the time to fall in love all over again.
Who This Retreat Is For:
Couples in all stages of life together
Partners looking to improve communication and emotional intimacy
Anyone ready to build stronger, more resilient relationships
Included:
16 hours of guided workshop sessions with Ivana
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work book + 2 workbooks
Breakfasts, lunches, and snacks; Friday dinner at Doe Bay Café
2 private group soaking spa sessions
Personalized support and guidance throughout the retreat
Optional Add-Ons:
Extra dinners, cold plunge/sauna sessions, and extended stays
Location: Doe Bay Resort, 105 Doe Bay Road, Orcas Island, Washington, USA
Travel: Nearest International Airport: Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) | Local Airport: Orcas Island Airport (ESD)
April 23–26, 2026 • Doe Bay Resort, Orcas Island, Washington
Step away from the busyness of everyday life and immerse yourselves in a long weekend of connection, restoration, and discovery. Love That Lasts is a couples retreat grounded in the research of John Gottman and his Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.
Over four days, you’ll slow down, reconnect, and learn science-based tools to deepen friendship, navigate conflict with compassion, and rekindle intimacy. This retreat is ideal for couples at any stage—newlyweds, long-term partners, or those preparing for marriage—seeking to strengthen their relationship and rediscover the friendship at the heart of lasting love.
What to Expect:
Guided group sessions, private couple exercises, and reflective activities
Cozy cabins, yurts, or domes nestled in 38 acres of forest, gardens, and waterfront
Fresh, organic meals from Doe Bay’s on-site garden
Sauna, soaking tubs, and quiet time for walks, reflection, and connection
Tools to deepen friendship, improve communication, and create lasting rituals
Whether you want to resolve recurring conflicts, rekindle romance, or simply reconnect, this retreat offers both the science of love and the space to nurture it. Over four peaceful days, you’ll gain practical tools, inspiration, and the time to fall in love all over again.
Who This Retreat Is For:
Couples in all stages of life together
Partners looking to improve communication and emotional intimacy
Anyone ready to build stronger, more resilient relationships
Included:
16 hours of guided workshop sessions with Ivana
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work book + 2 workbooks
Breakfasts, lunches, and snacks; Friday dinner at Doe Bay Café
2 private group soaking spa sessions
Personalized support and guidance throughout the retreat
Optional Add-Ons:
Extra dinners, cold plunge/sauna sessions, and extended stays
Location: Doe Bay Resort, 105 Doe Bay Road, Orcas Island, Washington, USA
Travel: Nearest International Airport: Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) | Local Airport: Orcas Island Airport (ESD)
Schedule
Thursday, April 23 — Arrival & Welcome
3:00–5:00 pm | Arrive, check into your cabin, yurt, or dome
6:00 pm | Welcome Dinner at Doe Bay Café
7:30–8:30 pm | Opening Circle & Intention Setting
Friday, April 24 — Friendship & Connection
8:00–9:00 am | Breakfast
9:00 am–12:00 pm | Morning Session — What Makes Marriage Work
12:00–1:00 pm | Lunch (fresh, organic, local fare)
1:30–3:00 pm | Soaking, sauna, or nature walk — relax and unwind
3:00–6:00 pm | Afternoon Session — Deepening Friendship & Love Maps
Evening | Dinner on your own
Optional | Evening reflection or couple intention prompts
Saturday, April 25 — Fondness, Admiration & Conflict Transformation
8:00–9:00 am | Breakfast
9:00 am–12:00 pm | Morning Session — Fondness & Admiration + Bids for Connection
12:00–1:00 pm | Lunch
1:30–3:00 pm | Spa, sauna, or cold plunge time
3:00–6:00 pm | Afternoon Session — Managing Conflict in a Healthy Way
Evening | Dinner on your own
Optional | Stargazing, soaking, or private couple reflection
Sunday, April 26 — Shared Meaning & Integration
8:00 am | Breakfast
9:00–12:00 pm | Final Session — Shared Meaning & Lasting Rituals
12:00–1:00 pm | Closing Lunch & Celebration of Connection
1:00 pm | Departure (optional extended stay with code EXTRA1)
3:00–5:00 pm | Arrive, check into your cabin, yurt, or dome
6:00 pm | Welcome Dinner at Doe Bay Café
7:30–8:30 pm | Opening Circle & Intention Setting
Friday, April 24 — Friendship & Connection
8:00–9:00 am | Breakfast
9:00 am–12:00 pm | Morning Session — What Makes Marriage Work
12:00–1:00 pm | Lunch (fresh, organic, local fare)
1:30–3:00 pm | Soaking, sauna, or nature walk — relax and unwind
3:00–6:00 pm | Afternoon Session — Deepening Friendship & Love Maps
Evening | Dinner on your own
Optional | Evening reflection or couple intention prompts
Saturday, April 25 — Fondness, Admiration & Conflict Transformation
8:00–9:00 am | Breakfast
9:00 am–12:00 pm | Morning Session — Fondness & Admiration + Bids for Connection
12:00–1:00 pm | Lunch
1:30–3:00 pm | Spa, sauna, or cold plunge time
3:00–6:00 pm | Afternoon Session — Managing Conflict in a Healthy Way
Evening | Dinner on your own
Optional | Stargazing, soaking, or private couple reflection
Sunday, April 26 — Shared Meaning & Integration
8:00 am | Breakfast
9:00–12:00 pm | Final Session — Shared Meaning & Lasting Rituals
12:00–1:00 pm | Closing Lunch & Celebration of Connection
1:00 pm | Departure (optional extended stay with code EXTRA1)
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
Ivana Maclay, LPC, Doe Bay Resort & Retreat 105 Doe Bay Road Orcas Island, WA 98280 United States
Directions
How to Get to Doe Bay Resort
Nearest International Airport: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), approximately 90 miles from Orcas Island.
Local Airport: Orcas Island Airport (ESD), served by regional flights from Seattle (Kenmore Air or San Juan Airlines).
Recommended Connections:
From Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA):
Fly or take a scenic seaplane to Orcas Island Airport (ESD)
Alternatively, drive to Anacortes (approx. 90 minutes) and take the Washington State Ferry to Orcas Island
From Orcas Island Airport:
Short taxi or ride-share to Doe Bay Resort (approx. 20–30 minutes)
We recommend booking flights and ferries early, especially in April, to ensure smooth travel to this remote and serene island retreat.
Nearest International Airport: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), approximately 90 miles from Orcas Island.
Local Airport: Orcas Island Airport (ESD), served by regional flights from Seattle (Kenmore Air or San Juan Airlines).
Recommended Connections:
From Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA):
Fly or take a scenic seaplane to Orcas Island Airport (ESD)
Alternatively, drive to Anacortes (approx. 90 minutes) and take the Washington State Ferry to Orcas Island
From Orcas Island Airport:
Short taxi or ride-share to Doe Bay Resort (approx. 20–30 minutes)
We recommend booking flights and ferries early, especially in April, to ensure smooth travel to this remote and serene island retreat.
Accommodation
Guests will stay in cozy, private accommodations nestled within Doe Bay Resort’s 38-acre waterfront property. Options include charming cabins, unique yurts, and glamping domes, all designed to provide comfort and tranquility amid nature. Each space offers a peaceful retreat for couples to relax, reconnect, and enjoy quiet moments together. All accommodations are steps away from walking trails, gardens, and the resort’s spa and sauna facilities, creating a seamless blend of comfort, privacy, and natural beauty.
Program Price
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Nestled on 38 acres of waterfront, forest, and gardens at Doe Bay Resort
Cozy, private cabins, yurts, and domes for a peaceful stay
On-site café serving fresh, organic meals from the resort garden
Sauna and soaking tubs with beautiful views of nature
Quiet trails and outdoor spaces for walking, reflection, and couple connection
Serene group spaces for workshops and guided sessions
Access to private outdoor areas for stargazing or meditation
Cozy, private cabins, yurts, and domes for a peaceful stay
On-site café serving fresh, organic meals from the resort garden
Sauna and soaking tubs with beautiful views of nature
Quiet trails and outdoor spaces for walking, reflection, and couple connection
Serene group spaces for workshops and guided sessions
Access to private outdoor areas for stargazing or meditation
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
All meals at Love That Lasts are prepared fresh from Doe Bay Resort’s on-site organic garden, offering seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Guests can enjoy breakfasts, lunches, and snacks designed
What's Included
- 16 hours of guided workshop sessions with Ivana
- The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work book + 2 workbooks
- Breakfasts, lunches, and snacks for all retreat days
- Friday dinner at Doe Bay Café
- 2 private group soaking spa sessions at Doe Bay’s wellness facility
- Personalized support and guidance throughout the retreat
- Optional intention prompts and small take-home exercises to integrate learning
- Access to retreat spaces: cabins, yurts, domes, gardens, and forest areas
- Quiet time for walking, reflection, and couple connection
- Use of sauna and soaking tubs during scheduled sessions
What's Not Included
- Lodging (cabins, yurts, or domes; book directly through Doe Bay Resort)
- Dinners on Saturday and Sunday (optional, available at Doe Bay Café or nearby restaurants)
- Extra cold plunge or sauna sessions beyond scheduled spa times
- Additional nights beyond April 23–26 (unless using code EXTRA1 for a 4th night)
- Airfare or transportation to Orcas Island
- Personal travel insurance
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