Many relationships begin with ease and connection, but over time, even the strongest couples can struggle. Busy lives, careers, parenting, and stress can create distress, leading to repeated conflicts or a quiet disconnection where intimacy and closeness begin to fade. 
If this feels familiar, you are not alone. These patterns are often rooted in deeper emotional needs and attachment dynamics that are difficult to be aware of, let alone express. This workshop aims to guide couples to reconnect, rebuild trust and reignite their bond. 
Hold Me Tight® is a weekly couples workshop focused on nurturing emotional closeness with your partner, lasting a total of 8 weeks. This workshop is based on the international best-selling book "Hold Me Tight: 7 Conversations for a Lifetime of Love" by Dr. Sue Johnson, a copy of which each couple is provided with registration. Led by experienced therapists this workshop offers a safe and supportive environment to explore emotional intimacy, communication, and deeper connection.  We welcome same-sex and opposite-sex couples of all genders. 
The educational and experiential workshop introduces core concepts of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples, the gold standard for couples therapy. In this workshop couples will: 

• Get unstuck from repeating patterns of arguing or silent distancing that cause frustration and pain
• Make sense of the strong emotions and needs that can surprise both of you in the relationship
• Begin the process of repairing relationship injuries, even old ones, and understand how to move forward
• Change how you communicate so you can really open up to each other with your true feelings and wishes
• Increase feelings of trust and intimacy, playfulness, and fun
• Learn how to take the great conversations you start at the workshop and keep them going at home
• Begin to talk about your sexual relationship and ways to continue to address this important aspect of your relationship

Each session will be focused on concepts from the book and will be explored through group discussions, videos, exercises and private conversations. Couples attending will benefit most by reading the chapter(s) that corresponds with each session. 

​

---

Michael Thalasinos, MS, LMFT

With over 15 years of experience as a couples therapist and teaching couples therapy at UW-Madison, Michael brings warmth, expertise, and deep compassion to his work with partners seeking connection and healing. As a current clinician at Madison Psychotherapy and Wellness, Michael uses Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help couples rebuild trust, reduce conflict, and foster secure, lasting bonds.

Michael is especially passionate about bringing the principles of EFT to a broader audience through the Hold Me Tight® series, a structured program designed to help couples deepen emotional connection, repair patterns of disconnection and strengthen the emotional bond that sustains long-term love.

Michael values the accessibility and transformative potential of Hold Me Tight, and is committed to helping couples translate insight into lasting change. Michael brings not only professional expertise but also personal insight to his work as a husband and father to four children.

Melissa Bowe, MS, LMFT, C-EFCT

Melissa specializes in helping couples understand the relationship dynamics and communication patterns that keep them stuck in disconnection and begin to create moments that strengthen their bond and allow them to tackle together the variety of issues many couples face. She is certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy, the model the workshop is grounded in and therefore brings a strong knowledge base to the group. She has helped couples since graduating with her Masters of Science in Marriage and Family therapy in 2018 and has supported them in addressing a range of areas including betrayals, intimacy, trust, and communication. 
“I believe that we are all wired to need a sense of safety and connection with our partners and were born with the ability to be vulnerable and attuned to one another. But relationships are hard, and some of us were not shown how to create a healthy partnership. Add on top of that some of the modern messages around love and people are often left thinking something must be wrong with their relationship, their partner or themselves. I am passionate about helping couples uncover their natural ability to love well, accept love from their partner and be a place of solace for each other as they face all the challenges life can bring.”

Vertical Divider

Information 

Beginning ……
8 consecutive Tuesday’s 
5:30pm - 7:00pm
Psychotherapy Center of Waunakee -  251 Progress Way, Waunakee 

$650 per couple *includes a copy of Hold Me Tight book and workbook*

Contact Melissa Bowe or Mike Thalasinos with any questions.

[email protected]
[email protected]