Spring Retreat 2026

Solo Sessions:

Relational Renewal

through

Individual Interventions

April 26-30, 2026

Join me for an all-inclusive training retreat to supercharge your individual work...

for individual clients, individual sessions between relationship work, and skillful individual interventions in relationship sessions.

Individual Sessions, Relational Transformation

Your client desperately wants things to change. You can see the path forward. So why are they stuck in the same loop?

Your choices feel limited: go into autopilot and validate your client’s feelings so you aren’t working too hard, or work really really hard trying to motivate them to take some action (which they never do). SO frustrating.

The truth is, talking about relationship problems doesn’t build relationship skills.

You can affirm all day long, and it still won’t help your client respond differently the next time their partner picks a fight. No matter how motivated you are, you can’t make them take a risk.

You need to find a way to help your clients actually build capacity for relational challenges. They need to try something different, and experience something different as a result. This concept might be familiar, but that doesn’t mean it’s simple, and nobody’s teaching how to actually do it.

I know how hopeless it feels, and I can help.

I’m inviting you to learn how I create relational transformation through individual interventions.

I’ve developed a systemic approach to individual therapy. That means, rather than talking for an hour and hoping my clients will put some of what we discussed into practice, I use my therapy room to help them actually practice emotional risk-tasking in real time. (Would you believe me if I told you this often works more efficiently than working with the couple? It’s true.)

You’ll discover how to bring the relational dynamic into the room — so that you understand what’s actually happening in your clients’ moments of internal struggle and interpersonal conflict. You’ll see where they collapse, and learn interventions that clarify your client’s challenges and empower them to make real change in their relationships and lives.

Many, many individual clients have told me that I work differently than any therapist they’ve ever experienced. My approach is efficient, effective, and, best of all, it’s a really fun and playful way to work.

Recharge In The Woods

Location: The Rainbow Lodge, North Bend, Washington. Just 45 minutes out of Seattle, tucked into the lush woods at the foot of Mount Si. 

Enjoy hiking paths, evenings around the fire, and time spent with an intimate group (seats are limited to eighteen participants). We’ll have the space all to ourselves, for deeper conversations, connection, and relaxation. And we’ll take care of the details, so you can set aside the cares of daily life and focus on your learning. 

 

 A Fresh Approach

Let me show you my secret sauce for helping your clients embrace change, transform their relationships, and build the real emotional muscle that supports long-term growth. And let me help you practice it so you KNOW you can do it yourself.

This approach applies perfectly to:

  • Individual therapy
  • Collaboration with a relationship therapist
  • Individual sessions incorporated into your couples or relationship work
  • Deeper individual work in partnered sessions

Through case discussion, role play, demonstration, experimentation, and support, you’ll leave confident about using these tools flexibly and creatively, whether in individual or relational work. And you’ll discover how much more energizing and fun your work can be.

What you'll experience:

Focused time with Martha

If you want a real upgrade for your work, this is the way. You’ll have my attention, backup, and warm support for your learning process.

Beautiful natural setting

It’s easier to take risks, grow, and stretch when your nervous system feels relaxed and safe – and I can’t think of a better way to do that than by retreating to the lush woods of the Pacific Northwest.

Small-group connection

This is going to be a super intimate training – possibly the smallest in-person group I ever conduct. You won’t be lost in a crowd, and you’ll likely leave having made some lasting connections.

Hassle-free learning

Lodging, food, transportation to and from Seattle — it’s all covered. We take care of the details, so you can focus on your learning.

What's Included

  • Your own private room for four nights at the Rainbow Lodge – with a view of the forest 
  • All your meals at the Rainbow Lodge — the staff will support your dietary needs
  • Transportation to the retreat center: We’ll shuttle you from our opening meet-and-greet in Seattle to retreat center, and from the retreat center to the airport
  • 20 hours of in-person training
  • Intimate and immersive group setting with Martha and her team, and a cohort of sensational therapists and coaches
  • 20 AASECT CEs*

*This program meets the requirements of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) and is approved for 20 CE credits. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification.

Claim Your Spot

This will be an intimate group experience; you will not be lost in a crowd. As a result, seats are extremely limited. There is a quick application process. Here are your steps:

  • Fill out a brief application. The application has a few questions for you, and an opportunity for you to share any questions you might have for us. We want to help you make sure it's a good fit for you. 
  • Wait to hear back from us. (We’ll confirm receipt of your application within 2 business days, and notify you of your application status within 7 business days and often sooner.)
  • Once you are accepted, guarantee your spot by completing the enrollment process.
Apply Now!

A Message from Martha

 
 

About the retreat

Frequently Asked Questions

Apply Here!

Application form

What People Are Saying

The IRI in-person training retreat was incredible!  The IRI team was helpful, warm, gracious and seemed genuinely focused on my learning experience.  I deeply appreciated how open and accessible Martha was during the training, which is not always the case at these types of gatherings.  Spending time with her and learning from her was powerful.  The open and warm environment was really incredible.  The complete lack of judgement and the care that the team showed for our needs and experience were something I've never experienced at other in-person trainings.

Scott Ferguson, LCSW - New York, New York

Martha is an incredible teacher. She's clear on the learning objective, and gentle in guiding learners to practical understanding. It was so fun to watch the team move to support her courageous improvisational teaching. Every member of the IRI team treated everyone with deeply loving humanity.  They managed expectations and communicated exceptionally, all while balancing competing retreat goals well.  Martha and the team were responsive to participant feedback in the moment while holding the learning focus steady. 

Jess Cleeves, MAT, LCSW  - Murray, Utah

The IRI in-person training retreat was truly fantastic; it was an A+ in my book. My goal was to spend time with Martha, learning from her so I could go home and channel my 'inner Martha' in a way that would help my clients grow and live better lives. Goal achieved!  

Martha single handedly has helped me grow as a therapist more than any person I've learned with -- she inspires me to want to be my best and she makes it possible for me to feel safe, make mistakes, and keep risking and trying new things.  She's truly the best teacher I've ever had in my life in any setting – hands down.

Grenda David, LMFT, CST - Camarillo, CA

It was really evident that the IRI team worked extremely hard and went out of their way to make all participants feel comfortable and included. I was really impressed and touched about how much time, effort, and love you put into this venture. 

Ruth Culhane, Couple Counsellor and Sex Therapist - United Kingdom

I enjoy Martha’s teaching style and the authenticity of the way she approaches problems with her clients. I love how she values transparency and making the work easier on clinicians in an effort to avoid burnout. 


The IRI team created a good environment and really set the stage for relationship building. I made connections and shared good times and laughs with fellow therapists. I realized that I’d been missing connection, and I feel very grateful for the experience.

Paige Evans, LMFT - Harrisburg, OR

Martha truly has a gift for presenting information in a way that is approachable and tangible, and this retreat represents the best learning environment I have experienced since childhood. Learning from each other, and getting to see how Martha and other participants conceptualize cases was particularly useful. 

I was blown away by the attention to detail and quality of every aspect of the retreat, from the communication before and during, the pacing and schedule, the workbook… it was so clear how much time and care went into the event. I got so much out of the learning experience and felt truly able to push my learning edges because I was able to have a nourishing experience. It was lovely to have everything taken care of; it makes me realize how much responsibility I hold in my everyday life, and how important it is to take a real break. I felt so grateful to be a part of it.

Alex Siefert, MSW, LICSW - Bremerton, WA

I appreciate Martha's casual mood but with a serious you-gotta-know-this-stuff attitude. I love that she doesn't beat around the bush, and isn't afraid of humour. Even though she provided a written workbook, it's great that she didn't read right from it; she is seemingly spontaneous with language. I feel really brought into her world and passion.

Li Rose, CCC, MEd, MTA - Toronto, Ontario

You all definitely covered all the bases -- you literally thought of everything! I felt so well-cared for!

Ann Langley, Ph.D. - Redwood City, CA