A husband and wife went for marriage therapy. “We just have no passion in our relationship,” the wife complained. The husband acknowledged the same but didn’t know what to do. At this point the therapist walked across the office, grabbed the wife, and planted a long kiss right on her lips. 

“Wow!” the wife exclaimed.

The therapist said to the husband, “She needs at least one of those every single day.”

The husband was very excited. “Okay, Doc!” he said. “What time should I have her back tomorrow?”

Of course, no real marriage therapist would actually do that, but the fact remains that a lack of passion is a common complaint in troubled relationships and a prime cause for breakup or divorce. But, what does a lack of passion mean? Often, we equate a lack of passion with a lack of sex. Although the two often go hand in hand, they are by no means one and the same. A lack of passion usually comes first. But, while that may or may not cause a lack of sex, a lack of passion will definitely cause problems. That isn’t to say that couples cannot stay together without passion or sex. Many do. But any healthy relationship will suffer without passion.
A couple holds hands on the beach after completing a Couples Retreat in Orlando, FL. Attend a Couples Retreat today, available to couples throughout the United States.

Treat the Sickness, not the Symptoms

And there is no shortage of tips and techniques for re-igniting passion between partners: more physical contact, more emotional contact, more quality time—the ideas are endless. And those are great, for what they’re worth. But, those are about the symptoms, not the sickness. It’s like, if someone is hitting you over the head with a baseball bat, you could take aspirin for the headache—or, you could get the bat out of their hands! Treating the pain is fine, but why not prevent it? Why not fix the real problem? Why not address what’s causing that lack of passion?

A man and a woman attend a Hold Me Tight® Couples Retreat in Orlando, FL and reconnect. Couples Retreats are available to couples in Florida and throughout the United States.

More than Skin Deep Solutions

That’s what couples learn in a Hold Me Tight®️ couples retreat. They learn more than skin-deep solutions. They don’t just treat the symptoms. They learn what’s beneath that lack of passion, where it really comes from. In a nutshell, Hold Me Tight®️ is based on the groundbreaking insights of attachment science. Attachment science has taught us that passion and lifelong love are rooted in emotional connection, the safety that comes from a being and being with a partner who is accessible and responsive, and engaged. When we are confident that our partner is there for us, that we can be open with them, and that they are for us, we feel safe and connected and we can thrive in every way. We become our best selves. And that is where passion lives and grows. That is how attachment science defines love. 


A lack of passion, on the other hand, is a lack of that safety. A lack of passion causes disconnection and distance between partners. When we feel distant and unsafe, when we don’t believe our partner is there for us, we put up walls of protection and isolation. We grow apart. Nothing kills passion like disconnection.


Hold Me Tight®️ Couples Retreats Teache Connection

A Hold Me Tight®️ couples retreat teaches couples: A) where that lack of passion comes from and; B) how to restore that safety, how to practice empathy and vulnerability to build an accessible and responsive, and engaged connection.

Couples leave a Hold Me Tight®️ couples retreat with a roadmap for closer connection and the confidence that they can get there. They know better what they need and how to show up for one another. Many couples say they accomplish more in two days at a Hold Me Tight®️ retreat than in months of therapy. Yet, the retreat is low-key and laid back. Each couple goes at their own pace. You and your partner can indeed revive romance and rekindle passion in a Hold Me Tight®️ couples retreat. Do something great for your relationship. Sign up today! 


A woman lies on a couch with her head resting on her partners lap representing the improved bond that comes with completing a Couples Retreat in Orlando, FL. Available to couples throughout Florida and the United States.

Revive the Romance in Your Relationship at a Hold Me Tight® Couples Retreat in Orlando, FL Today!

Is your relationship lacking the spark it once had? Do you feel disconnected from your partner and crave that deep emotional connection? It's time to address the root cause of your relationship's lack of passion and transform it into something extraordinary.


Join us for a transformative Hold Me Tight®️ couples retreat where you'll discover more than just superficial solutions. Through the groundbreaking insights of attachment science, you'll learn the true essence of love and how emotional connection is the foundation for lasting passion.




A couple sit together smiling and revitalized after attending a Hold Me Tight® Couples Retreat in Orlando, FL. Our Couples Retreats are available to couples in Florida and throughout the United States.

Have a Safety Plan

Safety First

By Mark Beck • April 1, 2025
A local factory required all of its employees to attend a safety class. One fellow didn’t really pay attention and when the final exam at the end of the class asked, “In case of a fire, what steps would you take?” the fellow answered, “Large ones!” “Safety First” is a wise strategy, everywhere from the workplace to the highway to healthcare to childcare. Injuries and accidents cost multiplied billions every year and it’s always better to prevent an accident than to treat one. Whatever the setting, people do better when they feel safe.

Curious or Critical

By Mark Beck • March 14, 2025
Somebody said, “Marriage is a never ending conversation.” I think that’s true. It certainly is a never ending education. That’s part of what makes it fun. Everyday I learn something about my wife, Debbie, about how she sees the world and sees me. And I’m often surprised at our different perspectives. We were on the verge of an argument the other day, simply because we both saw the situation very differently. Neither of us were wrong. But, once I realized how Debbie saw things, I understood her actions and reactions much better. And I realized again that a real key to connection lies in understanding, more than being understood. The late Sue Johnson used to say, “People calm down when they feel understood.” I’ve certainly found that to be true.

Love Is a Team Sport

By Mark Beck • January 29, 2025
If you’re a sports fan (specifically, football) this is your favorite time of year. The NFL playoffs showcase the best of the best and even for the non-fanatics out there, some important truths are evident. Football, like many other sports, is a team game. For sure, individual superstars shine, but only because those around them pull together for a common goal. The best teams operate as one. Eleven players, all on the same page: focused, supportive, picking each other up, pursuing the same goal. When they do, they become more than the sum of their parts…highly efficient. They minimize mistakes and overcome them when they happen. When adversity hits, lesser teams slip into fault finding, sniping and looking out for number one. In any sport, if teammates ever become opponents, they can’t win. It’s game over.

Relationship Rescue

By Mark Beck • January 24, 2025
You might remember the cruise ship Costa Concordia that foundered off the coast of Italy in 2012 after her captain carelessly steered her too close to shore. Rocks tore a 175 foot gash in her hull and the ship listed severely to her starboard side, taking on water and running aground. Ultimately, 32 people died and the recovery cost about $2 billion. Perhaps the greatest blunder though, was that the captain waited over an hour to give the order to abandon ship. For such negligence, he was ultimately convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years. Indeed, he left the ship with 300 passengers still on board! (He said he “fell” into a lifeboat as it was being lowered.)

Help Is Nearby

By Mark Beck • January 17, 2025
I had a close call today. I was almost duped by a very slick hacker. He posed as a security guy from PayPal and I nearly gave him remote access to my computer. (I know, that sounds pretty stupid on my part.) Fortunately for me, when things smelled fishy, I tapped out before any real damage was done. But, I didn’t know what to do from there. I unplugged my PC and called an expert. He knew just what to do and he got me up and running in no time. What a relief! It cost me a few bucks, but most likely saved me a lot more. Computers are a necessary evil in my life. I can’t even imagine managing my home or my business without one. But, they can sure be troublesome. And a cyber wizard, I am not. That’s my problem. I know just enough to be dangerous. It sure eases my mind that help is available when I need it. Because some things I can’t fix. That doesn’t make me stupid…it’s just not my expertise.

Comfort Isn't Always Comfortable

By Mark Beck • January 10, 2025
Intimate relationships are never easy and too many don’t survive. Courtrooms and counselors’ offices are full of couples who didn’t set out to destroy their love; it just looks as if they did. Maybe you’re one of those couples…trying to figure out how you went from newlywed to nearly dead...and you never saw it coming...or you did and you didn't know how to stop it.
A Hold Me Tight couples retreat in Orlando is a great way to ring in the new year

Happy New Year

By Mark Beck • January 2, 2025
A Hold Me Tight couples retreat in Orlando is a great new years resolution

When You Hit Turbulence

By Mark Beck • December 16, 2024
Now and then, I travel by air. I enjoy it, for the most part. But, on one trip, seemingly out of nowhere, the plane hit heavy turbulence. Suddenly, the cabin was shuttering and shaking. I looked outside; the wings were visibly bouncing up and down as the plane lurched and pitched. I tried to hide my fear, but (pardon the pun) it really shook me up. My stomach tightened; my breathing got shallow. I couldn’t think straight. Having such little experience with something like that, I feared we would crash. But, then, I noticed the flight attendants. They were cool as the backside of a pillow…no panic or alarm. I wondered how they could be so calm. Soon the pilot came over the intercom and in a steady, measured voice, explained that turbulence is normal, the plane was built for much, much worse and it would all subside in a few moments. The crew had been through this many times. They understood what was happening and what to do. I was so glad that somebody did! Their calm was contagious. Gradually, I was able to relax and realized that it wasn’t the crisis I had feared it was. That was a game changer. I got through it and now, turbulence isn’t the problem it used to be for me when I fly. It still happens, but I know what it’s about when it does and that gets me through. .

In Person Or Online?

By Mark Beck • December 2, 2024
Vicki and I will start something new in March of 2025. We have been leading in person Hold Me Tight®️ couples retreats at least four times a year for six years now. No two are the same; we always see amazing results and we get more than we give every time. And, in addition to our in person workshops, we’ll also begin offering online Hold Me Tight®️ workshops next year. In person and online workshops are definitely different. Each format has its own advantages. So, what’s different about the two and what is the same and which might be best for you? I’m glad you asked.

What About Love Languages?

By Mark Beck • November 19, 2024
Dr. Gary Chapman’s “The Five Love Languages” is one of the most popular and prolific couples self-help books in history. Since its initial release in 1992, through several revisions, it has sold over 20 million copies. That’s one popular book! Perhaps you’ve read it. If not, it’s worth your time. Chapman basically contends that romantic love shows up in five ways. He calls them “languages.” In no particular order, they are: personal touch, words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service and giving gifts. The idea is that all of us have a top one or two love languages and that couples can and should know, not only their own love language, but more so, their partner’s. And the more you and your partner speak one another’s language, the more love you’ll both share.
More Posts