The Connecting Couple

The Connecting Couple Emotional connection and intimacy will feel like the beginning, though now with the wisdom and contentment of a re-romanticized relationship.

We are couple therapists trained in multiple modalities who bring connection, emotional attunement, and intimacy to relationships - and we are over the moon excited to announce our first couples retreat! The Connecting Couple Retreat will be held March 8-10, 2024 (two nights & three days) at Wild Rice Retreat nestled amongst the hugging pines and lapping waters of Lake Superior outside Bayfield, W

I. A little about our retreat:

E X P E R I E N C E R E - E N C H A N T M E N T
Oriented in current research and clinical interventions in couple therapy and relationship building, the focus of our retreat will be relationship re-enchantment. We will learn the fundamentals of relational communication, the qualities of emotional safeness with the possibility of vulnerability, authenticity, and deep intimacy. With us, you will be able to experience the results of current neuroscience and clinical research without having to wade through the science and academia (unless you’re geeky like us and want to). E X P E R I E N C E C O N N E C T I O N
Connection is our fundamental yearning and our partner is ideally our most important adult connection. Too often this connection, over time, lessens, even dissolves into disconnection and emotional isolation. Our retreat, again based in science and clinical research, is designed to help couples reconnect and deepen their connection. Instead of seeing two separate selves entering into relationship as a transactional exchange of needs, what if our relationship was that through which we learned fully about ourselves and was our primary source of validation and acceptance? Experience connection and re-romanticize your relationship. T H E A M E N I T I E S
The Wild Rice Retreat is such a beautiful retreat center, rated 'One of the 23 Best Places to Go in the U.S. in 2023' by Conde Nast Traveler. Wild Rice Retreat creates a space for healing the mind, body, and spirit. Rooted in the idea of exploring and supporting expression in nature, there are ample opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, movement, and nourishment. During your downtime, you may relax in the SaunaHaus, participate in a yoga class, hike through the woods, and enjoy farm-to-table dishes with locally sourced ingredients and regional beverages. Join us and begin your relationship again.

This isn’t just a getaway. It’s for couples who are craving connection in a world that never slows down.This retreat is ...
08/21/2025

This isn’t just a getaway. It’s for couples who are craving connection in a world that never slows down.

This retreat is for you if:

- You’re great at managing the calendar, the kids, the careers… but you can’t remember the last time you really saw each other.
- The romance has faded under the weight of responsibilities, and the spark feels a little… quiet.
- Conversations feel like logistics, not love letters.
- You’re already connecting well and interested in a fun and rejuvenating retreat with other couples.
- You’ve heard of Dina’s & Michael’s work with couples and want to experience it first-hand. (Bonus: They are fun to hang with.) 😀

This retreat is a soft landing.
✨ A weekend to pause, reset, and remember why you chose each other.
✨ Guided connection sessions, shared experiences, and meaningful conversation.
✨ Food, wine, leisure—a fresh start for your relationship and a way to connect with other couples.

📅 February 13-15, 2026
📍 Wild Rice Retreat | Bayfield, WI

This is more than a weekend.
It’s an invitation back to each other.

Learn more and register today at theconnectingcouple.com

New blog post from Dina...Sasquatch Love! 😄"Curating a box of love goodness is one of the many fun things I do to prepar...
08/20/2025

New blog post from Dina...Sasquatch Love! 😄

"Curating a box of love goodness is one of the many fun things I do to prepare for our couple retreats..."

Curating a box of love goodness is one of the many fun things I do to prepare for our couple retreats.

Meet Dina ✨ We’re thrilled to introduce Dina Clabaugh, LICSW, one of the heart-centered guides behind our Valentine’s Da...
08/12/2025

Meet Dina ✨ We’re thrilled to introduce Dina Clabaugh, LICSW, one of the heart-centered guides behind our Valentine’s Day Couple Retreat 2026.
Dina brings years of experience helping couples strengthen their relationships and discover deeper, more meaningful connection.

As a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Insight Counseling, Dina combines her expertise in psychotherapy and leadership with a compassionate, practical, and fun approach to working with couples.

She’s trained in powerful modalities like:
💞 Gottman Method
💞 IFS & IFIO (Internal Family Systems & Intimacy From the Inside Out)
💞 IMAGO, & more

Her work is deeply influenced by leaders like Esther Perel, Terry Real, John Gottman, Sue Johnson, and Richard Schwartz — and her belief is simple, yet revolutionary:

When couples connect in healthy ways, the whole family system grows and evolves in meaningful and lasting ways. Connection isn’t just important — it’s everything. And enhanced relational goodness positively our selves and the people around us. ✨

This February, Dina (alongside her husband Michael) will be co-leading a weekend of restoration, reconnection, and real relationship tools — all wrapped in warmth, wisdom, and wonder. This retreat is building on previous couple retreat offerings and promises to provide so much love and fun.

📍 Wild Rice Retreat | Bayfield, WI
📆 Valentine’s Weekend 2026

🗝️ Let this be your invitation to experience relationship growth and goodness — together.

Register today at theconnectingcouple.com

The perfect spot for a couple retreat...
08/08/2025

The perfect spot for a couple retreat...

Yesterday afternoon, Michael and I had the lovely opportunity to enjoy an apéro at David’s and Sara’s backyard garden in...
08/08/2025

Yesterday afternoon, Michael and I had the lovely opportunity to enjoy an apéro at David’s and Sara’s backyard garden in Duluth. The Savvy Nomad duo are returning to their boat in France later this month and we wanted to discuss our upcoming Valentine’s Day Weekend Couple Retreat.

True to an apéro experience in France, David and Sara served us a beautiful spread of smoked salmon, cheeses, fruit and salty snacks. The bites were paired with a gin basil smash cocktail. Our new puppy, Pippi, made a bed in a garden of thyme while Sara picked more basil for our drinks. Pippi was adorable and quite independent during the experience, like most well-behaved dogs in France would be during an apero hour. (According to David...) 😀

Michael and I have been connecting with David over wine and more since 2012 or even earlier. He is so knowledgeable about wine, spirit, and the benefits of slowing things down to truly appreciate our food, drink, and conversation. This concept goes so well with our entire couple retreat experience at Wild Rice Retreat. It is about slowing everything down enough to explore and experience the little intricacies in how we interact with our intimate partner. Let’s slow life down a little to really appreciate our day to day experiences with one another and others...like apéro with friends on a weekday afternoon.

And while an afternoon with good friends is harder to do when we are working full-time jobs and maybe raising kids, there are simple ways to shift our energy and intentions in order to connect more with ourselves and our partners, getting more of our needs met.

We have myriad details to work out, but it is coming together nicely and we are thrilled to incorporate the Savvy Nomad experience at our Valentine’s Day Weekend Retreat. Register today.

theconnectingcouple.com

Valentine's Weekend 2026: Join us for a fun couple retreat in the heart of nature at Wild Rice Retreat 🌲Nestled amongst ...
07/28/2025

Valentine's Weekend 2026: Join us for a fun couple retreat in the heart of nature at Wild Rice Retreat 🌲

Nestled amongst the hugging pines and lapping waters of Lake Superior outside Bayfield, Wisconsin, Wild Rice is a vibrant retreat destination founded on the pillars of nourishment, expression, and movement. Realizing the desire for holistic experiences immersed in nature, Wild Rice created a haven for peace and connection.

Dina and Michael, facilitators of couple retreats at Wild Rice, are offering a unique Valentine's Day experience at Wild Rice. This retreat will blend valuable education on key relationship areas—communication, connection, emotional safety/vulnerability, and intimacy—with exciting activities, including a special food and wine pairing.

David Devere, a wine educator, will lead the food and wine experience. David and his wife, Sara, bring years of experience hosting wine tours in France, promising a fun and distinctive addition to the retreat.

Beyond the structured sessions, ample opportunity for play and rejuvenation is integrated into the schedule. The retreat aims to provide a perfect balance of relationship connection and leisure, ensuring you leave feeling more centered in yourself and deeply connected with your partner.

Reserve your spot today by heading to our website: theconnectingcouple.com

A great segment from Insight Counseling Duluth's Mary Morehouse on random acts of kindness.
02/19/2025

A great segment from Insight Counseling Duluth's Mary Morehouse on random acts of kindness.

This week is random acts of kindness week and showing kindness to yourself and others helps improve your mood and the community around you.

Michael and Dina were honored to be guests on PBS North Doctors on Call last week. The topic was couples and mental heal...
01/25/2025

Michael and Dina were honored to be guests on PBS North Doctors on Call last week. The topic was couples and mental health. We relished in rich dialogue with Dr. Dave Plude and Mary Morehouse. We hope you watch, enjoy, and take away a helpful tip or two. 💞

Valuable insights on improving communication, reigniting intimacy, and overcoming common..

12/24/2024
12/18/2024

This episode covers everything from building secure attachment in infants to navigating the teenage.

Michael and I wish to extend gratitude to the special couples who joined us on retreat last weekend. Your vulnerability ...
11/10/2024

Michael and I wish to extend gratitude to the special couples who joined us on retreat last weekend. Your vulnerability and trust in our process created a space for countless moments of feeling safe, connection, new insights, and relationship growth. There was an energy of sharing our relationship journeys, "tackle box" moments, and attunement and growing relationship intimacy. We are forever grateful and forever connected. Thank you, thank you. 🙏❤️

Basking in the completion of IFS Institute training. 💞Trainers Jory Agate and Jessica Finney guided us on a journey of l...
10/21/2024

Basking in the completion of IFS Institute training. 💞Trainers Jory Agate and Jessica Finney guided us on a journey of love and learning. Life changing and I am forever grateful. I love you all. 🫶🏼

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Wild Rice Retreat 84860 Old San Road
Bayfield, WI
54814

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