Holotropic Breathwork for Couples

Combining Holotropic Breathwork with ongoing couples work to expand and deepen connection, communication and understanding

Couples therapy is a powerful tool that helps couples improve their relationship by providing them with the tools and skills they need to communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, and build a stronger bond. However, for couples who are looking for a more transformative and holistic approach to therapy, Holotropic Breathwork is an exciting option to consider.

Holotropic Breathwork is a form of therapy that combines deep breathing techniques, music, and bodywork to access the deeper parts of the psyche. It was developed by Stanislav Grof, a Czech psychiatrist who spent decades researching non-ordinary states of consciousness, and it is based on the idea that the human psyche has the innate ability to heal itself.

When combined with couples therapy, Holotropic Breathwork can help couples access deeper levels of awareness and understanding, leading to greater self-awareness and improved communication. Here are some of the ways that couples therapy combined with Holotropic Breathwork can benefit your relationship:

1. Increased emotional intimacy

Holotropic Breathwork can help couples connect on a deeper emotional level, allowing them to access feelings and emotions that may be difficult to articulate. By engaging in this practice together, couples can create a safe and supportive environment where they can explore their feelings and connect with each other in a more meaningful way.

2. Greater self-awareness

Through Holotropic Breathwork, couples can gain a greater understanding of their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This increased self-awareness can help them identify patterns in their relationship that may be holding them back and make the necessary changes to improve their relationship.

3. Improved communication

Holotropic Breathwork can help couples improve their communication skills by providing them with a deeper understanding of their own emotions and needs. This increased awareness can lead to more open and honest communication, which can strengthen the bond between partners and reduce conflict.

4. Deeper empathy

By experiencing non-ordinary states of consciousness together, couples can develop a greater sense of empathy for each other. This can help them understand each other's perspectives and feelings on a deeper level, leading to a more compassionate and supportive relationship.

What is involved with Holotropic Breathwork for couples therapy?

Holotropic Breathwork for couples therapy includes 3 sessions:

Session 1 - Introduction and preparation (50 Minutes)

During the integration and preparation session we will discuss the various themes that are emerging in the relationship and how they are impacting the relationship. We will also discuss the theory and practice of Holotropic Breathwork and how breathwork may support the working through of those themes.

Session 2 - The breathwork session day. (10am to 4:30pm).

This is a whole day of breathwork where you will take part in two breathwork sessions. Each breathwork session will run for 2.5 hours and you will have an opportunity to sit for your partner while they breathe and they will sit for you while you breathe. The process of sitting in breathwork is often described as being just as powerful as the breathwork process itself.

There will be an opportunity to integration work on the day after each session as well as time for lunch.

Session 3 - Integration (50 Minutes)

The integration phase for any non-ordinary states of awareness work is crucial as it helps us to make sense of the experience and too help us to understand how we might be able to bring the wisdom and insight from the experience into our daily lives and importantly into our relationships.

Who is this suited for?

While breathwork may well be a powerful tool for developing self awareness it is not always the right choice for some individuals. Ideally couples who attend this couples breathwork work are already in some form of couples or individual counselling, have a degree of communication skills within the relationship.

A key factor of suitability for couples doing this work is that there are no occurrences of domestic violence nor the threat of such violence. For non-ordinary state work to be truly supportive the container the work is performed in must have some capacity for each party to take ownership of their experience and that there be limited projection onto the other of that experience. If you are interested in doing this work but are not sure if this is right for you, you may like to book a free 20 minute introductory phone call where we can discuss those concerns.

Pricing Structure

The cost of the whole package including introduction, session and integration is $1200.

Bookings can be made for the first introductory session via my appointments page..

At the end of that session we will book in a time to complete the rest of the sessions.

Cancellation Fee:

Introductory and integration sessions have a standard $160 cancellation fee within 24 hours.

Breathwork sessions have a $200 cancellation fee within 72 hours of the session.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Holotropic Breathwork for couples?

It's a structured three-session program that combines Holotropic Breathwork with couples therapy. The core experience is a full day where each partner takes turns breathing and sitting for the other — deepening empathy, self-awareness, and understanding of relational patterns in a way that talk-based couples therapy often can't reach.

How does it differ from regular couples therapy?

Couples therapy primarily works through dialogue — exploring communication patterns and relational dynamics through conversation. Breathwork for couples adds an experiential and somatic layer, allowing each person to access their own inner material directly. Partners witness each other's process rather than being in dialogue with each other, which often creates a profound shift in empathy and understanding.

What does the full program involve?

The program includes three sessions: an introductory 50-minute session to discuss the relationship themes and prepare for breathwork; a full-day session (10am–4:30pm) with two breathwork rounds — each partner breathes once and sits for the other once; and a 50-minute integration session to work through what emerged and how it connects to the relationship. The full package costs $1,200.

Is this suitable for all couples?

Not for all. Couples who attend this work ideally have some existing communication capacity and are not navigating active domestic violence or significant instability. A free 20-minute call is available to discuss suitability before booking.

Does each partner need prior breathwork experience?

No prior experience is needed. The introductory session covers everything both partners need to know before the breathwork day.

What if one partner has a very intense experience?

Intensity is part of the process and is held safely within the container. The sitting partner plays an important role in supporting the breather, and the facilitator is present throughout. Post-session integration work helps both partners make sense of whatever arose.

About Anthony Olsen

My work is informed by Gestalt, Process Oriented, and Transpersonal psychotherapy, with roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is awareness-based and attends to breath, body, and relational experience as central elements of the therapeutic process. This work supports psycho-spiritual integration, meaningful relationships, and a deeper sense of connection to self and others.

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