Intimacy Enhancement Group in Orland Park, Illinois

Group Support Workshop for Couples

Date/Time: Meeting Every Monday evenings 8PM to 9PM (except holidays)
Location: White Oak Institute – Orland Park
Therapist: Jessica Schaefer
Cost: $40 per session (not covered by insurance)

At White Oak Institute, we understand that building and maintaining intimacy in a relationship takes effort, intention, and support. Our Intimacy Enhancement Group provides a safe and compassionate space for couples to deepen their connection and strengthen their bond. Whether you’re newly married or have spent decades together, this group is designed to help you cultivate intimacy on multiple levels—emotional, physical, intellectual, spiritual, experiential, creative, and sexual.

Led by an experienced therapist, this 8-week program fosters open dialogue and shared learning among couples facing similar challenges. Each session will focus on key relationship-building strategies, including:

  • Communicating more effectively and understanding your partner on a deeper level.
  • Breaking down barriers that limit vulnerability and trust.
  • Gaining tools to increase affection, passion, and desire in your relationship.
  • Creating rituals of connection that keep your bond strong.
  • Learning how to have meaningful conversations about intimacy.
  • Discovering creative ways to strengthen your relationship through shared experiences and goals.

You don’t have to navigate the complexities of intimacy alone. Join us for our Intimacy Enhancement Group, where connection and growth happen together over eight transformative weeks.

Topics Covered

Building Vulnerability and Trust

  • Focus: Establish group norms and confidentiality.
  • Introduction: Explore how sexual intimacy is just one of many forms of connection. Discuss the role of trust and vulnerability in safely exploring sexual expression and desires.
  • Activities: Icebreaker questions, “Love Maps” (understanding your partner’s inner world).
  • Discussion: How vulnerability strengthens connection.

Communication

  • Focus: Effective communication and identifying behaviors that limit intimacy.
  • Discussion: The importance of open communication in expressing sexual desires and boundaries.
  • Activities: Discussions on communication challenges and practicing active listening with prompts.

Emotional Intimacy

  • Focus: Sharing thoughts and feelings while creating emotional safety.
  • Activities: Prompts exploring personal values and emotions.
  • Exercise: “Daily Stress-Reducing Conversations.”
  • Reflection: How emotional intimacy influences other forms of intimacy.

Physical Intimacy & Non-Sexual Touch

  • Focus: Building closeness through physical affection.
  • Exercise: “Hugging Until Relaxed,” hand-holding, massage, placing a hand on a forearm, or sitting close enough for the body to touch.
  • Discussion: How physical touch fosters intimacy, the importance of consent and mutual comfort in both non-sexual and sexual touch, and creating routine habits of non-sexual physical touch to strengthen bonding.
  • Reflection: Partners share how they feel during affectionate touch.

Intellectual Intimacy

  • Focus: Sharing ideas and engaging in deep conversations.
  • Activities: Thought-provoking questions about life goals and values.
  • Exercise: Discuss a shared topic (book, article, or hypothetical scenario) and complete an exercise on addressing misconceptions or societal myths about sex and intimacy.
  • Reflection: Partners share new insights they’ve gained about one another.
intimacy enhancement group for couples

Spiritual Intimacy

  • Focus: Exploring spiritual beliefs and shared values.
  • Discussion: Different forms of spirituality and how shared values or spiritual practices can enhance sexual connection.
  • Activities: Open dialogue on spiritual growth and challenges, or a mindfulness gratitude exercise for couples.
  • Reflection: How spirituality influences and deepens intimacy.

Creative and Experiential Intimacy

  • Focus: Strengthening bonds through creativity and shared experiences.
  • Exercise: Create a “Couple Vision Board” to incorporate intimacy goals—both emotional and physical—in a non-explicit way. Encourage couples to explore ways to enhance their connection.
  • Discussion: Shared hobbies or goals to pursue together.
  • Reflection: Recall a meaningful shared memory and create a plan to recreate it.

Sexual Intimacy & Looking Ahead

  • Focus: Deepening sexual intimacy and planning for the future.
  • Activities: Open discussion on expressing needs and desires.
  • Exercise: Partners privately write down and exchange affirmations or fantasies.
  • Final Reflection: Share key takeaways from the group and set personal intimacy goals for the future.

Couples Intimacy Enhancement Group FAQs

Who is the intimacy enhancement group for?

This group is designed for couples at any stage of their relationship who want to deepen their connection, improve communication, and explore different aspects of intimacy in a supportive setting.

No. While open discussions are encouraged, sharing personal details is completely optional. You and your partner can engage in exercises privately while benefiting from the group discussions and guidance.

Over eight weeks, we will explore emotional, physical, intellectual, spiritual, experiential, creative, and sexual intimacy. Topics include communication, trust, vulnerability, shared values, and strengthening bonds through connection and creativity.

Not at all! Whether you want to enhance an already strong relationship or work through challenges, this group provides valuable tools and insights to help couples grow together.

Yes, optional exercises and reflections will be provided to help you continue the work between sessions. These activities encourage deeper connection and help integrate what you learn into your daily life.

No, this group is not therapy but a guided support group designed to help couples strengthen their connection through structured discussions, exercises, and shared experiences. While led by an experienced facilitator and therapist, it is focused on education, communication, and relationship-building rather than therapeutic counseling.

couples intimacy enhancement

Take the Next Step Toward a Stronger, More Intimate Relationship!