Schema Consulting
The Intensive
Two days. What's actually going on — and where to go from here.
Most families find me when something in the business has gotten tangled and they can't see the way through. They know they need to do something — about succession, about a conflict that keeps detonating, about a transition nobody knows how to start — but not what, or where to begin, or how to open the conversation without it blowing up.
The Intensive is built for exactly that moment. It's a focused, in-person deep dive that takes a nebulous, high-feeling situation and turns it into something you can see, talk about, and move on — fast.
Is this you?
The Intensive is the right front door if any of these land.
- You keep circling the same conflict and it never resolves — it just goes quiet and comes back.
- A transition is coming (succession, a sale, a parent stepping back, a child stepping up) and nobody knows how to start the conversation.
- You can feel the dynamic eroding the relationships, the business, or both — and you want it handled with care, not a sledgehammer.
- You want clarity quickly, in a contained format, without committing to an open-ended engagement.
What it actually is
Less consultant with a slide deck. More dedicated guide for your family system.
Think less "consultant in a suit with a slide deck" and more a dedicated personal trainer for your family system — someone who shows up, sees what's really going on, helps you decide where you're trying to get to, and then builds the plan. The Intensive compresses that into two consecutive, in-person days in Seattle.
Is this mediation? No — and here's the difference.
The Intensive is not high-intensity mediation or formal conflict resolution. If you're looking for a referee to adjudicate a live blowout, or a neutral to broker a settlement between warring parties, that's a different service — and I'll point you to the right person.
What this is: structure, strategy, analysis, and catalyzing. It's for people who feel lost, disoriented, or stuck in the planning and collaboration process — who can feel the tension straining their relationships and don't want to let it keep eroding things. My job is to help you see the forest for the trees, map what's actually going on, and build a steering direction everyone can move on.
Conflict will come up. Unresolved conflict is part of nearly every family system, and we'll address it as it surfaces — that's expected, not a detour. But we address it in service of clarity and forward motion, not as the main event. The goal isn't to relitigate the past; it's to find the understandable part, restore enough grace to work together, and get you a roadmap out of the stuck place.
How the two days work
What happens, and in what order.
Day one
The interviews
I meet with each participant one-on-one (about 2–3 hours each). I map the business ecosystem and the family ecosystem, the presenting problems and the ones underneath them, the unspoken dynamics, and the sentiments creating the confusion or hurt. I'm getting a real feel for who each person is and why the friction lands the way it does for them. Then I go home and map the themes, the structure, and the next steps.
Day two
The synthesis
We come together. I show you what I learned — the structure of the issues, drawn out so you can see it: sometimes as a picture of the dynamic, sometimes in prioritization and project-management terms, usually both. We find the understandable part in each person's position, restore compassion and grace where it's needed, and talk honestly about what accountability will look like. This isn't a lecture — it's a working session.
After
The written roadmap
Once you leave, I write up the whole thing: findings, synthesis, the individual and system-level picture, your plan, assignments, key decisions and takeaways, watch-outs, reminders, encouragements, and next steps. You walk away with a document you can actually run — not just a good feeling that fades by Friday.
What you leave with: a clear picture of what's really going on — in the family and in the business. A shared language for it. A prioritized roadmap with named next steps and owners. And usually, a noticeable shift from contempt to curiosity in the room.
Investment
Flat-priced by group size.
The price reflects the full arc: interviews, synthesis day, and the written roadmap afterward.
| Format | Duration | Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Two people | Two consecutive days | $10,500 |
| Three people | Two consecutive days | $12,500 |
| Four to six people | One consecutive week | $23,000 |
| More than six | Custom | Make a request |
Working with an advisor? Families introduced through a trusted advisor — a wealth manager, attorney, or family-office professional — are eligible for a preferred rate. If that's you, mention it on your call and we'll take it from there.
What's required
Protecting the value of your two days: Intensive Requirements.
- In person, in Seattle. The Intensive is held in person. The format depends on being in the room together.
- Paperwork and payment first. All contracts, intake questionnaires, and invoicing must be complete before the first session begins. No exceptions — the two days are far too valuable to spend on logistics.
- A privately held family business. At least one other family member works in the business, or will — and the "family" part is the main thing you want to work on.
- Everyone in the room in good faith. Difficulty is fine — nearly every family has a wild card. What I can't work with is someone using the time to score points instead of figure out how to love each other better.
How to bring your family into it
Most people don't book on the first read. That's normal.
Most people don't book the Intensive on the first read. They send this page to a sibling or a parent and say, "Get a load of this — what do you think?" That's a good instinct: this is a decision a family makes together, not an impulse buy.
If you're the one who found me, here's a simple way to raise it: tell them you've found someone who helps families work through exactly this kind of thing — not a therapist, not a suit, but someone who maps it out and builds a plan — and that the first conversation is free with zero pressure. You don't have to have the answers before that call. That's what the call is for.
Common questions
A few things worth knowing up front.
What if we're not a fit?
Then I'll tell you — on the free call, before you've spent a dime. If the "family" part isn't really the focus, or what you need is pure ops or strategy with no family layer, I'm probably not your person, and I'd rather say so than take the work. I'll make referrals and recommendations where I can. I don't upsell. Worst case, you leave the call with a clearer head.
Is this confidential like therapy?
No — and I want you to understand exactly what that means. I'm careful and discreet, but our work carries no therapist-client privilege and no HIPAA protection. Confidentiality here is contractual. I'll walk you through the mechanics before anything is signed.
Is this therapy?
No. I'm trained in marriage and family therapy and practiced for six years, but this work sits intentionally outside the therapy frame. Please see the Origin Story and Policies & Ethics pages for the fuller picture.
What if someone has a mental illness?
Expected, and built into the work — not a disqualifier. I may structure different levels of involvement based on capacity, and occasionally I'll ask that someone be in regular therapy or cleared by their clinician before participating.
Let's see if we're a fit.
Book a free 30-minute call. We'll talk through your situation, figure out who needs to be in the room, and — if it's a fit — workshop dates, participants, and pricing. From there I send the contract and invoice, and we get you on the calendar. No pressure, and no working session until the paperwork's done and everyone knows the plan.
Book a Free 30-Minute CallNot sure the Intensive is the right shape? If your situation will clearly unfold over months or years, see Discovery & Ongoing Engagement — which begins with an Intensive anyway. If you just want an hour to think something through first, start with an Individual Consultation.
Version: June 16, 2026. Schema Consulting, LLC operates the practice known as "Schema." This guide is an orientation to the practice and is not legal, financial, tax, or clinical advice. It does not create a client relationship; the terms of any engagement are governed by a separate written agreement, which controls.