Katie Bates is unpacking her luggage and her emotions following a four-day intensive therapy retreat where she participated in individual therapy, as well as couples therapy with her husband, Travis Clark, who publicly admitted in January to having an affair on the former Bringing Up Bates star.
On Monday, Katie shared on her Instagram Story that her multi-day program had come to an end, and while she “may share more” of what the retreat entailed at some point, she told fans she was thankful for the experience.
“I spent the past few days in both individual and couples therapy,” Katie wrote. “It was hard. Emotional. Stretching in ways I didn’t full expect. 🤎 But it was also one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. I’m leaving better than I came, and that alone feels like an answered prayer. 🤍🌅”
In a follow-up Instagram Story, the 25-year-old shared a link encouraging fans to “Experience Onsite”– the company behind the therapy program she took part in. According to the website, Onsite offers a variety of therapy including both inpatient and outpatient programs, as well as group intensives, online courses and more. The company currently operates two campuses, one located outside of Nashville, Tennessee, and another in San Diego, California.
Katie offered no other details this week as to where her marriage with Travis stands following their “emotional” couples therapy sessions. Meanwhile, Travis– who admitted to cheating on his wife and the mother of his two children just hours after she announced in January that she suffered a miscarriage– made no mention of himself or Katie taking part in the retreat, as he has not posted on social media since coming clean about his affair.
In her first update since revealing Travis’ betrayal, Katie told fans last week that she was planning to go on a four-day therapy intensive. Days later, she posted a “pack with me for therapy” video on social media, telling followers she had “no idea what to expect” when she arrived to the program.
“This is something that’s like, so out of my comfort zone,” Katie admitted. “There’s been a lot of emotions this morning, I’m excited, I’m so very nervous– it’s just so out of my comfort zone– but I’m also very hopeful and I know it’s gonna be really good for me … .”
As she continued to pack, Katie revealed that therapy is something that makes her feel “vulnerable,” however, she said she had already been participating in “therapy calls” for a few weeks in preparation for the intensive retreat, which she said would likely include six hours of therapy each day, as well as activities like yoga and equine therapy.
“ … I’m just trying to emotionally store up the energy, because I know it’s gonna be a lot of heavy conversations,” she added.
As The Ashley previously told you, Katie claimed last month that she and Travis were already in counseling together, as well as individually, in order to “try to determine the best path forward for [their] family.” She revealed at the time that she was also “being supported by legal counsel.”
“This is not a quick or easy process, and it is not one I am taking lightly,” she explained. “Every decision about our future will be made slowly and carefully, with what is best for our family and our children as the highest priority.”
Katie also told fans that she believed in “God’s power to restore,” noting that her heart’s desire is to preserve her marriage.
Travis and Katie have been married since December 2021. The pair met when Travis sent Katie a DM on Instagram and their courtship went on to be featured on ‘Bringing Up Bates.’ The couple– who is part of the Institute of Basic Life Principles (IBLP) religious cult– purchased a home in Tennessee in January 2025 and share two children, 3-year-old daughter Hailey and 1-year-old son Harvey.
(Photos: Instagram)
13 Responses
First of all they are not in the IBLP. Obviously they are far from that. They go to a pretty forward thinking church. The music Travis is singing would never be allowed to be sung at an IBLP church. I’m sorry, but the Bates are not the Duggars. Gil is not Jim Bob. His kids have always lived their own lives. Unless you’re a Christian real forgiveness instead of anger or bitterness is hard to swallow.
Oh, and just because a woman chooses her marriage and children over divorce doesn’t make her weak. It makes her stronger unlike so many who just give up.
Sorry, but he’s going to cheat on her again. Just remember this is the only time he’s admitted to it, I bet there’s more. The cult will protect him and blame it on her for not being attractive enough, pleasing him enough, not giving him enough children, or some other BS. I believe another poster that said this “retreat” was probably arranged by her cult so they could convince her that it was her fault and that she needs to be better for him. She will stay with him and continue to be a doormat. It’s sad to live your life that way.
Cheated on his wife of only 5 years, while having a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old. Loser
He will get a slap on the hand because his wife’s cult will never allow her to get a divorce. She’s doing all this therapy for nothing. They will stay married and show their kids how toxic marriages can be.
She needs a divorce attorney, not therapy.
What do you mean she doesn’t deserve therapy to get through the divorce?
Ohhh, *marriage* therapy. Yeah, no, yeet the cheating loser.
My ex-husband was a cheater and abusive. It may sound stupid to say, but the betrayal of cheating hurt more than getting hit with rebar and steel-toed boots. You never get over that. It’s in the back of your mind 24/7 once that trust is broken. She’ll always wonder if he’s really where he says he is and her skin will crawl when he touches her. Once he’s sure she’ll stay, he’ll do it again. Eventually he’ll stop even trying to hide it at all.
I obviously wasn’t at the retreat but I can say with 99% confidence that this wasn’t a retreat for her husband to keep it in his pants. This was a retreat to explain how he couldn’t keep it in his pants because of something SHE did wrong.🙄
He will continue to cheat and she will continue to stay with him. He will manipulate and gaslight and do it in the name of God so she stays. Ridiculous.
If she doesn’t want better for herself that’s up to her. But her son is going to grow up thinking this is a way to be a man. And her daughter is going to grow up thinking this is the way a woman is supposed to be treated because she probably did something to deserve it. A dutiful trad wife.
I just don’t understand people who stay in a marriage after a betrayal like this. He didn’t just cheat once, he had a whole girlfriend. He obviously doesn’t value their marriage or respect his wife. It’s wild to me for her to put so much effort into saving a marriage when the other person clearly isn’t invested.
Agreed. Unfortunately, her cult childhood makes her believe it’s her fault he had an affair. I mean Gil has preached that a man has an affair because he isn’t getting respect from his wife
‘He’s Just Not That into You” comes to mind.