Challenges to Changes…….

Our couple’s therapy and couples counseling approach is based on the latest marital research and methods of Dr. John Gottman and the Gottman Institute. This research which began in 1972 continues to this day and is used with cultures around the world.

The therapy is structured, goal-oriented and scientifically based on forty plus years of research with couples. Called the Gottman Method Couple Therapy, the theory and interventions are developed from what the research shows actually works to help couples create sustainable long-term healthy relationships.

The Gottman Method is unique from other types of couple’s therapy or couples counseling due to its Partner-to-Partner emphasis. More traditional forms of couple’s therapy have the therapist serving as a moderator between the couple which has the greater possibility of the couple becoming “therapy (or therapist) dependent.” In contrast, when a couple engages in a dialogue about a problem, the Gottman Method couple’s therapist only intervenes to facilitate and/or teach the couple how to return to a constructive Partner-to-Partner dialogue. The research shows that this in-the-moment intervention with one Partner by the Gottman Method therapist, serves to create a memory that is more likely to be retrieved by the couple when they are not in the therapy room. As a result, the Gottman Method therapist provides the intervention, tool or skill but the real work is done Therapist-to-Partner-to-Partner rather than Partner-to-Therapist-to-Partner.

At the end of therapy, a couple will know how to deepen their friendship, break through and manage their conflict when they feel stuck, resolve solvable problems and increase their respect, affection and closeness with each other.