Looking for Gottman therapy?
I am a Certified Gottman Couples Therapist and provide therapy based on the findings of three decades of research on more than 3,000 couples conducted by John Gottman and his colleagues at the University of Washington. Two of Gottman’s most popular books, Why Marriages Succeed or Fail and The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work describe the foundation for this approach.
In general, Gottman therapy is designed to
- increase overall positivity in the relationship,
- reduce overall negativity in the relationship, and
- reduce negativity in conflict situations.
Gottman therapy is appropriate for pre-marital couples, couples lacking intimacy, and couples locked in conflict. It is generally not recommended for couples in battering situations (individual therapy is recommended in these situations).
First, you will each complete a packet of assessments which will identify your strengths as a couple and the areas for improvement in your relationship. The therapy will then target those identified areas for improvement, and any other issues that you may want to address. These may include the quality of your friendship, your skills in conflict regulation, and/or the nurturing of shared goals. Gottman therapy is designed to be short-term; four months is a reasonable expectation to see improvement in your relationship.