The Gottman Method
The Gottman method is a personalized style of couples therapy (based on the relationship work of John Gottman, PhD and Julie Schwartz Gottman, PhD).
The Gottman method aims to help couples:
- Improve communication
- Address conflict and other relationship problems
- Develop more understanding and awareness
- Foster growth and intimacy.
The Gottman method is established on the belief that problems can either be resolved, or they are perpetual, which means they will be part of your lives forever, in some form or another.
The Gottman method may be particularly helpful in addressing perpetual problems.
Some of the relationship issues that may be addressed in therapy include:
- Frequent conflict and arguments
- Poor communication
- Emotionally distanced couples on the verge of separation
- Specific problems such as:
- Sexual difficulties
- Infidelity
- Money
- Parenting
Couples struggling with conflict, communication, sex, intimacy, infidelity, money, parenting, or emotional distance may benefit from Gottman method therapy.
Couples who are not experiencing significant difficulties but want to improve their relationship may also find the method useful.
What to expect?
The Gottman method uses personal assessments and activities to help couples improve their relationships.
- Assessment: In the first session (a conjoint session), the psychologist will talk to you and ask you to share their history and goals for your relationship. Couples complete questionnaires and then receive detailed feedback on their relationship. This will be followed by individual interviews with each partner.
- Sessions: You and the psychologist decide on how long and how frequent sessions will be. The initial session is 90-minutes in duration.
- Interventions: You will learn strategies designed to help you strengthen your relationships by increasing closeness and intimacy to improve friendship, deepen emotional connection, and create changes that enhances your shared goals.