Gottman Method Couples Therapy

I completed the Gottman Method of Couples Therapy Training Level 2.

What is the Gottman Method of Couples Therapy?

The Gottman Method of Couples Therapy is a skills-based therapy that helps couples achieve a deeper sense of understanding of themselves and their partners, and increase empathy and emotional intimacy. It is based on nearly 40 years of research by Drs. John and Julie Gottman on what makes relationships work.

The Gottman Method Couples Therapy helps partners:

• Increase emotional closeness, strengthen the friendship, increase respect and affection

• Keep conflict discussions calm and prevent escalation

• Improve understanding between the couple and the ability to listen to each other

• Help you dialogue about your most difficulty conflicts, rather than avoid them

• Learn to identify and change unhealthy conflict patterns and repair past wounds

• Create a system of shared values and meaning

• Spend more quality time

Gottman Method Couples Therapy: Initial Assessment

The Gottman Method of Couples Therapy starts with an assessment of a number of aspects of your relationship. It involves a conjoint session, individual interviews with each partner, and the couple filling out a questionnaire about your relationship.
The purpose of the assessment is to: assess the quality of the couple’s friendship, romance and passion; to assess the effectiveness of the couple’s management of conflict and what key areas need improvement; and to evaluate the couple’s ability to create shared meaning and honor each other’s dreams.
The last step of the assessment is a conjoint meeting where I provide feedback on the results of the assessment and we create treatment goals. After that, we can begin the couples therapy if we agree to move forward.

Gottman Couples Therapy: How the therapy works

Gottman method couples therapy is designed to help couples strengthen their relationships in three main areas: friendship, conflict management, and creation of shared meaning. Couples learn to identify and change unhealthy conflict patterns and repair past wounds. It is a skills-based approach, and one of the objectives is to give you the skills you need to resolve conflict on your own in the future

Here is more information on the Gottman Method Couples Therapy

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

What is psychodynamic psychotherapy?

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is traditionally a long-term treatment (typically 1-2 years) that aims to help patients gain greater insight into why they feel and act the way they do. Subtle psychological forces originating from childhood can drive our unconscious feelings and impact us for a lifetime. Many people develop defense mechanisms to compensate for these unconscious conflicts. Psychodynamic psychotherapy can help you identify your conflicts and the defense mechanisms that get in the way of your satisfaction in interpersonal relationships and the fulfillment of your goals.

There is research support for the efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy for a variety of mental health conditions. Here is more information about the research.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in Individual Therapy

In individual therapy, I help you identify your unconscious conflicts and defense mechanisms and we will examine their role in the problems you’re having in your life. I will then help you change the way you relate and act towards yourself and other people. Many of my patients have told me that this process helps them feel they are living a more authentic and fulfilling life, and improves their satisfaction with and effectiveness in their relationships. Here is more information on psychodynamic psychotherapy as it relates to individual therapy.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

Exposure with Response Prevention

Mindfulness