Gottman Method Couples Therapy

The Gottman Method, developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, is a research-based approach to couple therapy. It emphasizes building a "Sound Relationship House" by strengthening key areas of the partnership.

Core Principles:

• Sound Relationship House:
  • This model highlights seven crucial elements: building love maps (knowing your partner's inner world), sharing fondness and admiration, turning towards (responding positively to bids for connection), maintaining a positive perspective, managing conflict, making life dreams come true, and creating shared meaning.
• Assessment:
  • The method involves thorough assessments, including individual interviews, joint sessions, and questionnaires, to identify relationship strengths and weaknesses.
• Conflict Management:
  • It focuses on replacing destructive communication patterns (the "Four Horsemen": criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling) with constructive strategies.
  • Teaches skills such as softened start-ups, repair attempts, and compromise.
• Goal:
  • The ultimate goal is to increase intimacy, respect, and affection, while effectively managing conflict and fostering shared meaning.

Key Techniques:

• Identifying and modifying the "Four Horsemen" of destructive communication.
• Building and strengthening the "Sound Relationship House."
• Teaching effective conflict resolution skills.
• Enhancing emotional connection and intimacy.

In essence, the Gottman Method provides couples with practical tools and strategies to cultivate healthier, more fulfilling relationships.

Overview of the Gottman Method Intake Process:

The Gottman Method intake process is designed to comprehensively assess a couple's relationship and identify areas for improvement. It typically involves the following stages:

• Individual Interviews:
  • Each partner is interviewed separately. This allows the therapist to gather individual perspectives on the relationship, identify personal histories that may impact the relationship, and establish rapport.
  • The therapist asks questions about the couple's history, current relationship dynamics, individual concerns, and goals for therapy.
• Joint Session(s):
  • The therapist observes the couple interacting, often using structured exercises or discussions.
  • This allows the therapist to assess the couple's communication patterns, conflict resolution skills, and emotional connection.
  • The therapist may use the Oral History Interview to assess the couples view of their past, present and future.
• Assessment Tools:
  • Couples complete questionnaires and assessments, such as the Relationship Satisfaction Scale and the Sound Relationship House assessment.
  • These tools provide quantitative data on various aspects of the relationship, such as conflict, intimacy, and shared meaning.
• Feedback Session:
  • The therapist provides feedback to the couple based on the assessment results.
  • The therapist identifies the couple's strengths and areas for improvement, and develops a treatment plan.
  • The treatment plan is based upon the sound relationship house theory.
• Goal Setting:
  • The couple and the therapist collaborate to establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for therapy.