Our Approach to Gottman Method Couples Therapy

Couples Therapy and Marriage Counseling
using the
Research-based Gottman Method

Gottman Method* Couples Therapy is based on Dr. John Gottman’s research that began in the 1970’s and continues to this day. The research has focused on what makes marriages or committed relationships succeed or fail. From this research, Drs. John and Julie Gottman have created a method of therapy and counseling that emphasizes a grounded and realistic approach to improving couple relationships.

This method is designed to help teach specific tools and skills to deepen friendship and intimacy in your relationship. To help you productively manage conflicts, you will be given methods to manage resolvable problems and dialogue about gridlocked (or perpetual) issues. We will also work together to help you appreciate your relationship's strengths and to gently navigate through its vulnerabilities.

A Couple's Place

Research-based Relationship Counseling

Early in the assessment phase, you will be asked to complete the Gottman Relationship Checkup which is an on-line assessment questionnaire that will help us better understand your relationship. In the first session, we will talk about the history of your relationship, areas of concern, and goals for treatment. We will also meet with each of you individually to learn your personal histories and to give each of you an opportunity to share thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. In the final session of assessment, we will share with you our recommendations for treatment and work to define mutually agreed upon goals for your therapy.

Most of the work will involve sessions in which you will be seen together as a couple. However, there may be times when individual sessions are recommended. We may also give you exercises to practice between sessions.

The length of Gottman Couples Therapy counseling sessions will be determined by your specific needs and goals. In the course of therapy, we will establish points at which to evaluate your satisfaction and concerns that you have about therapy at any time.

A middle-aged black couple holding hands during marriage counseling.

A young mixed-race couple happy and smiling.

In the later stage of therapy, we will phase out or meet less frequently in order for you to test out new relationship skills and to prepare for termination of the therapy. Although you may terminate therapy whenever you wish, we recommend for most couples to phase out treatment to be sure that they are sustaining the changes they have made.

In the outcome-evaluation phase, we will decide on a follow-up plan. Follow-up sessions in couple counseling has been shown through research to significantly decrease the chances of relapse into previous, unhelpful patterns. The purpose of follow-up will be to fine-tune any of your relationship skills if needed and to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy received.

*Please note that this is a general overview of the Gottman Method. There may be some variations in this approach. Please feel free to ask us any questions or share any concerns.

A photo of Lisa Lund, MFT, CRC standing with Drs. John and Julie Gottman.

Lisa Lund MFT with Drs. John and Julie Gottman,
the founders of The Gottman Institute.

Dr. Gottman’s divorce and separation indicators, are known as
“The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”:
Defensiveness, Criticism, Contempt, and Stonewalling.

Learn More

When a couple’s relationship is in a crisis,
they’re suffering from a loss of connection.

Learn More

Our Weekend Couples Intensives & Retreats
may be the best counseling approach...

Learn More

When one person is thinking of divorce or ending the relationship, and doubting whether couple therapy will be successful while the other is wanting to work on the marriage; discernment counseling may be an appropriate choice.

Learn More

a Couple's Place

Our Approach to
Gottman Method Couples Therapy

a Couple's Place

Couples Therapy & Marriage Counseling

Gottman Method Couples Therapy

Couples Therapy and Marriage Counseling
using the
Research-based Gottman Method

a Couple's Place

Our Approach toGottman Method Couples Therapy

a Couple's Place

Couples Therapy & Marriage Counseling

Gottman Method Couples Therapy

Couples Therapy and Marriage Counselingusing theResearch-based Gottman Method

Our Approach to
Gottman Method Couples Therapy

Couples Therapy and Marriage Counseling
using the
Research-based Gottman Method