Gottman Method of Couples Therapy Edmonton
Gottman Method of Couples Therapy
Gottman method of couples therapy in Edmonton.
Gottman Method
Gottman Therapy, also called the Gottman Method of Couples Therapy, is a research-based approach to improving relationships, created by Drs. John and Julie Gottman. It’s designed for couples who want to strengthen their connection, improve communication, and manage conflict more effectively.
The Core Idea
Healthy relationships aren’t about never fighting—they’re about how couples handle conflict and how strong their friendship and trust are. Gottman Therapy helps couples build a solid foundation of respect, intimacy, and shared meaning while learning tools to handle disagreements in a constructive way.
Key Principles of the Gottman Method
- Build Love Maps – Deeply knowing your partner’s inner world (their hopes, stresses, values, and daily life).
- Share Fondness and Admiration – Expressing appreciation and respect often.
- Turn Toward Instead of Away – Noticing and responding to each other’s small bids for attention or connection.
- Manage Conflict – Learning to deal with disagreements in healthy ways, since conflict is natural in all relationships.
- Make Life Dreams Come True – Supporting each other’s goals and aspirations.
- Create Shared Meaning – Building rituals, traditions, and a sense of “we” as a couple.
These steps make up what the Gottmans call the Sound Relationship House, their model for strong and lasting partnerships.
What Happens in Therapy
- The therapist first does an in-depth assessment, including interviews and questionnaires, to understand the couple’s strengths and challenges.
- Couples then learn practical tools for communication, problem-solving, and emotional connection.
- Sessions focus on reducing harmful patterns (like criticism, defensiveness, stonewalling, and contempt—what the Gottmans call the “Four Horsemen”) and replacing them with healthier habits.
- Therapists also guide partners in rebuilding trust and intimacy when it has been damaged.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Who it Helps?
- Couples in conflict or frequent arguments.
- Partners struggling with trust issues or infidelity.
- Couples who want to rekindle intimacy or connection.
- Even strong relationships that want to grow deeper and more resilient.
In short: Gottman Therapy helps couples move from conflict and disconnection toward trust, respect, and lasting love, using tools proven by decades of research.
Gottman in Counselling
Couples Counselling
Couples counselling (also called marriage counselling or relationship therapy) is a type of therapy where two partners meet with a trained therapist to work on their relationship.
It’s not about taking sides—it’s about helping both people understand each other better, resolve conflicts in healthier ways, and strengthen their connection.
Couples counselling is a guided process that helps partners communicate better, resolve conflicts, and build a healthier, stronger relationship.
