At The Bondi Psychologist, one of my specialisations is couples’ counselling. I use the Gottman Method of relationship counselling – a highly effective approach that is strongly backed by scientific studies.
Gottman Method Couples’ Therapy combines the knowledge and wisdom of almost four decades of research and clinical practice by the Gottman Institute. Through interventions and exercises, the Gottman Method helps you and your partner break through barriers to achieve greater understanding, connection and intimacy in your relationship. Gottman Method Couples’ Therapy is a structured, goal-oriented, scientifically based therapy.
Gottman Method Couples’ Therapy was developed to help you and your partner to:
- Increase respect, affection and closeness
- Break through and resolve conflict when you feel stuck
- Generate greater understanding
- Keep conflict discussions calm and respectful.
Why the Gottman Method works
Research shows that to make a relationship last, couples must become better friends, learn to manage conflict and create ways to support each other’s hopes for the future.
If you’re like many couples, you and your partner argue in a way that inflicts pain on the other. Disagreements bring out meanness. Afterwards, you feel ashamed. This is not the person you believe yourself to be, and you have hurt the one you love. And yet next time you argue, you do it again.
On the flipside, you are also suffering. The pain you inflict is a result of the hurt you feel. The long-term cost of things said in the heat of the moment is a relationship characterised by criticism, defensiveness, stonewalling and contempt.
Underneath, there is love. You just need to navigate your way back there.
The Gottman Method of relationship counselling allows you to replace your battlefield with a sanctuary. Remember how it felt to be on each other’s team? Even if you’ve never felt that way, you can move toward increased harmony. By rebuilding hope and positivity, learning to recognise and appreciate your partner’s expressions of love, and replacing combat with support, your relationship can heal and grow.
The Gottman Method for Healthy Relationships
Doctors John and Julie Gottman identified the following nine components of healthy relationships. Learn more about the Gottman Method here.
- Build love maps
- Share fondness and admiration
- Turn towards
- The positive perspective
- Manage conflict
- Make life dreams come true
- Create shared meaning
- Trust
- Commitment.
Book an appointment for relationship counselling with The Bondi Psychologist.
