Any relationship can be improved and the major changes that need to happen can start today! As an expert counselor who teaches couples how to rebuild their friendship, improve conflict resolution skills, and create shared meaning, I know I can help you. I am eternally optimistic about relationships and strongly believe that any marriage can be made better.

I utilize the Gottman Method for couples therapy. The Gottman Method is an empirically based system for marital counseling that began in the 70s and continues to this day. The research focuses on what makes marriages succeed or fail. From this research the Gottman’s have created a method of therapy that emphasizes a nuts-and-bolts approach to improving clients’ relationships. The method is designed to help teach specific tools to deepen friendship and intimacy in relationships. To help you productively manage conflicts, clients are given methods to manage resolvable problems and dialogue about gridlocked (or perpetual) issues.

Call me today and let's start making the changes your longing for!


Frequently asked questions about couples therapy:

How many sessions will it take for us to solve our problems?

The length of therapy will be determined by your specific needs and goals. In the course of therapy I will work with both of you to establish a point at which to evaluate your satisfaction and progress. I will also encourage you to raise any questions or concerns that either of you may have about therapy at any time. Clearly, each couple is different and there is no “average” number of sessions. Once the assessment is completed, the three of us will decide the frequency of your sessions. The goal of couples work is not to make you dependent on therapy. Rather, I attempt to provide couples with the skills and techniques (developed by John Gottman, Ph.D. and the Gottman Institute) that you will need to have a thriving marriage and I offer the clinical intervention necessary to assist you toward achieving that goal.

What does Gottman Method Therapy look like?

The Gottman Method of Couples Therapy consists of five parts: Assessment, Treatment, Out of Therapy, Termination, and Outcome Evaluation. Early in the assessment phase, couples will be given some written materials to complete. In the first sessions we will talk about the history of the relationship, areas of concerns, and goals for treatment.

In the next session, I will meet with each of member of the couple individually to learn about your personal histories and to give you an opportunity to share your thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. In the final session of assessment, I will share with the couple my recommendations for treatment and work to define mutually agreed-upon goals for therapy. This assessment provides the foundation or “road map” for your therapeutic journey.

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, it is most helpful to have at least one session together to summarize progress, define the work that remains, and say good-bye.

In the outcome evaluation phase, as per the Gottman Method, four follow-up sessions are planned: one after six months, one after 12 months, one after 18 months and one after two years. These sessions have been shown through research to significantly decrease the chances of relapse into previous, unhelpful patterns. In addition, commitment to providing the best therapy possible requires ongoing evaluation of methods used and client progress. The purpose of these follow-ups sessions then will be to fine tune any relationship skills and to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy received.

The components of the couples assessment are as follows:

Session #1 Intake interviews 80 minutes

Session #2 Individual Interviews 40 minutes each

Session #3 Treatment Planning 80 minutes.