Gottman Couples Therapy

What is Gottman Couples Therapy?

Gottman Couples Therapy is a research-based, structured approach to working with couples that focuses on emotional regulation, communication, and relationship repair. It is grounded in decades of research on what helps relationships function well and what leads them to break down.

Rather than unstructured conversation, Gottman therapy uses intentional assessment, real-time feedback, and practical skills that are practiced in session. This approach focuses on helping couples apply what they learn during sessions to everyday interactions and moments of stress. Couples learn to better understand their patterns, reduce emotional escalation, and build tools they can continue using outside of therapy.

Is Gottman Couples Therapy Right for Us?

Gottman Couples Therapy may be a good fit for couples who want a more structured and intentional approach to therapy. This model is especially helpful when couples feel stuck in repeated patterns or want practical tools to improve communication and emotional connection.

This approach is often a good fit for couples who:

Experience frequent or escalating conflict
Feel disconnected or misunderstood despite trying to “talk it through”
Want help rebuilding trust or emotional safety
Prefer concrete tools and skill-building rather than open-ended discussion
Are looking for longer or more focused sessions to support meaningful change

Our Gottman Therapy options

We offer several Gottman-based options depending on a couple’s needs, goals, and level of intensity. All Gottman Method services are structured, skills-focused, and offered as self-pay.

Weekly Gottman Couples Therapy

Weekly Gottman therapy begins with an assessment-focused phase to better understand relationship patterns and areas of strength and challenge.

What this includes:

The Gottman relationship check up assessment
90-minute couples intake session
Two 45-minute individual assessment sessions
75-minute ongoing couples sessions as the primary format

This option works well for couples who want a structured, research-based approach while meeting on a regular basis.

*Fees vary based on session length.

Intensive Assessment

The Intensive Assessment is a one-day, assessment-focused service designed to provide clarity and direction.

What this includes:

The Gottman relationship check up assessment
90-minute intake session
Two 45-minute assessment sessions
75-minute feedback session

This format allows couples to complete the assessment and feedback process in a single day—an amount of clinical time that is comparable to approximately three weeks of standard weekly couples therapy.

This option is helpful for couples who want a clear understanding of their relationship dynamics before deciding on next steps.

*Investment: $800

Marathon Therapy

Marathon Therapy is a two-day format that combines assessment, feedback, and extended couples therapy.

Day One includes:

The full Intensive Assessment, Plus:
One additional 75-minute couples therapy session

Day Two includes:

Four 75-minute skills-based Gottman couples therapy sessions

Marathon Therapy is designed for couples who want focused, in-depth work over a short period of time.

This format provides the equivalent amount of clinical time typically spread over approximately two months of weekly therapy, condensed into two focused days.

Investment: $1800

frequently asked questions

Can I use my insurance for Gottman Couple's Therapy?

Insurance may be used for Gottman-informed couples therapy, depending on benefits and eligibility. In these cases, therapists may draw from Gottman research and tools as clinically appropriate within a standard therapy format.

The full Gottman Method is a structured, assessment-driven approach that includes longer sessions, formal feedback, and intensive options. Because of the time and structure involved, Gottman Method services are offered as a self-pay specialty service and are not billed to insurance.

Some couples using insurance choose to complete the Gottman relationship assessment separately as a self-pay option. When used this way, assessment results are integrated into therapy to help inform treatment rather than as part of a formal Gottman Method feedback process.

*Our team can help couples understand which option best fits their goals, preferences, and coverage.

What is the time commitment for Gottman therapy?

Gottman therapy can be structured in different ways. Some couples participate in weekly sessions over time, while others choose an Intensive Assessment or Marathon Therapy to complete focused work over one or two days.

The amount of time involved depends on the format selected and your goals for therapy.

How do we know which option is right for us?

Choosing between weekly therapy, an Intensive Assessment, or Marathon Therapy depends on your goals, availability, and the level of structure you are looking for.

Some couples prefer the pacing of weekly sessions, while others benefit from a more concentrated format. During scheduling our office staff can help guide this decision based on your needs and preferences.

What if one partner is more motivated than the other?

It is common for partners to enter therapy with different levels of readiness or motivation. Gottman therapy focuses on understanding interaction patterns rather than placing blame and is structured to support both partners engaging at their own pace.

Our therapists can help determine whether weekly therapy or a more structured format is appropriate given each partner’s level of readiness and the couple’s goals.

Can Gottman therapy help couples working through infidelity or breaches of trust?

Gottman Couples Therapy can be helpful for couples navigating breaches of trust, including infidelity, when both partners are willing to engage in the therapy process.

When couples are working through breaches of trust or significant ruptures, therapy provides a structured space to address what happened, promote accountability, and gradually rebuild emotional safety and connection. The focus is on helping couples process painful experiences, strengthen communication, and move toward a more secure and intentional relationship.

Because experiences of betrayal vary widely, recommendations about structure and pacing are made on a case-by-case basis.

Gottman Couples Therapy

What is Gottman Couples Therapy?

Is Gottman Couples Therapy Right for Us?

Our Gottman Therapy options

frequently asked questions

Ready to Take the Next Step?

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