Gottman’s Couple Therapy

I just finished reading a journal article titled “Examining the Effectiveness of Gottman Couple Therapy on Improving Marital Adjustment and Couples’ Intimacy”.  If you would like to read the study in its entirety, please click on the link. The objective of the study was to examine the effectiveness of Gottman couple therapy on improving marital adjustment and couples’ intimacy. What drew me to this study was this is the method of marriage therapy used by Mike DeMoss at the Center.

The method of this study was semi- experimental study using pretest, post-test, and follow-up assessments to ascertain the effectiveness of the therapy. A total of 16 couples (32 individuals) were selected and randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. Participants of the experimental group received ten 45-minute sessions of Gottman’s couple therapy.

The results showed that Gottman’s couple therapy approach had positive effects on improving marital adjustment and couples’ intimacy. The study also showed that the results of assessments in the follow-up period indicated that Gottman’s couple therapy had enduring effects on marital adjustment and couples’ intimacy.

The conclusion of the researchers was that the Gottman method is an effective treatment to improve marital relationships, adjustment, and intimacy. The Gottman Method for Healthy Relationships is an integrated approach that helps couples manage marital relationships and develop problem-solving skills. These skills make couples more flexible in their relationships and help them achieve a high degree of emotional stability and a peaceful life. Therefore, the changes that are discussed in therapy will have a positive effect on marital relationships, compatibility, and intimacy among couples. According to the results of the study, the Gottman method can be used as an effective treatment in improving marital relationships, compatibility, and intimacy, which will result in increasing family strength. The authors of the study encouraged other researchers, and therapists, to study this theory. Moreover, to test the effectiveness of this therapeutic approach, it was recommended that this approach be tested in other statistical populations as well.

If you would like to read more about the Centers use of the Gottman method please click on the link below.