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Couples therapy

20 techniques · 1 approach
Gottman
5:1 Ratio Building
5:1 Ratio Building
A deliberate increase in positive interactions within the couple to reach a steady ratio of five positives to one negative.
Gottman
Accepting Influence
Accepting Influence
Training in the skill of accepting the partner's viewpoint and influence instead of resistance and control — a key predictor of stability.
Gottman
Aftermath of a Fight Processing
Aftermath of a Fight Processing
A structured discussion of the conflict after both partners have calmed down, to understand triggers and extract lessons.
Gottman
Couples Homework Assignments
Couples Homework Assignments
Selecting and assigning concrete paired exercises between sessions: rituals, love map, gratitude, tracking bids.
Gottman
Creating Shared Meaning
Creating Shared Meaning
Exploring and strengthening the top floor of the House of Relationship: shared rituals, values, roles, and goals of the couple.
Gottman
Dreams Within Conflict
Dreams Within Conflict
Exploring the unspoken dreams and values that stand behind each partner's position in a gridlocked conflict.
Gottman
Emotional Bids Work
Emotional Bids Work
Training in recognizing small requests for emotional connection and in the skill of "turning toward the partner" instead of "turning away" o…
Gottman
Flooding Management
Flooding Management
Training in recognizing physiological flooding (pulse > 100) and in the skill of taking a break with a mandatory return to the conversation.
Gottman
Fondness and Admiration System
Fondness and Admiration System
Restoring and strengthening the culture of respect, gratitude, and admiration in the couple — the second floor of the Sound Relationship Hou…
Gottman
Four Horsemen Assessment
Four Horsemen Assessment
Identifying the four destructive patterns of communication (criticism, contempt, defensiveness, stonewalling) and training the couple to rec…
Gottman
Love Map Exercise
Love Map Exercise
A structured inquiry into the partner's inner world through questions about dreams, fears, stressors, and preferences. The first floor of th…
Gottman
Oral History Interview
Oral History Interview
A structured interview about the history of the relationship that allows the couple's foundation to be assessed by HOW they tell their story…
Gottman
Perpetual Problem Dialogue
Perpetual Problem Dialogue
A structured conversation about a chronic couple problem with the aim not of solving it but of maintaining an open dialogue with humor and a…
Gottman
Positive Sentiment Override
Positive Sentiment Override
Work on having neutral and ambiguous actions of the partner interpreted positively rather than negatively.
Gottman
Repair Attempts
Repair Attempts
Teaching the skill of stopping conflict escalation through repair actions, and the skill of accepting repair attempts from the partner.
Gottman
Rituals of Connection
Rituals of Connection
Creating and sustaining everyday rituals that strengthen the emotional connection: greeting, farewell, meals, weekends.
Gottman
Softened Startup
Softened Startup
Teaching the formula for starting a difficult conversation without criticism: "I feel… when… and I need…" instead of "You always / never…".
Gottman
Stress-Reducing Conversation
Stress-Reducing Conversation
A daily 20-minute conversation between partners about external stress (not about the relationship) — for maintaining the emotional connectio…
Gottman
Three-Session Assessment
Three-Session Assessment
Structured diagnostics of the couple: joint interview → individual sessions → feedback with treatment plan.
Gottman
Trust Revival Method
Trust Revival Method
A structured process of restoring trust after a betrayal (affair, deception) through three phases: atonement, attunement, attachment.
Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.