Gottman Couples Therapist

When Your Partner Can’t Hear You Anymore: The Hidden Pattern Destroying Conversations

Couple experiencing demand-withdraw communication pattern sitting on opposite ends of couch showing emotional distance and disconnection

Three hours. That’s how long Sarah found herself trapped in the same argument with her husband on a Tuesday night. She’d launched into explaining her frustration about their weekend plans, and somehow they’d spiraled into every unresolved issue from the past six months. By the time they finally stopped talking, she was hoarse from explaining herself, and he’d gone completely silent, staring at the wall like it might offer an escape route. Sound familiar? In …

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How to Make Your Partner Feel Loved: A Gottman Method Exercise for Building Fondness and Admiration

Couple sitting together sharing written lists of things that make them feel loved as part of Gottman Method fondness and admiration exercise

Most couples know what makes them feel criticized or dismissed by their partner. You can probably rattle off a list without even thinking about it. But here’s what’s interesting: When I ask couples to tell me what their partner does that makes them feel loved, respected, or admired, they often go blank. Or they struggle. Or they can only come up with one or two things. This isn’t because your partner doesn’t do anything right. …

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Seven Principles vs. Sound Relationship House: Understanding Gottman’s Unified Framework

Visual comparison diagram showing seven ascending steps on the left connected to a seven-floor house structure on the right, illustrating that Gottman's Seven Principles and Sound Relationship House are the same framework presented differently

Quick Answer: The Seven Principles and Sound Relationship House are the same research-based framework. The Seven Principles (introduced in 1999) presents relationship advice as a numbered list, while the Sound Relationship House uses the same principles organized as levels of a house with Trust and Commitment as supporting walls.

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