Marriage & Couples Therapy
Marriage can be one of the most meaningful relationships in a person's life—and one of the places where unresolved patterns become most visible.
Couples rarely struggle because they simply don't know how to communicate. More often, they become caught in predictable cycles: one pursues while the other withdraws, one becomes critical while the other shuts down, conflict escalates until someone leaves the conversation, or both partners stop reaching for each other altogether. Over time, these patterns can create distance even when love is still present.
Marriage therapy may be helpful when couples are navigating:
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Communication breakdown and recurring conflict
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Emotional distance or disconnection
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Attachment and intimacy concerns
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Trust injuries, betrayal, or rebuilding after infidelity
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Anger, shutdown, avoidance, or emotional reactivity
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Differences in parenting, values, expectations, or life direction
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Sexual and physical intimacy concerns
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The transition into marriage, parenthood, or an empty nest
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Infidelity or other significant relationship injuries
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Trauma, grief, or major life transitions affecting the relationship
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Military, deployment, reintegration, or high-demand career stress
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The impact of chronic stress, anxiety, or emotional overload on the marriage
Sometimes the work is about repairing a relationship that has been injured. Sometimes it is about strengthening a good relationship before problems become crises. And sometimes it is about determining what needs to change for the marriage to move forward.
"Every positive thing you do in your relationship, is foreplay"
Gottman Method
Dr. John Gottman’s research has identified patterns that can predict relationship distress and, importantly, specific skills that help couples build stronger, more stable relationships. His research also found that approximately 69% of marital conflicts are perpetual—ongoing differences that may never be completely resolved. The work, then, is not about eliminating disagreement, but learning how to navigate differences without damaging the relationship.
Gottman Method Couples Therapy focuses on helping couples:
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Recognize and interrupt destructive interaction patterns
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Replace criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling with more effective ways of responding
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Build friendship, fondness, and respect within the relationship
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Strengthen communication and the ability to respond to one another’s bids for connection
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Manage conflict and perpetual differences more effectively
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Repair after conflict and rebuild trust following relational injuries
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Develop greater emotional and relational awareness
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Maintain connection and intimacy through life transitions and stress
Couples do not need to be in crisis to benefit from the Gottman Method. It can be used to address significant relationship distress as well as to strengthen an already healthy marriage and build skills before patterns become entrenched.