Our Methods
Our methods include The Gottman Method and Discernment Counseling. These methods are backed by robust research and proven to be effective.
Gottman Method
The Gottman Method is a very rich and detailed method for couples therapy built on 40 years of research completed by John and Nancy Gottman. It involves a four-session assessment. During the first joint assessment, your therapist will try to uncover what brings you to therapy, what you hope to get out of therapy as a couple, and what points of tension you struggle with.
After this initial assessment, each partner meets individually with the therapist in two separate sessions to get to know both of you personally and to better understand the relationship dynamics at play. This includes a discussion of past relationships.
During this process, couples complete an online assessment through the Gottman Method Connect system, which utilizes a large number of questions to get a lot of specific information about what’s going on within the relationship. It helps to identify strengths, too.
In the fourth assessment, the couple comes together for a feedback session. This is where the therapist reviews everything and creates a solid plan for how to move forward.
Many couples report that they experience more meaningful conversations and a deeper connection just after the assessment period. The fact is that these couples may not have had this kind of connection in years.
The Sound Relationship House
One of the principles used in the Gottman Method is called the “Sound Relationship House.” It’s an important visualization exercise where an image of a house is built on two pillars: trust and commitment. Using this image, it’s easy to understand the importance of how commitment is required to sustain a lifelong partnership over many years.
To build the foundation, couples build love maps, where they get to know each other on a very intimate level. Having your partner really understand and connect to your world helps them feel seen and understood. Going back to this foundational aspect of relationship building can truly help to strengthen a marriage.
Aside from love maps, there are other ways to build a strong foundation. This includes sharing fondness, noticing our partners, and expressing appreciation for one another.
These skills directly impact the quality and the culture of the relationship. Instead of being hyperfocused on the negatives within a relationship, it helps to shift the attention to what’s positive in a relationship.
Discernment counseling
Based on the work of Bill Doherty, discernment counseling is indicated when one or both partners are ambivalent about staying in the relationship or are unsure about couples therapy.
For these couples, we offer discernment counseling. This is a time-limited one to five-session process structured to help the couple confidently decide their next steps.
Parenting coaching & support
Based on the work of Daniel Siegal (Author of Parenting from the Inside Out), Alicia Lieberman (Author of The Emotional Life of a Toddler) as well as the Gottman Method, we use the best science and proven interventions in the field related to parenting, attachment and attunement, central nervous system (co)regulation, and healthy childhood growth. We emphasize child development, and socioemotional wellness to inform our work and aid you and your family in your journey. We support parents of children of all ages with specialty in ages 0-5 as well as all couples looking to consciously uncouple and move into a healthy co-parenting dynamic.
Parenting Children 0-5
(waiting for info)
Co-parenting During & After Separation
We understand that making the decision to end a relationship can be stressful, complicated, and very challenging for all involved–especially if you are parents. We are here to support you through it with developmental guidance, attachment-based coaching, conflict management, and communication skill development. We maintain a neutral perspective that can be supportive at any point in your process, whether you are deciding on divorce or separation, in the process of it, or past it and now working on healthy, well-boundaried coparenting skills and communication.
Life Transitions & Decisions
We are also available to support you and your partner as you navigate major life transitions and decisions. This can be helpful at any stage. We can support you when deciding whether or not to move in together and how to do so in as easefully and intentional a process as possible to design the life you want and set yourselves up for long term success as a couple. We work with couples who are deciding to become parents and support them in connecting, addressing challenges and barriers, and communicating effectively about values, dreams, cultural differences, and other aspects of your relationship to help strengthen your partnership and improve your ability to navigate the challenges that come up along the way.
Contact the Couples Enrichment Center
At the Couples Enrichment Center, we have seen how quickly and effectively our methods can help couples overcome challenges together.
To learn more, call us at (858) 922-7337 or click the button to request a consultation.
