Marriage and Couples

With divorce rates at 50%, we understand that the human family is in crisis and couples face the most severe challenges to relationship stability ever. Research shows that on average, couples wait six years from the first signs of problems before they seek help. We believe that through therapeutic and educational services we can help people sooner, repair troubled families, and help all couples and families remain strong and healthy. That is why it is our mission to reach out to families in order to help create and maintain greater love and health in relationships. We are committed to an ongoing program of research that increases the understanding of relationships and adds to the development of interventions that have been carefully evaluated. Dr. John Gottman, has learned what really makes marriages work by studying and following over 3,000 couples in three decades of research. Drs. John and Julie Schwartz Gottman have designed weekend workshops for couples, established the Gottman Relationship Center and Referral Network, and designed relationship quizzes and self-help tips to provide support for couples and families.

The Art & Science of Love, A Weekend Workshop for Couples
The Gottman Institute offers five couples workshops per year in Seattle, WA. These workshops, presented by Drs. John and Julie Schwartz Gottman,  are held on Saturdays and Sundays at the Seattle Center. In addition, Certified Gottman Couples Workshop Leaders* now present this workshop throughout N. America.  During this weekend workshop, you will gain new insights and learn research-based relationship skills that can dramatically improve the intimacy and friendship in your relationship. If you have a strong relationship, this workshop will provide you with the insights and tools to make it a great one.  If your relationship is distressed, then this two-day workshop will provide a road map for repair! To find out more about the workshop program, locations, dates, the presenters, and registration information, please click above.

*Certified Gottman Couples Workshop Leaders are Certified Gottman Therapists who have been specifically trained by The Gottman Institute to present couples workshops. All workshop leaders use The Art and Science of Love curriculum designed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman. These workshops are offered independent of The Gottman Institute.

 Video/DVD Workshop for Couples
The Gottmans' popular couples workshop, The Art & Science of Love, is available on DVD and VHS.  Now, in the privacy of your home, you can experience your own personal workshop with the Gottmans.  Includes DVD's/ tapes, a manual, and all workshop lectures and exercises.  Review specific sections or the entire workshop.  Share it with family and friends.  Enhance respect, strengthen your love, commitment and friendship, renew intimacy, and practice conflict-solving skills.

Therapy for Couples
At the Gottman Institute we have established the  Relationship Center and Referral Network, a family and relationship support center consisting of a group of Certified Gottman Therapists™* specially trained by Drs. John and Julie Schwartz Gottman. Many other therapists are in training around the U.S. and will become Relationship Center and Referral Network Therapists soon.  If there is not a Certified Gottman Therapist in your area, we provide options for Intensive (marathon) Therapy conducted in Seattle. These therapists are available to help you with all forms of relationship enhancement, including intensive marital therapy. The therapists are trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy™, a structured, goal-oriented, scientifically-based therapy. Interventions are based on Dr. Gottman’s three decades of research. To find out more about private therapy, please click on Therapy for Couples highlighted above.

*Certified Gottman Therapists are all licensed or certified therapists who practice independently in their state, province, or country. Each has been specifically trained by Drs. John and Julie Gottman to provide Gottman Method Couples Therapy.

Gay and Lesbian Couples
Dr. John Gottman has conducted longitudinal research on same-sex couples as well as hetero-sexual couples.   For information on Dr. Gottman's research regarding what makes same sex relationships succeed or fail, please click on the link above.