Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy Referrals

Q. What are the credentials of Certified Gottman Therapists?

A. Each Certified Gottman Therapist has a master’s level education or above, and has many years of clinical experience. A Certified Gottman Therapist* is an individual who has completed the certification program offered by The Gottman Institute™.This program includes completing: 1) a two-day workshop by Dr. John Gottman; 2) a four-day Advanced Training program led by Drs John and Julie Gottman; and 3) a four-day Certification Study Program. The therapist must also have completed at least 8 individual sessions or 12 group sessions of consultation given by a Senior Certified Gottman Therapist. Finally, the therapist must have submitted tapes for review by Dr. Julie Gottman and/or other Senior Certified Gottman Therapists, and based on those video demonstrations, qualify to be a Certified Gottman Therapist.

PLEASE NOTE: Any therapist or health professional who has not completed ALL of the above requirements may not practice The Gottman Method of Therapy at the level of expertise expected of Certified Gottman Therapists.

Q. Can you refer us to a Certified Gottman Therapist™ in our state?

A. We have Certified Gottman Therapists throughout the United States, Canada and in several foreign countries. Many other therapists are in training and will soon become Certified Therapists. Please click here to see a list by state where Relationship Center and Referral Network Therapists reside.

If there is not a Certified Gottman Therapist in your area, Intensive (marathon) Therapy for non-local couples is available in Seattle. Marathon therapy consists of several consecutive days of longer therapy sessions (typically 4-6 hours per day for 2-5 consecutive days). Intensive Therapy can be arranged in conjunction with a couples weekend workshop (before, after, or a combination), or it can be arranged in between the workshops. Another option for out-of-state couples is our Video Workshop for Couples.

Q. I live in another state. Can I do therapy with a Gottman trained therapist over the phone?

A. No. Because licensing for therapists differs from state to state, our therapists cannot do therapy over the phone. In addition, the Gottman Method™ relies extensively on visual as well as verbal cues, so to conduct this therapy ethically therapists need to see as well as hear you. If there is not a Certified Gottman Relationship Therapist in your area, we suggest that you consider coming to our couples workshop or arranging for Intensive Marathon Therapy in Washington.

Q. Where is Therapy Conducted?

A. All Certified Gottman Therapists™ practice independently and work out of their own offices.

Q. What is the cost of therapy? Does insurance cover it? Do you offer discounts?

A. Each Certified Gottman Therapist is free to set their own fees and to make their own decisions regarding insurance and/or adjusted fees.

Q. How many sessions will it take to solve our problems?

A. Obviously, each couple is unique and there is no “average” number of sessions. The therapy begins with a 3-step assessment process where the clinician completes an individual assessment of each partner, and an assessment of the couple. This assessment provides the foundation or “road map” for your therapeutic journey. Once the assessment is completed, the three of you (the couple and the therapist) will decide the frequency and duration of your sessions. The goal of our work is not to make couples “therapy-dependent.” Rather, we attempt to provide couples with the skills and tools they will need to become competent at using the Gottman Method™ in their daily lives, and we offer the clinical intervention necessary to assist couples toward achieving that goal.

Q. What if one of us has a lot of personal/individual issues to work on?

A. Sometimes individual therapy is indicated for one or both parties involved in couples therapy. If that should happen, your therapist will assist you in getting matched with an appropriate therapist for the individual treatment. For clients of Intensive Therapy who do not live in Washington's Puget Sound area, we can assist in providing more general guidance for locating an appropriate individual therapist in your local area.

*Certified Gottman Therapists are all licensed or certified therapists who practice independently in their state, province, or country and are not supervised or monitored by Drs. John or Julie Gottman or the Gottman Insititute. However, each has been specifically trained by Drs. John and Julie Gottman to provide Gottman Method Couples Therapy.