Curriculum

Day One Outline:

The Research: What Makes Relationships Succeed or Fail?

• What is different about Gottman Method Couples Therapy?
• What is dysfunctional about relationships when they are ailing?
• The “Masters” and the “Disasters” of relationships.  Exploding some common myths.
• Negative and Positive sentiment overrides
• Friendship, Intimacy, Positive Affect Systems
• The Shared Meaning System
• From a checklist to The Sound Relationship House Theory

How to Assess a Relationship:

Introduction to Intervention

• Philosophy of the therapy – Six assumptions

The Assessment Sessions:

• Session 1:
  • Couple’s Narrative
  • Oral history interview
  • Conflict evaluation
  • Discuss the Shared Meaning System
  • Preparing the couple for Individual Sessions
  • Written Questionnaires
• Session 2: Individual Interviews
• Session 3: Therapeutic Contract – Discussing and Deciding about Goals
  • Summary of strengths and areas that need improvement
  • Treatment Planning
• Demonstration films

Day Two Outline:

Introduction to Intervention

• Philosophy of the therapy – Six assumptions

Conflict Management

• Rapoport Intervention and demonstration film
• Ending the Four Horsemen, Dealing with Flooding and demonstration film
• Dreams within Conflict Intervention and demonstration film
• Building the Basic Skills
  • Softened Startup
  • Accepting Influence
  • Repair and De-escalation
  • Physiological Soothing
  • Compromise
• Aftermath of a Fight or Regrettable Incident and demonstration film

Building Friendship and Shared Meaning

• Build Love Maps and demonstration film
• Turn Towards: The Stress-Reducing Conversation and demonstration film
• Build Rituals of Connection and demonstration film
• Create Shared Meaning and demonstration film

Process of the Therapy
Summary
What’s Next: Additional Training