For Adults

Where was their money going? Emma asked Wayne about the cash withdrawals from their checking account. He had been taking clients out to dinner, he said. He looked down to his feet. She forgot about it. A week later, she learned where the money had gone when his mother called. Would Emma get Wayne to stop giving it to his

Mike brought home books and erotica, hoping to turn his wife on. Lynne felt more pressure to have sex. He wanted sex several times a week. For her, once every other week was enough. Feeling rejected, Mike became more insistent. His frustration grew; her desire dwindled. By the time they attended a Gottman workshop, neither knew how to resolve the

Did they really need the camping gear? She has been looking through the checking account. The extra expenses will leave them tight again this month. He reminds her of the weekend they have planned with another family. The children needed sleeping bags. Besides, are they supposed to stop having fun? By the end of the discussion, she has a proposal:

If your partner has ever told you to calm down in the middle of an argument, you may have wanted to ask: why do I have to stop being upset before you’ll listen? Here is what John and Julie Gottman have shown: we can learn to argue differently without first becoming different people—and feel understood even when we disagree. John

Ten ways partners can break trust Gottman identifies ten forms of betrayal beyond a sexual affair. Some involve concealment. Others happen in full view, so often that a couple may stop questioning them. 1. Conditional commitment. A partner stays while continuing to look for someone better. The other person may keep trying to resolve individual disagreements without realizing how uncertain

If you’re a therapist using the Gottman Method to work with couples, you know how encouraging it can feel when you introduce a new concept that helps partners develop a shared understanding of the patterns that keep getting them into trouble. Maybe you’ve just explained flooding, and for the first time, your clients have language to describe what happens when

Key Takeaways:  Regular check-ins prevent partners from slipping into “roommate mode” by prioritizing emotional connection over daily schedules. Addressing micro-frictions weekly stops minor annoyances from hardening into resentment. Regular check-ins provide a predictable, safe container that helps maintain emotional safety. Simple, consistent prompts build a lasting foundation of empathy and mutual understanding without requiring formal couples counseling. Relationships need nurturing