Humanities Homework Help

The Gottman Method of couple therapy is firmly grounded in research on couple relationships. It is an integrative approach that incorporates elements of many different theories and therapy types (Gottman & Gottman, 2009). Underlying this therapy, and supported by decades of research, is the Sound Relationship House Theory. This theory outlines the seven building blocks that Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman believe are the essential components of a sound relationship. Out of this theory, the Gottmans have developed assessments and interventions that helping professionals can use with couples to guide them toward better friendship, intimacy, positive affect, constructive ways of dealing with conflict, and the creation of shared meaning, which are all parts of the Sound Relationship House Theory.

For this Discussion, you concentrate not on treatment planning and specific interventions from the Gottman Method, but how it is different, as a whole, from the therapies and theories you have explored in this course. You also examine the unique opportunities that this method presents for integration.

By Day 4

Post an explanation of how the Gottman Method of couple therapy and its underlying Sound Relationship House Theory differs from the therapies and theories you have studied thus far. Then, describe one quality or principle of the Gottman Method that presents opportunities for integration into your main theoretical orientation in your future practice. Be specific and explain.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the resources.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

By Day 6

Respond to two of your colleagues’ postings in one or more of the following ways:

Ask a probing question.

Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.

Offer and support an opinion.

Make a suggestion.

Expand on your colleague’s posting.

Colleague 1:Shaunda 

Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is considered using a related approaches such as experiential therapy, systemic therapy, and attachment therapy while providing psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and families (Bell, et. al, 2018). EFT is all about helping those express their emotions and helping others understand those emotions. There are three main goals to accomplish when using EFT, deescalate the negative interaction cycle between partners; reengage the typically withdrawn partner; and to soften the way the blaming partner engages in relational interactions (Bell, et. al., 2018).  Using EFT is to help couples build and regain trust with one another for their relationship to succeed and to continue to grow together (Gurman, Lebow, & Snyder, 2015). 

• A challenge can be establishing a healthy relationship with both clients. This can be difficult as one of the clients or even both may be reluctant to open because they feel as though I would not side with them in their dispute. Building a good rapport is essential in having both clients to feel comfortable and to freely express their emotions. One way to build a good rapport is to be direct, open, and honest. This can be done by letting the clients know that I am not here to choose who is right and who is wrong. This may need to be done on individual sessions to gain a good understanding of how each of the clients feel and then come together to help them explain to one another each of their feelings and to find a common ground to build their relationship.  
• Bell, C. A., Denton, W. H., Martin, G., Coffey, A. D., Hanks, C. O., Cornwell, C. S., & Priest, J. B. (2018). Learning emotionally focused couple therapy: Four clinicians’ perspectives. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 17(1), 61-78. 
• Gurman, A. S., Lebow, J. L., Snyder, D. K. (2015). Clinical handbook of couple therapy. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
• Colleague 2:  Jessica
• an explanation of how the Gottman Method of couple therapy and its underlying Sound Relationship House Theory differs from the therapies and theories you have studied thus far. 

Gottman’s therapy is unique in that it is one of the studies that was invested in finding out why marriages were successful or not. The couples in the studies involved heterosexual couples as well as homosexual couples. Gottman and Levenson developed a theory of how relationships function well or fail, and methods to change unsuccessful areas through psychoeducational, preventive, and therapeutic interventions. Gottman and Levenson studied over 700 couples throughout the course of life over 20 years without using interventions. The Gottman Therapy was unique in having an ability to predict divorce or stability with accuracy and an ability to predict eventual relationship satisfaction among newlywed couples (Gurman et al., 2015) 

Then, describe one quality or principle of the Gottman Method that presents opportunities for integration into your main theoretical orientation in your future practice. Be specific and explain. 

One quality of Gottman therapy that I could incorporate into my theoretical orientation is the 7 levels of sound house theory. I enjoyed this aspect of the theory because it’s like a map to a healthy relationship. I could really see myself using this as a guide in session because it seems really realistic and helpful for couples counseling. 

references

Gurman, A. S., Lebow, J. L., Snyder, D. K. (2015). Clinical handbook of couple therapy. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.