Gay and Lesbian Therapy for Healing Same-Sex Relationships

Listen to this article

The recent analysis of dynamics in relationships reveals how much we are shifting towards a more open society where same-sex relationships are free to marry, especially in the United States.

That said, it is important to consider that there is a strong need to develop an evidence-based lesbian therapy method, based on studies of lesbian relationships so that same-sex marriages can also find the resources and support to help them successfully navigate married life.

Thankfully, more recent researches have attempted to look at whether or not any previously established therapy methods would be effective for same-sex couples.   Such research has been undertaken by collaborations between Salvatore Garanzini, Alapaki Yee, and  Drs. John and Julie Gottman along with many other certified Gottman Therapists.

Their research has led us to realize significant results that are beneficial in establishing gay and lesbian therapy methods.

The Gottman Method Couples Therapy

One of the noticeable things about the Gottman Method is that research is carried out by assessing the research couples arguments, which makes this method very intriguing and popular.

This is because when couples fight, Gottman therapists witness a number of relationship dynamics that couples don’t usually pay attention to. Such as:

• Factors that could make or break their marriage/relationship.
• How expressive a couple is of their feelings during the fights.
• What kind of expressions are being used during a fight (both verbal and non-verbal)?
• How willing a couple is to compromise and find common ground during a fight, etc.

Aside from the previously mentioned, the Gottman Method also looked at the friendship/shared intimacy and the shared meaning between the couples which are raised depending on what the couples seek therapy for.

The results of the interventions deployed using the Gottman Method Couples Therapy showed that there is so much improvement,  that occurs during therapy.

Therapy shows results at a faster rate when compared to heterosexual couples who underwent the same therapy method.

Another significant outcome from this study was that even couples in a relationship where addiction is present (one or both partners) showed considerable improvement after the therapy sessions.

Gottman and co’s study, being the first of its kind, is a proud revelation that same-sex couples can improve from therapy sessions at a significantly faster rate and at a significantly lesser time than most heterosexual couples undergoing the same therapy method.

Why GMCT works as a Lesbian Therapy

We acknowledge how much Gottman Method Couples Therapy (GMCT) works for heterosexual and lesbian relationships as well.

More importantly, we can learn from the following reason why this type of therapy probably worked:

Aside from looking at the relationship dynamics of heterosexual couples over the course of more than 20 years, Dr. John Gottman along with his colleague Dr. Robert Levenson studied gay and lesbian couples over the course of 12 years.

In their research, they discovered that gay and lesbian couples are more expressive and more positive in times of conflict.

This makes it easier for them to be more positive when their partner says something positive towards them and a little more lenient when their partner says something negative towards them. The negative is not taken too personally.

It could also be assumed from this that same-sex couples tend to be more positive post-conflict.

One thing is made certain from this research: Gottman Method Couples Therapy is an evidence-based relationship therapy that could be replicated as a lesbian therapy that will help lesbian couples address their relationship issues and grow their relationship.

The gay couples Institute for Lesbian Therapy

The biggest and most relevant outcome from the Salvatore Garanzini and Alapaki Yee study is the establishment of the Gay Couples Institute.

Not only are they open to offering counseling for gay couples, but they also help out lesbian couples who come in for therapy sessions too.

Through their research, they discovered just how effective it was to make use of the Gottman Method Couples Therapy as a treatment for gay and lesbian couples’ relationship distresses.

Gay Couples Institute (GCI) was also founded on the emerging need to have a more results-based therapy for same-sex couples–something that would also empower gay and lesbian relationships alike; a therapy or institute where same-sex couples’ relationship struggles were validated.

The Gay Couples Institute also has a team of researchers who reviewed couples who have received treatments from the institute. This is also supportive of their initial findings during the research phase before the establishment of GCI.

The bottom line

Whether the success of therapy was from the use of Gottman Method Couples Therapy (GMCT) or whether the improvements were based on the level of commitment couples have for each other, it is then, very recommendable for couples whether they’re gay or lesbians, to consider undergoing GMCT as a method to mend or improve their relationships.

GCI aims to create more therapy centers where gays and lesbians alike would feel safe to divulge their relationship issues without the feeling of being reprimanded.