Chris James Cognetta, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor | Claimed

A vital form of therapy, marriage, or couples, counseling helps couples both identify and resolve conflicts and other issues that are contributing to problems in their relationship. Therapists teach the couples how to better communicate their feelings and work together to develop coping strategies. Marriage counseling often helps couples renew their initial commitment to each other and rebuild their relationship. However, counselors also can help couples define the reasons why they need to separate or even end the marriage.

The Gottman Method was developed by Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman in the 1980s. It is an evidence based form of couples therapy that strives to assist couples in achieving a deeper sense of understanding, awareness, empathy, and connectedness within their relationships that ultimately leads to heightened intimacy and interpersonal growth. By combining therapeutic interventions with couples exercises, this type of therapy helps couples identify and address the natural defenses that hinder effective communication and bonding.