Couples Therapy
Gottman-Informed Approach for Relationship Repair
You’re here because something in your relationship broke — and you’re not sure it can be fixed. Maybe the fights have become routine. Maybe the silence is worse. Either way, you know things can’t stay like this.
We use the research-based Gottman Method to identify exactly what’s eroding your connection — and a direct, accountability-focused approach to help both partners rebuild mutual respect, fairness, and trust.
Further Reading from Our Blog
Explore related articles on relationships, communication patterns, and the research behind couples work:
- The Four Words That Predict Divorce (And What to Do About Them)
- Why Couples Fight About the Same Things Over and Over
- The Difference Between Grief and Depression
- Anxiety vs. Worry: When Normal Stress Becomes a Clinical Problem
Who This Is For
This is couples work for people who are past the point of ‘just communicate better.’ You’ve tried being nicer. You’ve tried date nights. You’ve tried ignoring it. None of it worked because the problem isn’t effort — it’s pattern.
High-income professionals navigating career and relationship balance. Couples where contempt has become a communication habit. Relationships where one or both partners feel things are fundamentally unfair. Couples impacted by major life transitions, infidelity, or external pressure. Partners considering divorce who want clarity before making a final decision.
If both of you are willing to be challenged — not just validated — this approach works. If one of you is looking for an ally against the other, this isn’t the right fit.
What to Expect
Sessions are 50 minutes via secure telehealth, weekly. Couples work is intensive and benefits from consistent momentum — skipping weeks slows progress significantly.
In the first sessions, we observe how you communicate. Not just what you fight about, but how you fight. We’re looking for Gottman’s ‘Four Horsemen’ — criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling — the four communication patterns that predict relationship failure with over 90% accuracy.
Once the patterns are identified, we systematically replace them with research-backed alternatives. This isn’t abstract — it’s concrete behavioral change practiced in session and applied at home.
Most couples see the dynamic shift within 8-10 sessions. That doesn’t mean the work is done — it means the bleeding has stopped and rebuilding can begin.
Our Approach
Gottman Method — identifying the Four Horsemen and replacing them with their antidotes: gentle startup, appreciation, responsibility, and self-soothing. This is the most researched framework in couples therapy.
Fairness Restoration — most couples enter therapy when the relationship no longer feels fair. We help both partners see how the imbalance developed and what needs to change for both people to feel valued.
Narrative Analysis — we listen for how each partner tells the story of the relationship. Do you describe problems as permanent or temporary? Do you remember your history with fondness or contempt? These patterns reveal whether the relationship’s foundation is intact or eroded.
Individual Accountability — couples therapy doesn’t work when both people are waiting for the other to change first. We hold each partner responsible for their own behavior within the system.
Want to understand the research behind the Gottman Method in depth? Read our Psychoeducation deep dive: The Four Horsemen — and What to Do About Them.
Investment
Couples & Family Therapy: $188 per session
Insurance accepted through Headway. Private pay available through SimplePractice.
Most major insurance plans accepted through Headway. Click below to get started — it takes two minutes.
Ready to Start?
The first step is a brief assessment that helps us understand what’s happening in your relationship and whether this approach is the right fit. Both partners don’t need to complete it — one of you starting the conversation is enough.
ShieldMee Inc. · 501(c)(3) Nonprofit · EIN: 33-2242839 · Eduardo Florez, LMHC #MH23066 · Telehealth throughout Florida