after the honeymoon with Laura Meyer

Gottman Methods Couples Therapy (GMCT) is an evidence-based approach with over forty years of research on couples interactive patterns that are highly predictive of relationship failure and divorce. Beyond the diagnosis, GMCT also offer solutions—evidence-based interventions that are effective in reducing conflict, building friendship and restoring passion, and bringing shared meaning into your relationship. Their model—The Sound Relationship House (SRH) is built on Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, seeking to build and rebuild your relationship through 3 important blueprints:

• The Friendship and Intimacy Blueprint (SRH Levels 1-4)
• The Conflict Blueprint (SRH Level 5)
• The Shared Meaning Blueprint (SRH Levels 6-7)

• Evidence-based and effective: It is supported by extensive research that has proven its effectiveness in helping couples improve satisfaction and conflict resolution.
• Structured and focused: The method follows a specific process, which keeps therapy focused and motivated. An initial assessment helps create a customized plan tailored to the couple's unique needs and challenges.
• Focus on practical skills: It teaches concrete skills and strategies couples can use outside of therapy, such as managing conflict, increasing fondness and admiration, and building shared meaning.
• Addresses a wide range of issues: The therapy helps couples improve communication, build trust, enhance intimacy, and create a stronger friendship within their relationship.
• Empowers couples for the long term: The goal is to provide couples with the tools to handle future ups and downs, helping them become "masters" of their own relationship.
• Normalizes conflict: It helps couples understand that conflict is a normal part of a relationship and teaches them how to manage it effectively, rather than letting it lead to distance or breakdown. 

• 67% of all first marriages fail
• 60% of all second marriages fail 
• 73 % of all third marriages fail 
• Every 13 seconds a divorce happens in the United States

• 69% of relationship challenges are perpetual problems, not solvable — they require a deeper exploration to improve understanding,  rather than a “fix.”
   
• 94% of relationship failures are linked to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling.
   
• 86% of divorces are driven by Contempt, the strongest predictor of separation — it communicates moral superiority and disrespect, sending a condescending message: “I’m better than you.”).
   
• 16% of perpetual issues become gridlocked, rooted in core differences in personality, values, beliefs, goals, and lifelong dreams.

• 5:1 is the Magic Ratio for stable, thriving couples — known as the Masters. For every moment of tension or complaint, there are at least five positive interactions (a compliment, smile, shared laugh, gentle touch, or appreciation).
   
• 20:1 is where the Masters excel — during everyday, non-conflict moments, happy couples maintain an even higher positive-to-negative ratio, continuously depositing into their Emotional Bank Account.
   
• 0.8:1 is typical of unhappy or unstable couples — known as the Disasters — where negative interactions outweigh positive ones, leaving the Emotional Bank Account depleted or in emotional overdraft.