Transform Your Relationship with The Gottman Method: Applying the 7 Principles in Your Marriage Story
When it comes to keeping your relationship strong and happy, understanding what makes marriages work is super important. The Gottman Institute has spent decades studying couples, and they've come up with the "7 Principles for Making Marriage Work." This workshop is not your typical marriage counselling session; it's a hands-on experience designed to transform your relationship into something amazing.
What Are the Gottman 7 Principles?
Dr. John Gottman and his wife, Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, have spent years figuring out what makes marriages thrive. They’ve boiled it all down to these seven principles:
Enhance Your Love Maps
Nurture Your Fondness and Admiration
Turn Towards Each Other Instead of Away
Let Your Partner Influence You
Solve Your Solvable Problems
Overcome Gridlock
Create Shared Meaning
These principles cover everything you need to build a strong, healthy relationship.
What Makes This Workshop Different?
The "7 Principles for Making Marriage Work" workshop is all about getting hands-on. Instead of just talking about what makes a relationship work, you'll actually practice it through fun and interactive exercises. Here's a peek at what each principle involves:
Enhance Your Love Maps: You'll dive into activities that help you understand each other's inner worlds. Knowing your partner’s hopes, dreams, and fears builds a strong foundation of friendship and intimacy.
Nurture Your Fondness and Admiration: This principle is all about appreciating each other more deeply. You'll do exercises that help you rekindle the positive feelings that sometimes get buried under daily stress.
Turn Towards Each Other Instead of Away: Learn how to respond to your partner's bids for attention, affection, and support. This principle helps you create a culture of responsiveness and emotional intimacy.
Let Your Partner Influence You: You'll practice mutual respect and decision-making. Sharing power and accepting influence from each other reduces power struggles and fosters equality.
Solve Your Solvable Problems: Conflict resolution is key. You'll get techniques to manage disagreements constructively, focusing on gentle start-ups, repair attempts, and compromise.
Overcome Gridlock: For those deep-rooted issues, you'll learn strategies to understand the underlying dreams and aspirations. This principle helps you approach gridlock with empathy and creativity.
Create Shared Meaning: Finally, you'll explore ways to build a life together that reflects your shared goals and values. This principle helps you establish meaningful rituals, roles, and goals, enhancing your sense of unity.
What to Expect
Joining the "7 Principles for Making Marriage Work" workshop is a great way to invest in your relationship. Here’s what you can expect:
Interactive Learning: The workshop is packed with lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises. You and your partner will work together in real-time, making the learning process engaging and effective.
Personalized Guidance: Even in a group setting, there’s plenty of room for personalized guidance. Facilitators are there to help you apply the principles to your unique situation.
Evidence-Based Techniques: Every exercise and technique is backed by scientific research. The Gottman Institute’s methods have been proven to make lasting positive changes in relationships.
A Supportive Environment: You'll be in a safe and supportive environment where you can share your experiences and challenges openly. This sense of community often helps participants feel less alone in their struggles.
Practical Tools and Resources: You'll get a comprehensive workbook filled with exercises, tips, and strategies to continue the work at home.
The Science Behind It
The power of the "7 Principles for Making Marriage Work" lies in solid scientific research. Dr. John Gottman’s work is famous in relationship science. His studies have identified specific behaviours that predict relationship success with over 90% accuracy.
The principles in this workshop have been shown to:
Increase relationship satisfaction
Reduce conflict and negative interactions
Enhance emotional and physical intimacy
Strengthen the overall bond between partners
Final Thoughts
Couples who’ve participated often say it was a turning point in their relationship. They feel more connected, understood, and ready to handle future challenges together.
Investing in your marriage is one of the best decisions you can make. The "7 Principles for Making Marriage Work" workshop offers a unique, hands-on, and evidence-based approach to strengthening your relationship. Whether you’re newlyweds or have been together for years, this workshop can help you build a resilient, joyful partnership.
