Couples Workshop? Gottman Art and Science of Love or other rec?
Has anyone ever taken the Gottman Art and Science of Love couples workshop? What was your experience? Or have you taken a different workshop that you would recommend? I am not looking for a full time couples therapy situation, but just a class or workshop that could help build some good communication skills. There is more stress since our child was born and we could use some good tools.
Aug 7, 2018
Parent Replies
Greetings...My husband and I took the workshop in Seattle last year with John and Julie Gottman. It was worthwhile in my opinion, and my workshop-resistant husband seemed to get a lot out of it., too. The venue was large--a formal conference room--but somehow they managed to make it feel intimate for the partner work. (There were break out sessions for all paired work, and you could find a comfortable nook to work in. Volunteers wandered around and assisted people.) The content is accessible and really useful. It's aimed at getting you and your partner to recognize common threats to relationships (The Four Horsemen) and offers strategies to improve communication. And most importantly, lots of practice. I would STRONGLY recommend that before you take the Gottman Workshop, you and your husband sit down together and decide when you will spend 30-45 minutes together each week to follow up, use the exercises and create new communication traditions. Like most couples work, the benefit is minimal if you don't keep it up. But yes, totally worth it in my opinion. Good luck, dear parent.