Manage Marital Conflict-Do affordable online couples counseling

John and Julie Gottman have spent the last 40 years looking at what makes couples happy and what prevents couples from having lasting relationships. What they have found is that happy couples argue at a ratio of 20:1, meaning twenty good exchanges for one argument. Whereas couples in unhappy relationships will argue at a ratio of 5:1 and couples on the verge of separation argue at a ratio of 1:1.

Not only is it important to continually engage in encounters and experiences to strengthen your bond, but it is equally important to learn effective ways of communication and resolving conflict.

Gottman notes that couples that draw on the “Four Horseman” during arguments are more likely to have their relationship end within 5 years of marriage. Also did you know that the first three minutes of your argument will predict it’s outcome.

John Gottman’s Four Horseman

1. Contempt-attacking with an intention to insult
2. Defensiveness- seeing yourself as the victim, blaming partner
3. Criticism- attacking your partner’s personality or character
4. Stonewalling-shutting down all together, going silent, this is the most dangerous of the stances, since couples usually disengage and stop trying to “remedy” their relationship.

A marriage therapist or relationship counselor can be a valuable resource for couples looking to improve their relationship. Through online couples counseling, a licensed therapist can provide guidance and support as you and your partner work through issues such as communication problems, conflicts, and intimacy issues.

One of the key benefits of online couples counseling is the convenience and flexibility it offers. You and your partner can attend sessions from the comfort of your own home, at a time that works for your schedule. This can make it easier to fit counseling into your busy lives and ensure that you are able to prioritize your relationship.

Having specialized training in the Gottman method of couples’ counselling, C2W uses a three step model that comprises of assessment using the Gottman method, feedback of your results and a treatment plan focused on managing the negative patterns of communication in your relationship.

C2W can support you to tackle the negative patterns of conflict resolution in your relationship. We can help you to engage in more effective communication strategies with your partner with our therapy for relationship anxiety. If you naturally hold your partner in contempt, we can support you to learn to appreciate them in moments of tension. If you find yourself getting heated quickly in arguments and reverting to  criticisms, it might be important to learn strategies to have softer start-ups. If you find that you naturally become defensive and are looking to blame your partner for their faults, it will be important to work on  taking responsibility for your actions. If you find that you often feel overwhelmed when in arguments and tend to shut down, it will be important to begin to develop physiological soothing techniques.