Gottman Referral Network

About

Common concerns to address in couples therapy include:

- Communication challenges, such as not feeling heard or understood
- Conflict avoidance, or fear of bringing things up, which can lead to distance and loneliness
- High conflict, when casual conversation can rapidly escalate into a cycle of defensiveness and reactivity
- Challenges with equity in distribution of duties
- Anxious attachment, avoidant attachment
- Desire discrepancy
- Different sexual preferences, sexual incompatibility, or alternative interests
- Dry spells and dead bedrooms
- Queer couples / same sex couples / LGBTQIA+
- Navigating open relationship structures, such as ENM and polyamory
- Broken relationship agreements
- Affair recovery / betrayal trauma
- Desire to feel more connection, more like partners on the same team

Approach

Adrien has completed Gottman level 3 and is pursuing certification. Her approach to working with couples is clear, structured, and relatively short-term. She presents as a strong leader in sessions in order to prioritize emotional safety. Adrien steers the ship so you don’t have to. She provides direct feedback and holds each partner accountable for behaviors that are derailing the relationship. Adrien remains focused on teaching each person effective communication skills that they can use at home. The goal of couples therapy is to build a sustainable future together. Partners will graduate from couples therapy with a stronger connection and better skills for navigating conflict.

When Adrien starts working with a new couple, she first meets with them together, then meets with each person once individually (to truly understand their perspective and side of things) and then continues with couples sessions from that point forward.

A thorough assessment helps each partner to feel understood and confident that their most important concerns are being prioritized in the couples therapy process.

Special populations

LGBT, sexual concerns, non-traditional relationship structures, rebuilding trust