How Does Couples Therapy Work with Mandy?

Mandy is a therapist in Texas and utilizes The Gottman Method's Sound Relationship House (SRH) theory to guide couples toward more fulfilling relationships. This method is backed by over 40 years of research on Marriage and relationships with over 3000 couples (one group for over 20 years). Utilizing this data, John Gottman (one of the creators of the Gottman Method) can predict divorce with 93.6% accuracy. This approach is highly structured and targeted which efficiently addresses specific SRH levels each composed of a key relational element.  Mandy uses this approach to equip couples with new skills and enhance their relationships from the very first session.

The Process

1. Schedule a Confidential Consultation:

The first step on your journey is to schedule a confidential, free 15-minute consultation with Mandy. Both partners must attend this meeting which provides you an opportunity to meet Mandy, ask questions, and ultimately determine if the approach aligns with your needs. Mandy will inquire about each person's goals and needs in couples therapy during this brief consultation.

2. Initial Session:

Once the consultation is complete, you can schedule the first session using Calendly. Mandy will email you a unique link that you can use to chose a time that works for you. This 50-minute session consists of the couple interview which allows you to share your unique love story. The couple interview may span multiple sessions, especially if there's a significant relationship history.

3. Gottman Relationship Assessments:

Once the couple interview is complete, Mandy will send a link for each partner to individually complete the Gottman Relationship Assessments. These results are kept private between you and Mandy. Mandy will use the results from these assessments to custom-tailor the interventions to your unique relationship's needs.

4. Individual Interviews:

Individual interviews with each partner allow Mandy to delve deeper into each partner's individual goals, hopes, dreams and address any questions she may have that arose from assessment results. Insights gained here assist Mandy in prioritizing interventions, leading to faster relief from problems, increased relationship satisfaction, and fewer sessions.

5. Constructing the Sound Relationship House:

Utilizing insights from the couple interview, assessments, and individual interviews, Mandy constructs the SRH for each couple. The SRH highlights unique strengths (green areas), successful aspects (yellow areas), and targeted areas for improvement (red areas). Mandy then tailors a plan for each intervention, which is emailed to the couple with a copy of their unique Sound Relationship House. The goal in the SRH is to turn red areas yellow. Yellow is actually the goal. Having a solid yellow house is a wonderful thing to have! Here are some examples: 

6. Follow the Therapy Plan:

The course of therapy then follows the customized plan to address the target (red) areas systematically. Throughout the course of therapy, Mandy continually assesses progress, adapting the approach based on what works, and what doesn't resulting in faster relief from problems and increased relational satisfaction. At this point in therapy, as one area is targeted, often some of the smaller problems begin to magically dissolve on their own which speeds up the therapeutic process leading to faster graduation rates. For example by targeting the Manage Conflict SRH level by improving communication skills and conflict management skills, often The Positive Perspective, Share Fondness and Admiration, Trust, and Creating Shared Meaning begin to improve on their own without any direct interventions. These sections dissolve from the therapy plan's to-do list on their own resulting in fewer sessions needed to graduate from therapy. It's really pretty neat. 

In therapy, we mostly talk about what you want going forward and how to get there. Sometimes we do have to discuss hard things in session, but we discuss it in a way that keeps the blame and criticism out so the conversation remains constructive and supportive. This allows us to keep our eyes on the prize - graduation from therapy with your best, healthiest relationship. When Mandy gives couples homework, it is most often a lighthearted date with a topic of conversation or a thing to do that increases the bond between the couple. All conversations and all homework serve one general purpose - to help the couple grow closer together. 

7. Couple's Therapy Graduation:

Once couples complete the therapy plan, they can graduate from therapy equipped with newfound skills to lead their best relational lives. Some choose to retake assessments to witness the therapeutic upgrades in their Sound Relationship House as a testament to their growth and success. A few couples have chosen to frame these and hang them in their home. If this is something that you would like to do, Mandy would be very happy to build out your new SRH. 

If you're ready to embark on a transformative journey towards a healthier relationship, schedule a session with Mandy today. Your best relational life awaits!