Psychotherapy Modalities
Relational Life Therapy (RLT)
Relational Life Therapy was created by leading couples therapist Terry Real. RLT is known for sparking profound and lasting change in clients by helping them heal from past relational trauma while building intimate connections with others. RLT has a heavy focus on education and skill building as it strives to equip couples with lifelong tools. The thought behind RLT is to live fully-connected and fearlessly authentic lives.
RLT differs from some other forms of couples therapy as it breaks many traditional rules of therapy. Your RLT therapist will help you to go deep quickly and help clients make rapid and significant changes. RLT therapists and coaches are honest, open and real. Your RLT therapist will often challenge the client to see their current relational stance and understand how this stance is keeping the couple stuck.
RLT works in a sequenced pattern working to understand the current relational pattern, uncover individual stances, help each partner shift to a new relational stance, and then rework the couple’s communication through skill-building. RLT sets the bar high for clients expecting rapid and often dramatic change in a fairly short period of time. RLT therapy is a short-term form of couples therapy with most couples attending between 10-12 sessions.
RLT is a good choice for couples who respond well to a structured plan and practical advice. If you enjoy people giving you direct feedback and want your therapist to be up-front and open about what they see, RLT is likely a good fit for you.
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a popular, evidence-based approach to couples therapy created by Dr. Sue Johnson. EFT draws primarily from attachment theory to facilitate secure and vibrant connection with self and others. EFT is based on the science of emotions and attachment theory. EFT helps clients identify and change the negative processing and interaction patterns that create conflict. EFT is effective in treating couples, individuals, and even families addressing a wide variety of issues from marital conflict to individual trauma and anxiety.
EFT helps clients to develop emotional awareness and intelligence, helping therapists to guide clients in seeing and expressing their emotional needs more effectively. By building a secure attachment, EFT allows clients to respond to their partners in more constructive ways.
Therapists trained in EFT will help clients to better understand their hidden or more primary emotions. The therapist will then help the clients share these emotions from a place of vulnerability. EFT is based on the idea that new more functional patterns are created when partners share from a more open and vulnerable place. Once partners begin to share in this new way, they are forming a more secure attachment and building a new way of relating. EFT therapy is a short-term style of therapy with most couples attending between 12-14 sessions.
EFT is a good choice for couples who have good emotional awareness and are willing to sharing their thoughts and feelings from an open place.
Gottman Couples Therapy
Gottman Couples Therapy was developed with over 50 years of research by Drs. John and Julie Gottman. The Gottmans have developed a unique approach to relationship wellness and therapy. Gottman resources, courses, and insights are crafted to empower couples with practical tools, evidence-based techniques, and the understanding needed to navigate the challenges of modern relationships. Gottman therapists will spend time educating clients on many areas ranging from what dysfunctional patterns of operating look like for struggling couples to what healthier couples tend to do that works. One of the popular teachings from Gottman therapy is the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse which include criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling. A Gottman trained therapist will help you see which of the horsemen are plaguing your relationship and will offer antidotes to change this dynamic.
Gottman therapy starts with both partners taking a relationship assessment, meeting conjointly with the therapist, and then having individual meetings. At that time the couple and their therapist determine what needs to be worked on and outline a plan to do this work. Gottman therapy is another short-term type of therapy with most couples attending between 6 and 12 sessions.
Gottman therapy is a good choice for couples who respond well to study-backed information and who appreciate a large element of teaching and skill building incorporated into their couples therapy.