The Gottman's Seven Principles Program

The Seven Principles Program is not intended to be couples counseling. We will not discuss individual issues. . It offers in-depth knowledge and insights into the seven principles that can make marriages work, focusing on improving communication, trust, conflict management, and more. Participants in this workshop receive valuable psychoeducation, gaining a deeper understanding of how to nurture and strengthen their relationships based on research-backed techniques and principles. This psychoeducational aspect empowers couples to make informed choices and take proactive steps towards healthier, more fulfilling relationships.

The Gottman Seven

The Gottman Seven Principles Program is designed for all couples in a committed relationship, including:

• Married couples
• Pre-engaged couples (those considering marriage)
• Engaged or Premarital couples (those taking steps towards marriage)
• Every phase of relationships, from newlyweds to senior couples
• Those who wish to enhance an already “good” marriage or relationship
• Those needing better conflict management tools
• Those considering couples therapy but who are not "ready" for weekly therapy yet

Psychoeducational classes are not appropriate for all couples, including those with severe relationship distress, significant emotional or physical abuse, serious emotional or mental health problems, relationships where one or both partners are actively addicted to drugs or alcohol, and relationships with serious compulsive behavior with gambling , sexual acting out, and other disruptive behaviors. Should the presence of these situations be discovered during the class, a referral will be made for individual or couples psychotherapy.

Military/Veterans, First Responders, K-12 Educators, and Counseling Students/Interns  are eligible to save $100. Please email keisha@thejourneytobetter.com for a special discount code. 

Church Organizations are elgible for group discounts. We deeply value the vital work that church organizations do in our communities. Partner with us, and let's work together to bring your church organization's vision to life. We're honored to support your mission. Email keisha@thejourneytobetter.com to claim you special group offer.

Scholarships are occasionally available on an as-needed basis and at varying rates. If you are wishing to attend and are in need of financial assistance, please email keisha@thejourneytobetter.com to inquire about attending at a discounted rate. Only a limited number of scholarships are available for each event and there is no guarantee that a scholarship will be available when you request. 

If you prefer a more intimate presentation tailored just for you and your partner, we've got you covered! Simply email keisha@thejourneytobetter.com to schedule a personalized time that fits your schedule.

• Will we have to share our personal problems and issues with the class?

  No. The class does not include sharing problems or issues publicly. Couples Exercises are done privately.

• Must both partners attend or can I come alone?

  Since the class involves couples doing exercises together, both partners must participate. If the class is offered over a period of time and one partner must miss a particular meeting, then the other partner is encouraged to attend the lecture portion of the class. He or she may use the Couples Exercise time to do part of the exercises and then do the full exercise with your partner later. You may also use exercise time to read the Seven Principles book.

• My partner isn’t a reader. Can we still come to the class if he/she won’t read the book?

  Yes, still come to the class. While the book provides very valuable information, the class lectures will summarize the content of the book. Each person will need a Couples Guide, however, to do the Couples Exercises efficiently.

• Should we do the exercises in the book at home or save them for the class?

  The class will involve doing some of the exercises from the book so doing them first at home would duplicate some of them. In some cases, the directions for doing the exercises in class have been revised and updated from those presented in the Seven Principles book. The Leaders also role-play how to – and how not to – do some of the exercise to help participants get the most out of each exercise. There are some exercises in the book that the class will not have time to do, and couples are encouraged to do them at home after that chapter has been covered in class.