Stuck in the same argument on repeat? Feeling more like roommates than partners? Gottman Method couples therapy is built on decades of research to help you reconnect — in English or Farsi.
The Gottman Method is one of the most researched approaches to couples therapy in the world — built on more than 40 years of studying what actually keeps relationships strong. At Dr. Samuel’s downtown Vancouver practice, Gottman-informed couples therapy is offered in English and Farsi, in person and online.
What Is the Gottman Method?
Developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, the method is grounded in decades of research with thousands of couples. The Gottmans were able to predict relationship outcomes with high accuracy by observing how partners handle conflict and connection. The therapy translates those findings into practical, learnable skills — it is structured, goal-oriented, and warm.
Does This Sound Familiar?
You have the same argument over and over without ever resolving it. Conversations slide into criticism, defensiveness, contempt, or shutting down. You feel more like roommates than partners. Parenting, in-laws, or money keep pulling you apart. You still love each other — you just cannot find your way back to closeness. Gottman therapy gives you a map.
The Four Horsemen — and the Antidotes
Gottman research identified four communication patterns that predict relationship breakdown: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. The good news is that each has a specific, teachable antidote — gentle start-up, building a culture of appreciation, taking responsibility, and self-soothing. A large part of the work is learning to spot these patterns in the moment and shift out of them together.
The Sound Relationship House
The Gottman Method builds a relationship like a house, level by level: building love maps (truly knowing each other’s inner world), sharing fondness and admiration, turning toward instead of away, managing conflict, making life dreams come true, and creating shared meaning. We assess where the strain is and rebuild from there.
What to Expect
Gottman therapy usually begins with an assessment — a joint session followed by individual conversations — so we understand your relationship’s strengths and pain points before setting goals together. From there, sessions are practical: you learn and practise skills you can use at home, not just talk about problems. Many couples notice a shift in how conflicts feel within the first several sessions.
Gottman Therapy for Iranian-Canadian Couples
For bicultural and Iranian-Canadian couples, conflict is often layered with cultural expectation, in-law dynamics, gender roles, and the stress of building a life between two worlds. Dr. Samuel offers Gottman-informed therapy in Farsi and English, with a genuine understanding of these pressures — including آبرو, family loyalty, and intergenerational difference.
See also: Couples & Family Therapy | IFS parts work for couples | Farsi Therapist Vancouver
Book a Free Couples Consultation in Vancouver
Start with a free 20-minute consultation to talk about what is happening in your relationship and whether Gottman couples therapy is the right fit.
Call or text: (604) 721-0604
Email: info@drsamuel.ca
Location: Suite 1300, 1500 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC (downtown)
Further Reading
Related services: IFS therapy, healing from a narcissistic or emotionally abusive relationship, and all couples & family services.