Gottman Therapy in Elsternwick

Even strong relationships can fall into difficult patterns. Arguments become repetitive. Small moments turn tense. One partner withdraws while the other pushes harder to be heard. Over time, the relationship can begin to feel less like a place of safety and more like something both people are trying to survive.

At Your Psychologist in Elsternwick, Franco Greco offers Gottman therapy for couples who want to better understand their relationship patterns, reduce conflict and rebuild emotional connection. This approach is practical, structured and evidence-based, helping couples move beyond blame and towards clearer communication, deeper understanding and healthier ways of responding to one another.

Gottman therapy isn’t about deciding who is right or wrong; it’s about identifying the patterns that keep a couple stuck, then building the skills and insight needed to create a more secure and satisfying relationship.

What Actually is Gottman Therapy?

Gottman therapy is a respected approach to couples counselling developed through decades of research into what helps relationships thrive, and what causes them to break down. It looks closely at how couples communicate, manage conflict, repair after arguments, build friendship, maintain intimacy and create shared meaning in their lives together.

One of the best-known parts of the Gottman Method is the concept of the “Four Horsemen”, which refers to four communication patterns that can seriously damage a relationship over time:

• Criticism
• Defensiveness
• Contempt
• Stonewalling

These patterns can appear in many relationships, particularly during periods of stress, resentment or emotional disconnection. The aim of therapy is not to shame either partner for falling into these habits, but to recognise them clearly and replace them with healthier alternatives.

How Gottman Therapy Can Help Couples

Couples often come to therapy when they feel caught in the same argument again and again. Sometimes the issue appears to be communication, parenting, sex, money, trust or household responsibilities. More often, the deeper issue is that both partners are longing to feel heard, respected, understood and emotionally safe.

Through Gottman therapy in Elsternwick, Franco helps couples slow these patterns down and understand what is really happening underneath the conflict. Sessions may focus on:

• Improving communication and listening skills
• Reducing criticism, defensiveness and emotional shutdown
• Learning how to repair after arguments
• Rebuilding trust and emotional closeness
• Understanding each partner’s needs, triggers and vulnerabilities
• Managing conflict without damaging the relationship
• Strengthening friendship, affection and shared goals

Gottman therapy can be helpful for couples at many different stages, whether you’re dating, engaged, married, rebuilding after a rupture or simply wanting to strengthen your connection before issues become more entrenched.

A Schema-Informed Approach to Gottman Therapy

Franco integrates the Gottman Method with Schema Therapy, allowing couples to understand not only what is happening between them, but also why certain patterns feel so powerful.

A lot of relationship conflicts are intensified by old schemas, attachment wounds or unmet emotional needs. One person may fear abandonment and become anxious when their partner withdraws. Another may have learned to cope by shutting down, avoiding conflict or becoming defensive. Someone with unrelenting standards may become critical without realising how painful that feels to their partner.

By combining Schema Therapy with Gottman therapy, sessions can address both the practical communication patterns and the deeper emotional drivers underneath them. This makes therapy more than a set of relationship tools. It becomes a way to understand yourself, your partner and the dynamic you create together.

Work with a Gottman Psychologist in Elsternwick

Working with a Gottman psychologist in Elsternwick can help you and your partner move out of reactive cycles and into more constructive conversations. At Your Psychologist, Franco provides a calm, respectful and balanced space where both partners can speak honestly, feel heard and begin working towards meaningful change. The goal is to help you build a relationship that feels safer, more connected and more resilient, even when life is stressful or conflict arises.

Book a Gottman therapy appointment today

If you and your partner feel stuck, disconnected or unsure how to move forward, Gottman therapy may be able to help. With the right support, it’s possible to understand the patterns behind your conflict, rebuild trust and strengthen the emotional foundation of your relationship. To learn more about Gottman therapy in Elsternwick or to book an appointment with Franco Greco, please contact Your Psychologist today.