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| Unit | INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES |
| GUIDANCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING (MASTER) (WITH THESIS) | |
| Code | PDR720 |
| Name | Gottman Approach in Couples Therapy |
| Term | 2026-2027 Academic Year |
| Term | Fall and Spring |
| Duration (T+A) | 3-0 (T-A) (17 Week) |
| ECTS | 6 ECTS |
| National Credit | 3 National Credit |
| Teaching Language | Türkçe |
| Level | Belirsiz |
| Type | Normal |
| Mode of study | Yüz Yüze Öğretim |
| Catalog Information Coordinator | Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Sümbül YALNIZCA YILDIRIM |
| Course Instructor |
The current term course schedule has not been prepared yet.
|
Course Goal / Objective
he aim of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical foundations, empirical research findings, and clinical applications of the Gottman Method Couples Therapy model developed by John Gottman. It also seeks to enhance students’ skills in assessing couple relationships, developing case formulations, and designing effective intervention plans.
Course Content
This course covers the theoretical foundations, research findings, and clinical applications of the Gottman Method Couples Therapy developed by John Gottman. Within the scope of the course, core components of the model—particularly the Sound Relationship House theory—are examined, along with emotional bonding processes, communication patterns, and conflict management in couple relationships. Additionally, dysfunctional interaction patterns known as the “Four Horsemen” (criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling) are analyzed. The course also addresses assessment procedures, case formulation, and intervention techniques through applied examples. Throughout the course, students are expected to develop Gottman-based couples therapy skills through case analysis, role-playing, and supervision practices.
Course Precondition
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Resources
John Gottman & Nan Silver – The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work John Gottman – What Makes Love Last?
Notes
The Gottman Institute publications Recent academic articles (peer-reviewed journals)
Course Learning Outcomes
| Order | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| LO01 |
Relation with Program Learning Outcome
| Order | Type | Program Learning Outcomes | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLO01 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | On the basis of the Educational Sciences BA degree qualificatons, improves his/her knowledge in the same field at the level of expertise. | 5 |
| PLO02 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | Understands the multi-dimensional causes of a problem and evaluates the problem as a whole | 4 |
| PLO03 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | Analyzes a scientific article in the field of educational sciences. | 5 |
| PLO04 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | Uses the theoretical and practical knowledge s/he gained at the level of expertise in the field of educational sciences. | 5 |
| PLO05 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | Uses and develops individual assessment techniques. | 3 |
| PLO06 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | Solves a problem in the context of educational sciences in a scientific perspective. | 4 |
| PLO07 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | Guides the graduates of the field of educational sciencies within the framework of the knowledge and experiences that specialized training provides. | 5 |
| PLO08 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | Gains knowledge and experience about the appliations which can make the field of expertise functional in educational field. | 4 |
| PLO09 | Beceriler - Bilişsel, Uygulamalı | Integrates the theoretical knowledge within the scope of the field of educational sciences with the field of application. | 5 |
| PLO10 | Beceriler - Bilişsel, Uygulamalı | Takes responsibility for solving the problems at the local and national level during the educational science-oriented applications. | 5 |
| PLO11 | Yetkinlikler - Bağımsız Çalışabilme ve Sorumluluk Alabilme Yetkinliği | Communicates effectively and properly with students, teachers, school administrators, and members of families and working group. | 4 |
| PLO12 | Yetkinlikler - Bağımsız Çalışabilme ve Sorumluluk Alabilme Yetkinliği | Has a good command of foreign language to be able to follow the foreign resources related to the field. | 4 |
| PLO13 | Yetkinlikler - Bağımsız Çalışabilme ve Sorumluluk Alabilme Yetkinliği | Informs his/her colleagues about the processes regarding the field of expertise and conclusions reached. | 3 |
| PLO14 | Yetkinlikler - Bağımsız Çalışabilme ve Sorumluluk Alabilme Yetkinliği | Uses the different statistical techniques and information and communication technologies that s/he needs in the field of expertise. | 1 |
| PLO15 | Yetkinlikler - Bağımsız Çalışabilme ve Sorumluluk Alabilme Yetkinliği | Provides the support of the institution employees to make the applications concerning educational sciences successful. | 3 |
| PLO16 | Yetkinlikler - Öğrenme Yetkinliği | Identifies the sources of the problems in the field of educational sciences and contributes to the solution of these problems. | 5 |
| PLO17 | Yetkinlikler - Öğrenme Yetkinliği | Provides the cooperation of all partners in educational environment stating the necessity of the field of expertise. | 5 |
| PLO18 | Yetkinlikler - Öğrenme Yetkinliği | Assesses the necessities which reveal through the applications related to the field of expertise in a critical way. | 5 |
| PLO19 | Yetkinlikler - Öğrenme Yetkinliği | Develops internalized knowledge in the field of expertise and the related disciplines at the level of expertise. | 5 |
| PLO20 | Yetkinlikler - Öğrenme Yetkinliği | Makes prediction about the partner behaviors through the applications concerning the field of expertise. | 5 |
Week Plan
| Week | Topic | Preparation | Methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course introduction, scope, and expectations | Review of the course content and references | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap |
| 2 | Overview of couples therapy and ethics | Review of relevant literature and preparation for the topic | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 3 | History and Research Foundations of the Gottman Approach | Review of relevant literature and preparation for the topic | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Soru-Cevap, Anlatım, Tartışma |
| 4 | Sound Relationship House Model | Review of relevant literature and preparation for the topic | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Soru-Cevap, Tartışma, Anlatım |
| 5 | Love Maps and Emotional Connection | Review of relevant literature and preparation for the topic | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 6 | Communication Patterns | Review of relevant literature and preparation for the topic | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 7 | The Four Horsemen and Relationship-Damaging Processes | Review of relevant literature and preparation for the topic | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 8 | Mid-Term Exam | Midterm exam preparation | Ölçme Yöntemleri: Yazılı Sınav |
| 9 | Conflict management | Review of relevant literature and preparation for the topic | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma, Rol Oynama |
| 10 | Emotional regulation and physiology | Review of relevant literature and preparation for the topic | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Soru-Cevap, Anlatım, Tartışma, Benzetim, Beyin Fırtınası |
| 11 | Gottman assessment process | Review of relevant literature and preparation for the topic | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma, Benzetim |
| 12 | Intervention techniques | Review of relevant literature and preparation for the topic | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Soru-Cevap, Anlatım, Tartışma, Rol Oynama |
| 13 | Intervention techniques | Review of relevant literature and preparation for the topic | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma, Gösterip Yaptırma |
| 14 | Intervention techniques | Review of relevant literature and preparation for the topic | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma, Gösterip Yaptırma |
| 15 | Case analysis | Review of relevant literature and preparation for the topic | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma, Rol Oynama, Benzetim |
| 16 | Term Exams | Exam preparation | Ölçme Yöntemleri: Yazılı Sınav |
| 17 | Term Exams | Exam preparation | Ölçme Yöntemleri: Yazılı Sınav |
Student Workload - ECTS
| Works | Number | Time (Hour) | Workload (Hour) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Related Works | |||
| Class Time (Exam weeks are excluded) | 14 | 3 | 42 |
| Out of Class Study (Preliminary Work, Practice) | 14 | 5 | 70 |
| Assesment Related Works | |||
| Homeworks, Projects, Others | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mid-term Exams (Written, Oral, etc.) | 1 | 15 | 15 |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 30 |
| Total Workload (Hour) | 157 | ||
| Total Workload / 25 (h) | 6,28 | ||
| ECTS | 6 ECTS | ||