Sarah Rattray, Ph.D.: Couples and Marriage Counseling in Seattle Area

With You as a Couple I will want to hear where you are stuck in your relationship, and what your goals and dreams are for a good relationship. I will help you in three main areas to:

1) Increase and rebuild the friendship, good feelings, and mutual respect between the two of you;

2) Improve your conflict regulation skills on problems you can solve, help you understand and talk about the difficult problems you are really stuck on, and decrease harmful, painful interactions; and

3) Create or rediscover the shared meanings, values and dreams between you that make a relationship rich and fulfilling.

As a Senior Faculty Member with the Gottman Marriage Clinic for seven years, and a Certified Gottman Method Couples Therapist, I have received advanced training from John Gottman, Ph.D., and have added his philosophies to my many years of experience and other training in working with couples. In his over 30 years of research with couples he has discovered what really works in a relationship (see below for more information about the Gottman Method). Working with you I will be objective and effective in helping you build a strong and fulfilling relationship.

Couples Wait an average of six years, according to research, after they first notice their relationship is developing problems, before seeking the help of a couples therapist. It's never too late, but the sooner you start, the more effective therapy can be.

To make an appointment, or with questions: Call me at (206) 542-6148

To begin your couples counseling, I will usually do a complete relationship evaluation. A complete relationship evaluation most typically consists of an initial double session where you will be seen together, followed by two single individual sessions, one for each of you. We wrap up the evaluation phase with another double session with the two of you, in which we discuss the areas of your relationship that need work, a plan for therapy, and then we begin. These sessions lengths are approximate: the actual time we spend depends on how long it takes to cover all the information and history.

Or, we may choose to dive into therapy right away, especially for couples with a specific, limited therapy focus in mind. Please call me to discuss any questions you may have.

If you are from out of the Seattle area, read about Marathon Couples Counseling.

The Gottman Method was developed by John Gottman, Ph.D., after his many years of research with couples. He has learned the differences between couples with successful marriages, and couples whose marriages end in divorce, or are unhappy for years. It is a practical method, helping couples to improve their friendship, conflict regulation skills, and build deeper meaning between them. This builds increased intimacy, affection and collaboration in small steps, which leads to greater satisfaction over time.