Couples Doing Better

Call Directions Website Contact the practice

Couples Doing Better Dr. John "Jack" Crossen is an Advanced Gottman Therapist and Trainer, educator and community leader.

He offers training and certification to therapists, workshops for couples, and private therapy.

We often notice what our partner isn't doing before we notice everything they are doing.The little things matter.A morni...
10/19/2026

We often notice what our partner isn't doing before we notice everything they are doing.

The little things matter.
A morning coffee.
A check-in during a busy day.
Taking care of something without being asked.
Being there when life gets difficult.

Don't assume your partner knows you appreciate them.
Say it. Show it. Make appreciation part of your relationship.

Couples don't always drift apart because something went terribly wrong.Sometimes, connection slowly gets replaced by wor...
10/16/2026

Couples don't always drift apart because something went terribly wrong.
Sometimes, connection slowly gets replaced by work, responsibilities, routines, and distractions.

A conversation becomes a text.
Quality time becomes screen time.
“How was your day?” becomes “Did you pay the bill?”

Don't wait for disconnection to become a crisis.
Make space for each other before the distance grows.

"How was your day?""Can you look at this?""Want to come with me?"Small interactions can carry emotional meaning.The Gott...
10/13/2026

"How was your day?"
"Can you look at this?"
"Want to come with me?"
Small interactions can carry emotional meaning.

The Gottman approach highlights the importance of how partners respond to these everyday bids for connection. Helping couples notice these moments can open the door to meaningful changes in their relationship.

As a therapist, can you help your clients recognize the bids they're making and how they're responding to each other?

Criticism. Contempt. Defensiveness. Stonewalling.The Gottman Method identifies these patterns as important signals of re...
10/09/2026

Criticism. Contempt. Defensiveness. Stonewalling.
The Gottman Method identifies these patterns as important signals of relationship distress.

For therapists, learning to recognize these behaviors and understanding what lies underneath them can help you intervene more intentionally when couples feel stuck in destructive cycles.
Strengthen your ability to identify patterns and guide couples toward healthier interaction.

One of the biggest challenges couples face isn't a lack of love, it's a lack of feeling understood.When conversations be...
10/06/2026

One of the biggest challenges couples face isn't a lack of love, it's a lack of feeling understood.
When conversations become arguments, slow down. Listen to what your partner is really trying to communicate instead of preparing your next response.

Sometimes, being heard is the first step toward feeling connected again.
What would change in your relationship if you listened with curiosity instead of defensiveness?

Ready to take your couples therapy practice to the next level?Join the Gottman Method Couples Therapy Training – Level 2...
10/03/2026

Ready to take your couples therapy practice to the next level?
Join the Gottman Method Couples Therapy Training – Level 2 in Kentucky this October and deepen your clinical skills with advanced assessment and intervention strategies designed for working with couples.

Gain practical tools, strengthen your confidence, and expand your ability to help couples create lasting change.
October 7, 2026 - October 9, 2026
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Eventure | Berea, Kentucky

Take the next step in your professional development. Register today!
https://couplesdoingbetter.com/events/gottman-method-couples-therapy-training-level-2-kentucky-oct-2026/

When your partner shares a difficult feeling, your first instinct might be to fix the problem.But connection often begin...
09/30/2026

When your partner shares a difficult feeling, your first instinct might be to fix the problem.
But connection often begins with something simpler:
Listen. Validate. Be present.
You don't always have to have the right answer.

Sometimes saying, “I can understand why that was hard for you,” can mean more than any solution.
Because emotional connection grows when partners feel seen, heard, and understood.

Couples often come into therapy focused on the latest disagreement.But beneath the argument may be a recurring pattern, ...
09/27/2026

Couples often come into therapy focused on the latest disagreement.

But beneath the argument may be a recurring pattern, pursuing and withdrawing, criticism and defensiveness, disconnection and failed attempts to reconnect.

Learning to recognize these patterns allows therapists to move beyond the surface issue and work toward deeper change.
Build a stronger clinical framework for understanding couples.

Ready to take your couples therapy skills beyond the basics?Join Dr. John “Jack” Crossen, Ph.D. for the Gottman Method C...
09/24/2026

Ready to take your couples therapy skills beyond the basics?
Join Dr. John “Jack” Crossen, Ph.D. for the Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1 + 2 Training—a comprehensive opportunity to strengthen your clinical toolkit and deepen your understanding of couples' relationship dynamics.

Learn practical, research-informed approaches to assessment, conflict, friendship, intimacy, and therapeutic intervention that you can bring into your work with couples.
📅 October 5–9, 2026
📍 Berea, Kentucky
Five days. Two levels. A stronger foundation for helping couples do better.

Ready to invest in your clinical growth? Register today.
https://couplesdoingbetter.com/events/gottman-method-couples-therapy-training-level-1-2-kentucky-oct-2026/

A question. A glance. A story about their day. A request for attention.Everyday interactions can create opportunities fo...
09/21/2026

A question. A glance. A story about their day. A request for attention.
Everyday interactions can create opportunities for connection between partners.

For therapists, learning to recognize these small moments can help uncover important relationship patterns that couples may not even notice themselves.
Help couples become more aware of how they connect and how they can reconnect.


Address

Portland, OR
97220

Telephone

+15032201332

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Couples Doing Better posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Couples Doing Better:

Shortcuts

Share

Category