Couple and Addiction Recovery Counselling

Susie is trained in the Gottman Institute’s couple and addiction recovery method, for couples who are healing from substance and/or behavioural addiction. The Couple Recovery Development Approach incorporates research by Dr Robert Navarra with Dr John Gottman’s Sound Relationship House model. In contrast to many recovery processes, it provides a relational approach that encompasses each partner’s individual recovery along with the relationship recovery.

Thoroughly grounded in John Gottman’s Sound Relationship House framework, couples work on interventions which help them develop their “couple recovery” by increasing communication and understanding, establishing boundaries, and healing from the impact of addiction and recovery.

For some couples, the non-addicted partner may not identify with the term “being in recovery”, but in fact, both partners and the relationship have been affected by the substance use or compulsive behavioural disorder, and by the often-arduous process of recovery.

It is important for both partners to share and understand, not only the impact of the addiction but also the impact of the change to wellness, on each other and on the relationship. They also need to acknowledge and address individual and relationship needs as they go forward to a more positive phase.

There are three important directions for change: