A Pilot Study Examining the Effectiveness of Gottman Method Couples Therapy Over Treatment-as-Usual Approaches for Treating Couples Dealing with Infidelity

Abstract

The present randomized control trial examined the effectiveness of Gottman Method Couples Therapy (GMCT) over treatment-as-usual (TAU) approaches for couples presenting for therapy following the discovery of infidelity. Forty-nine couples participated in this trial and were randomized to either a GMCT or TAU control group, with 19 completing all pre- and post-treatment assessments. Results showed that GMCT was globally more effective in facilitating affair recovery than TAU approaches, notably in the areas of trust, conflict management, relational satisfaction, and quality of sex. In this article, we (a) outline findings from this study, (b) discuss implications for the field, and (c) offer directions for future research.