Gottman Referral Network

What the Gottman Referral Network is

The Gottman Referral Network (GRN) is a global database and directory operated by the Gottman Institute to help couples worldwide find therapists trained in the Gottman Method. It is not a therapy platform itself, but rather a search tool connecting couples with independent, licensed mental health professionals who have received training in the Gottman Method approach. The network is free to access. The Gottman Method is described as an approach "based on 40 years of research with thousands of couples." The network's stated mission is to connect couples with "experienced clinicians who use Gottman relationship-building techniques" and to provide "professional help from Gottman-trained therapists."

How the Gottman Referral Network works

The GRN operates as a searchable directory. Users can search by country or state, city or zip code, or name, and narrow results by therapist credentials, services offered, and specialties. Each therapist profile shows location, credentials, specialties, and contact information. Users reach out directly to schedule appointments.

Therapists in the network have three levels of Gottman training. Certified therapists have completed all training levels including the Certification Track, requiring a master's or doctoral degree and a minimum of 1,000 hours of post-graduate therapy experience. Level 3 Trained therapists have completed a three-day practicum led by the Gottman founders or a Certified Gottman Trainer, plus Levels 1 and 2. Level 2 Trained therapists have completed a three-day program (in person or by home study course) plus Level 1 training. Level 1 Trained therapists represent the entry level of training.

All therapists listed are licensed mental health professionals working independently from their own private practices, not as Gottman Institute employees. The directory notes therapists are "equipped to provide support to couples, individuals, children and/or families on many issues in addition to couples therapy, including anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, abuse, blended family issues, and more."

Services offered include online therapy, individual and couples work, family therapy, mediation, coaching, marathon or intensive sessions, workshops, and speaking engagements. Specialties span ADHD, affairs, anger, anxiety, depression, dissociative disorder, domestic violence, eating disorders, emotional abuse, grief, infertility, LGBTQIA2S+ issues, neurodiverse conditions, obsessions and compulsions, panic, parenting, phobias, physical abuse, postpartum issues, premarital counseling, PTSD, sexual abuse, sexual dysfunction, social anxiety, and substance abuse.

What the pages prove

The Gottman Referral Network is international. The directory includes therapists in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Czechia, Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay. Within the United States, therapists are searchable by state or region code; the list covers 49 states plus the District of Columbia. North Dakota is the one state missing from the search filter.

The directory is free to access. Users can search the full database at no cost. Individual therapist profiles are also visible without payment, and the site states it is "Free to access, this database puts you directly in touch with experienced clinicians."

Therapists in the network have specific credentials and training backgrounds. Example profiles shown on the site include Sarah Salzman, Ph.D., a Couples Psychologist certified since 2000; Connie Feutz, M.A., LMHC; and David Bricker, PhD. Rachel Wyler, MSW, is listed as Certified since 2022. Aernout Zevenbergen is Level 3 Trained with a Master in Counselling Psychology. These profiles show that the directory requires therapists to have relevant graduate degrees and professional licenses.

Some therapists in the network offer online therapy. Profiles indicate "Provides online therapy" for multiple practitioners, making remote sessions an option in at least some cases. However, not all therapists listed necessarily offer online services, and this must be verified on an individual therapist's profile.

The directory allows filtering by specific credentials and certifications. Users can select filters for "Certified Gottman Therapists" or therapists with Level 2 or Level 3 training. Users can also filter for therapists who accept insurance, though the pages do not specify which insurance plans are typically accepted. One therapist profile explicitly states "Insurance Accepted: No," indicating that payment arrangements vary by individual practitioner.

What the pages do not say

The pages do not provide information about typical costs for sessions with therapists in the network. Individual therapist pricing is not listed on the main directory pages. Therapists are independent practitioners, and the directory gives no guidance on typical session costs, sliding scale options, or any other pricing information. Users must contact individual therapists to learn about fees.

Insurance coverage is not systematized on the site. While the search interface includes a filter for "Insurance Accepted," the pages do not specify which insurance plans therapists typically work with or which plans are represented in the network. One example therapist profile shows "Insurance Accepted: No," but the breadth of insurance acceptance across the network is unclear. Users need to check individual profiles or contact therapists directly.

The pages do not describe how therapist matching works or whether the network provides guidance on selecting among multiple options in a given area. The directory is a search and browsing interface, but there is no description of factors to consider when choosing among multiple Gottman-trained therapists, how to prepare for a first consultation, or any matching algorithm.

Wait times for appointments are not mentioned. The pages do not indicate typical appointment availability, how long new clients typically wait to be seen, or whether therapists are currently accepting new clients. This information would need to come directly from individual practitioners.

The Gottman Method's specific techniques, philosophy, or what makes it different from other couples therapy approaches is not detailed on the directory pages. While the method is described as research-based, with four decades of research behind it, the actual content and approach of the method is not explained. Understanding what the method entails would require visiting the Gottman Institute's separate educational pages.

Who the Gottman Referral Network fits and who it does not

The Gottman Referral Network is well suited for couples seeking couples therapy who want to work with therapists specifically trained in the Gottman Method. For someone who has read about the Gottman Method or been referred to it by another therapist, this directory provides direct access to trained practitioners. The network is global, making it useful for people in many countries and US states, and many therapists offer online sessions, which expands access for people who cannot travel or who prefer remote work.

The network is not the right fit for someone looking for low-cost or sliding-scale therapy, because the site does not publish pricing and cost varies by individual therapist. Someone seeking crisis support should not use this directory as a first step; it is designed for scheduled couples therapy, not emergencies. The directory requires the couple to reach out to therapists themselves, so someone who wants a service that handles matching and scheduling coordination may need to look elsewhere. Someone seeking individual therapy rather than couples work might find that some network therapists offer this, but the directory's primary focus is couples therapy. A person who cannot commit to travel to a therapist's office or lacks reliable internet for online sessions may find options limited, depending on their location. Since therapist training levels and certifications vary within the network, a person seeking specifically a Certified Gottman Therapist (the highest level) should filter explicitly, rather than assuming all network therapists have the same level of training in the method.