During the "Individual Relational Interview," what do Gottman therapists encourage partners to do?

In the "Individual Relational Interview" phase of Gottman's method, therapists encourage partners to reveal personal secrets not intended to be shared with their partner. This approach is designed to foster individual expression and promote self-awareness while allowing each person to reflect on their own experiences and feelings. By discussing their individual secrets, partners can confront their own emotions and thoughts, which can lead to personal growth and a deeper understanding of one’s self within the relationship context.

This exploration is beneficial in that it can help identify personal challenges and concerns that might be influencing dynamics in the relationship. It is an opportunity for therapists to better understand each partner’s perspective and issues that may need to be addressed collectively in therapy.

This is distinct from the other options as sharing secrets meant to be disclosed can create a surface-level connection but may prevent deeper understanding, while focusing exclusively on positive experiences could ignore underlying issues that need attention. Discussing financial issues, while important, is often addressed in a different context within therapy. Thus, the emphasis on revealing personal secrets aids in creating a more comprehensive therapeutic environment conducive to healing and understanding.