What is the primary goal of the assessment process when starting with a new couple?

The primary goal of the assessment process when starting with a new couple is to determine core issues and how they manage them. This focus is crucial because understanding the underlying problems in a relationship allows the therapist to devise an effective treatment plan tailored to the couple's unique dynamic. By identifying the core issues, the therapist can also explore how each partner responds to conflict, communicates, and supports each other. This foundational knowledge guides subsequent interventions and exercises that are designed to improve the relationship, making the assessment phase a critical step in Gottman's Method.

While observing compatibility might seem valuable, it does not provide the depth of understanding required to address the couple's specific challenges. Similarly, beginning treatment through exercises is premature without first thoroughly assessing the couple's needs. Noting heart rates during conflicts is more aligned with physiological responses than with understanding relational dynamics, which is the primary concern in the early stages of couples therapy.