Take Your Couples Therapy Practice to the Next Level with Gottman Level 2
The Only Mentorship Program with 3 Months of Expert Consultation and Support
Discover How to Create Immediate Breakthroughs with Your Couples
This isn’t just training—it’s transformation.
Our NEW Level 2 "Mentorship" Program combines the essential knowledge of Gottman Level 2 with personalized, hands-on mentorship to ensure you see real results in your practice.
Build Mastery: Level 2 is the core of the Gottman training series—the foundation where your skills as a couples therapist deepen and take shape.
Real-World Application: Through our innovative mentorship format, you’ll not only learn the Gottman method but also receive ongoing support and live “Roundtable” sessions to practice and refine your skills in real-time.
Guided Growth: Unlike traditional Level 2 trainings, you won’t navigate this alone. Over 3 months, you’ll have access to expert consultation to address challenges and ensure lasting impact with your couples.
Now Just: $449
(Mentorship Version)
There was more to couples therapy than what I learned in grad school…
My name is Sam Garanzini, and I help clinicians become expert couples counselors by integrating clinical and business skills using researched-based methods.
Back in 2007, I was in your shoes. My graduate program didn’t fully prepare me for the complex, mixed-agenda situations couples often bring to therapy.
I struggled to navigate sessions, like one where a couple spent the entire hour hurling insults at each other.
I thought to myself, “They could do this for free at home. They’re here to learn something better.”
That’s when my partner handed me an article by someone named John Gottman. I brushed it off at first but eventually dove in—and I was hooked.
The Gottman Method was comprehensive and practical, so I went all in. It was at Level 2 that the skills practice and break-out groups helped everything come together.
I went on to complete Level 3, but I kept thinking, Level 2 is the heart of this training, and I learned more at Level 2 than Level 3.
It was the foundation that made everything else work.
The whole time my sessions started going better because I had a framework.
My couples started improving. I went on to become certified in the Gottman Method, and now I’ve been teaching Level 2 since 2010, having served over 200 clinicians in my classes.
But over time, I noticed a new problem.
Therapists loved the live training, but many struggled to retain and apply the material once they left the room.
It was simply too much information to absorb in a short time.
That’s why I created the three-month mentorship program: to provide ongoing support and guidance with challenging cases.
This format allows you to take what you’ve learned in Level 2 and build mastery by applying it in real-world scenarios with personalized mentorship.
This approach has become SO powerful for therapists who want lasting impact with their couples.
Take a look below, and I hope you join me in the mentorship!
– Sam Garanzini, MFT, LPCC
Certified Gottman Therapist and Instructor
Co-founder | Couples Therapy Training Academy
Now Just: $449
(Mentorship Version)
How to get your couples to do the work, move past hidden agendas, and respond effectively even when they’re placing the burden for success on you…
Day 1: A New, Fresh Look At The Gottman Fundamentals
How to respond to high-pressure couples: Master the art of creating a clear and confident game plan for couples who expect you to immediately fix their marriage.
Navigating mixed-agenda couples: Learn what to do next when one partner wants out, and the other is desperate to stay.
Intervention mastery: Discover the secret to knowing which intervention to use at the right time for maximum impact.
Boosting your professional presence: Gain the skills to position yourself as an expert in your community, allowing you to confidently command higher fees.
Handling argumentative couples: Learn how to redirect highly combative couples, helping them focus on meaningful change instead of endless blame.
Addressing core vulnerabilities: Discover exactly what to say when a couple’s deepest pain points are exposed—turning potential catastrophes into confidence-building moments of growth.
Framework for “last-resort” couples: Get the tools you need to guide couples who show up on the brink, viewing therapy as their final option before splitting.
Breaking through entrenched dynamics: Learn how to help couples who are stuck and looking for permission to break up, while showing them another way forward.
Day 2: Handling Resistance, Assessments, and Blame Dynamics
Dealing with assessment resistance: Learn exactly what to say when couples feel like the assessment is a waste of time and money, pushing you to skip ahead and “fix it already.”
Presenting assessment results: Practice (in your own small group!) how to share assessment findings in a way that helps couples feel validated and confident in their decision to stay and work on their marriage.
Navigating emotionally abusive dynamics: Discover strategies to support exhausted partners dealing with emotional abuse, focusing on stopping the cycle and rebuilding trust.
Assessment session walkthrough: Watch a full example of the first three assessment sessions, from start to finish, so you can see exactly how it’s done.
Avoiding the “referee” trap: Learn how to stay out of the middle when couples try to pull you into their blaming dynamic—and redirect the energy toward progress.
Politely managing interruptions: Master techniques for interrupting unproductive storytelling or partners cutting each other off, without escalating tension.
Overcoming bias: Identify and overcome the natural tendency to side with one partner, ensuring a balanced and effective approach.
Day 3: Conquering the Hardest Challenges in Couples Therapy
Addressing ongoing affairs: Learn how to respond when one partner insists on continuing an emotional or physical affair while trying to stay in the relationship.
Hands-on intervention practice: Work in small groups to master over 10 of the most essential Gottman Method interventions, including:
Dreams Within Conflict
Compromise Circles
Aftermath of a Fight
Flooding Interventions
Friendship Interventions
Breaking through Negative Sentiment Override: Discover strategies for navigating entrenched negativity where no attempt at repair seems to land with the partner.
Real-world examples: Watch a case study of a couple with Borderline Personality Disorder to see how the Gottman Method can effectively manage even the most complex dynamics.
Supporting uneven investment: Learn how to address situations where one partner is deeply invested in change while the other is so consumed by hurt, anger, or fear that they can’t engage with the relationship as a whole.
Rebuilding after betrayal: Develop strategies to help couples work through infidelity and rebuild trust, even in cases of repeated affairs where skepticism runs high.
Motivating couples to apply skills: Discover how to inspire your clients to use healthier techniques—like stating complaints constructively, taking timeouts, and de-escalating conflicts—outside the therapy room.
Theory, Video Demo, Skills Practice
[THEORY] This workshop provides a wealth of information about relationship theory, observation, couple dynamics, relationship assessment, treatment planning, when and how to use interventions, and working with co-morbidities. All materials may be used in clinical settings.
[VIDEO DEMONSTRATION] You will view original videos of couples from the famous Gottman “Love Lab,” as well as video of Drs. John and Julie Gottman demonstrating assessment and interventions in real case examples from their private practice.
[LIVE PRACTICE] Participants will practice using the interventions in skills practice sessions to help gain confidence using them with couples either with other cohort participants, or the instructors. This is the FASTEST way to get feedback and improve your skills, when compared to passive learning in the classroom.
NAVIGATE COMORBID PATHOLOGY] This training dives deep into the Gottman Method approach for treating complicated cases involving co-morbidities, including affairs, borderline personality disorder, sexual abuse, PTSD, addiction, and domestic violence.
Level 2 Training Objectives
Review how to assess a couple’s Friendship Profile, Conflict Profile, and Shared Meaning Profile,
Build a toolkit of interventions that couples can use as antidotes to the Four Horsemen and soothe physiological flooding,
Apply six modes of changing the Attack/Defend System in a couple’s interactions,
Learn how to assist couples in establishing dialogue about their gridlocked conflicts.
Learn how to select and implement interventions to help couples deepen their Friendship System with rituals of connection,
Select and implement interventions to help couples create a shared system of values and meaning, and…
Identify and implement five different co-morbidities common to couples using Gottman assessments and interventions.
What Others Are Saying...
I had three great couples sessions tonight and they were directly related to Sam’s guidance yesterday to completely trust the tools that kept the focus so strong. The conversation was the best conversation they’ve had since I’ve been working with them.
I’ve been dealing with so much of their negative sentiment override and 4 Horsemen that progress has been slow, intermittent, and hasn’t stuck.
Sam’s reminder about the importance of flexibility/serotonin and his comment about this process being slow when people are not flexible reminded me to stop and reflect in the moment.
That shifted us to a much deeper place and pivoted the focus in key ways. Borrowing Sam’s confidence made the final difference. :)
Susan N. Perkins, PhD, LMFT, Gottman Level 2 Mentorship Graduate
Level Two really helped me sharpen my skills for setting up the interventions. I already knew how to do it, but Level Two helped me perfect it. I’m super excited!
Jennifer Normoyle, MFT, San Francisco Level 2 Graduate
Meet the Instructor:
Sam Garanzini, MFT, LPCC
Sam Garanzini is the Executive Director of the Gay Couples Institute and a Certified Gottman Method Couples Therapy Instructor, personally trained by John and Julie Gottman to teach their renowned approach to couples therapy.
In addition to his clinical expertise, Sam serves as a professor of counseling psychology at the University of San Francisco, where he teaches courses on addiction therapy and psychopharmacology. With over 20 years of clinical experience, Sam brings a wealth of practical insights to his training programs.
The Gay Couples Institute is the world’s first specialized clinic for LGBT couples counseling, with locations in Northern and Southern California.
Each year, the Institute provides Gottman Method Couples Therapy to over 300 couples and operates a dedicated research department. This team collaborates with John Gottman’s Relationship Research Institute and supports graduate students worldwide in their master’s theses and dissertations.
In October 2017, Sam and the Gay Couples Institute published the first peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy demonstrating the efficacy of the Gottman Method for same-sex couples.
In 2018, Sam launched a small mastermind community for therapists seeking to improve not only their clinical skills but also their ability to attract great, hardworking couples to their practices while achieving a healthy work-life balance.
This evolved into the Small Practice, Big Profit Method, which provides therapists with marketing funnels, software, and coaching for both low- and high-ticket offers. The program is designed to help therapists reach more people, build sustainable practices, and avoid overworking themselves.
Now Just: $449
(Mentorship Version)
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s in Level 2? How does it work?
Level 2 is the ‘meat and potatoes’ of the Gottman Training series. It is the most important training in the three-level series.
It is really where you learn to APPLY the Gottman method under guidance. You will receive advanced training to include:
• More details on the THEORY
• Video DEMONSTRATIONS of real couples and how the Gottman’s intervene
• Ways to navigate COMORBIDITY and most importantly …
• SKILLS PRACTICE of key interventions you can use right away with your couples
Since beginning to teach Level 2 in 2010, our participants said they wanted the opportunity to PRACTICE some of these interventions and get individualized attention while doing them, as applied to their individualized couples.
Level 2 mentorship allows you to schedule three one-hour “Roundtable” sessions to get help with your cases, get feedback on videos, or role play the lessons with other Roundtable attendees.
How long do I get access? Is this program virtual? How many hours of videos are involved?
You’ll have lifetime access to all video content and updates as long as they are hosted on our platform. Live roundtable meetings are available during your three-month mentorship period.
Yes, the entire program is virtual. Both the video library and live roundtable discussions are hosted via Zoom, making it accessible no matter where you are.
The Level 2 training includes over 20 hours of video content, divided into modules that comprehensively cover advanced couples therapy topics.
What makes the mentorship unique?
The Level 2 Mentorship includes:
Three one-hour “Roundtable” sessions where you can:
Get support with challenging cases
Receive feedback on your intervention techniques
Role-play lessons with other attendees
A highly interactive environment to refine your skills and feel confident applying them with your couples.
Are there Continued Education (CE) credits for Level 2?
Yes! The Level 2 training offers 20 CEUs for most licensure levels in the United States. These are available through the Gottman Institute after completing a short test.
Can this lead to Gottman Certification?
Absolutely! This program fulfills the requirements for Gottman Level 1 and Level 2 certification. Simply complete a short test to submit to the Gottman Institute, which also grants your CEUs if needed.
Does this apply to LGBT couples?
Absolutely. The research behind these concepts was conducted on both straight and same-sex couples. We created a large Institute applying these concepts to gay/lesbian couples called the Gay Couples Institute, if that interests you for further training.
In fact, we wrote the very first outcome study showing the effectiveness of the Gottman Method with same-sex couples.
How do the Roundtable meetings work?
What are these meetings?
The roundtable meetings are designed to be engaging and practical, allowing for in-depth discussion of therapy techniques and case studies. Meetings occur weekly and include a refundable deposit to ensure attendance and participation.
How many Roundtable sessions come with Level 2?
Level 2 comes with three (3) Roundtable sessions. It is recommended you use them approximately once a month.
What happens during the group mentorship discussion?
These sessions allow for interactive discussion on applying therapy techniques to your specific cases, enhancing the integration of learning with practical experience. They're designed for you to bring challenging cases to the sessions week after week, as you see fit, so that you can experience steady incremental progress and learning.
When, where, and how long are the meetings? How many students at a time?
The meetings are 60 minutes; you must register 24 hours prior, and they are currently held Tuesdays at 2pm (Pacific Time), and we're now starting Friday's at 10am (Pacific Time). This should accommodate students all over the country, with lots of flexibility regarding seeing your direct care clients. Currently they are capped at five students, but that is subject to change depending on the cohort.
How long do I have to use the Roundtable meeting access? Can I buy now and start later?
Upon enrolling in Level 2, you will have three months to initiate your access to the weekly Roundtable meetings. This arrangement allows you to purchase now and schedule your start date later, accommodating your other commitments. For instance, if you purchase access in September, you may opt to begin your sessions any time up until December. Please inform us of your planned start date at the time of purchase so we can prepare accordingly. If you anticipate needing more flexibility, contact us prior to purchasing to discuss possible extensions.
What if I miss a group Roundtable session?
You can reschedule for the next available session as long as you are in good standing in the program, and within your three-month window of access (see above Q&A). You must cancel within 24 hours, as your space removes an opportunity for someone else to attend. Recordings may occasionally be available, depending on the session content.
Do I have to attend a certain number of Roundtable sessions?
Unlike grad school, you're allowed to skip as much class as you want. But we'll miss you, so how about coming at least once? :)
Can I just do Roundtable meetings for 3 months? Can I go longer than 3 months?
Yes, you can opt for just the Roundtable meetings. This is ideal for experienced therapists seeking to refresh or enhance their skills through peer interaction and expert guidance. Get access here.
How is this different than your Advanced Couples Therapy Mentorship Program?
Our new 3-month Advanced Mentorship is a bundle that combines Level 1, Level 2, the High Conflict Couples Masterclass, our Advanced Couples Therapy Library, and our Referrals to Results program to help with marketing.
You can...
• Review your cases…
• Discuss sticking points…
• Clarify materials…
• Discover the steps you need to implement based on what you’ve learned…
• Work on your marketing materials…
• Network with other like-minded and similarly motivated therapists…
• Get to know your instructors…
• Or simply listen and learn.
It is just a couple hundred dollars more than purchasing Level 2 a-la-carte, so consider going all-in and getting access to weekly Roundtable sessions, marketing help, and entirely unique courses for all the most difficult, but common challenges in couples therapy.
Register For Your Seat Now!
This is a time sensitive offer, and seating is limited.
Now: $449 (Mentorship Version)