Carolyn C. Martin, M.S., L.P.C., L.M.F.T.

Mariposa Psychotherapy Services

4131 Spicewood Springs, M-1

Austin, TX 78759

Phone Number: (512) 795-0402

Email: carolyn@mariposapsychotherapy.com

My Approach to Marriage Counseling

There are many theories of how marriage should work. Theories come from personal experience with marriage, from an educational background, from idealist beliefs, or from research. My approach comes from research. In fact, my approach comes from the 40 years of research done by John Gottman, Ph.D. By studying all kinds of marriages, both happy and unhappy, Dr. Gottman has analyzed what makes people want to stay together and what makes them report they are happy in their marriage.

Dr. Gottman’s research dispels many myths about what makes a happy marriage and what predicts divorce. If you’re having marital problems or if your marriage is fairly OK but it’s not as good as you would like it to be, you’ve probably come to some conclusions about why you’re not as happy in your marriage as you would like. And, you might be fairly sure of what makes people happy in marriage.

Let’s try a few simple True/False questions and see how versed you are in marital satisfaction:
1. In happy stable marriages, couples work hard at avoiding conflict.
2. The second highest predictor for divorce is affairs.
3. Complaining in a marriage is bad for the marriage.
4. Couples need to learn to have a high tolerance for negativity once they marry.
5. A happy, stable marriage is characterized by both husband and wife working hard at maintaining the feelings of being in love.
6. The highest predictor for divorce is unresolved conflict.

How did you do? Did you guess that most of these are True? Guess again. Every one of them is false.

At Mariposa Psychotherapy Services you can learn:
1. How to make your marriage last.
2. If you’re doing the two most important things couples do to feel marital satisfaction.
3. If you’re doing the two most corrosive things you can do to the marriage.
4. What predicts divorce and how to avoid those things.
5. What can heal past hurts.
6. How to build a bright future for your marriage.

If you would like a sneak peak at what you will be learning at Mariposa Psychotherapy Services, see John Gottman’s research and intervention information at www.gottman.com. Dr. Gottman has been researching marriage for over 40 years. The information you will learn isn’t pop psychology, TV/radio psychology or planetary psychology (women aren’t from Venus and men aren’t from Mars). What you will learn comes from THE most reliable research ever done in the area of marriage.

For more information on me or my service, visit my website.

Gender: Female

Graduate Degree: M.S.-Counseling Psychology

University: Texas A & M

License: Licensed Professional Counselor

State Licensed In: TX

License: Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

State Licensed In: TX

Certifications/Awards/Memberships/Publications:

Certified Gottman Educator

American Counseling Association

American Association of Marriage & Family Therapist

International Society for Mental Health Online