Art & Science of Love


ASL

In-Person Events

Upcoming Dates/Locations: 
(Sat/Sun unless otherwise noted)
(830-5pm Eastern)


February 10-11, 2024 -- Indianapolis, IN
July 13-14, 2024 -- Indianapolis, IN
November 16-17, 2024 -- Indianapolis, IN

$800 per couple / $699 Early Bird 
Early Bird ends 30 days prior to event

See Location Information


Add a Limited Assessment ($500-750) to get a complete picture of your relationship and receive tailored advice, tools, and resources prior to your workshop.
Email [email protected] for more information. 


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Presented by
Dr. Adam Smithey
Certified Gottman Therapist

Can't make it to an in-person event? Email [email protected] to inquire about virtual attendance or view on-demand options.

Created by “the Einstein of Love” (Psychology Today), The Art and Science of Love  is a two-day workshop grounded on what actually works in relationships that are happy and stable. This is a live and in-person event with Q&A throughout the session, as well as private roving therapist support during each exercise time. Additionally, couples will receive a physical box set of workshop materials to further their learning by use of tangible materials.

Discover The Art and Science of Love at our world-renowned weekend workshop for couples created by Drs. John and Julie Gottman and see for yourself why millions of couples worldwide have benefited from the Gottman Method.

  • 2 days filled with engaging presentations and experiential activities designed to confirm, strengthen, or restore your love
  • For couples of every age, ability, and sexual orientation
  • Shown to achieve results similar to those of 6 months of marital therapy
  • Has produced positive results for 94% of those who attend

Based on over 40 years of research with thousands of couples, The Art and Science of Love workshop will give you new insights and research-based skills that can dramatically improve the intimacy and friendship in your relationship and help you manage conflict in a healthy, positive way.

Workshop Description

Our curriculum is developed from 40 years of research with more than 3,000 couples. It’s grounded on what actually works in relationships that are happy and stable, not idealistic notions or anecdotal evidence of what a relationship should be. On day one, you will learn how to build friendship in your relationship and express feelings of respect and affection. On day two, you will learn how to manage conflict and communicate effectively.

Positive Results

The workshop has produced positive results for 94% of those who attend based on exit surveys, but don’t just take our word for it. Scroll down to see real reviews.

If you’ve already attended, you can refresh your skills and deepen your understanding of the Gottman Method at The Art and Science of Love 2 advanced workshop for couples.

What will I learn?

You and your partner will learn how to foster respect, affection, and closeness in your relationship. You will build and share a deeper connection with each other. You’ll learn how to keep conflict discussions calm, how to break through conflicted gridlock, and how to strengthen and maintain the gains in your relationship.

Other workshop topics include:

Four Horsemen Icon
Learn to recognize the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and what to do if they are attacking your marriage
Shared Meaning Icon
Identify your relationship’s specific strengths and how to build on them together
Flooding Icon
Learn about the effects of physiological flooding and how it may affect conflict resolution
Fondness and Admiration Icon
Use the Fondness and Admiration System to renew, respect, and care for one another
Turning Toward Icon
Create an Emotional Bank Account that you can draw upon in times of stress
Compromise Icon
Develop your problem-solving skills, including the six skills for effective conflict resolutions


Who is the workshop for?

This workshop is designed for ALL couples in a committed relationship. You do not need to be married. If you have a strong relationship, this workshop will provide you with insights and tools to foster further closeness, friendship, and trust. If your relationship is distressed, this two-day workshop will provide you with a greater understanding of your relationship and a road map for repair.

No public discussion or disclosure is involved. All work is done as a couple and Gottman-trained therapists are available to support one-on-one during exercises. This educational workshop may not be appropriate for couples dealing with addiction, domestic violence, or other serious relationship issues. In those situations, we recommend inquiring about a Private Couples Retreat.


What is included in the price?

In addition to a greater understanding of how to build friendship, manage conflict, and create shared meaning in your relationship, you will receive The Art and Science of Love box set, which contains:

Box Set


-Two (2) Couples Workbooks 
-One (1) Repair Checklist 
-One (1) Aftermath of a Fight Booklet 
-Seven (7) Card Decks                   
        -Love Map
        -Opportunity
        -Open-Ended Questions
        -Rituals of Connection
        -Salsa (Mild, Medium, Hot)


Workshop Reviews

Here’s what some are saying about the workshop:

test1 Test2 Test3 Test Test


Discounts & Savings

First Responders, Military/Veterans, K-12 Educators, and Counseling Student/Interns - as a "thank you" for all you do, are eligible to save 10%. Please email [email protected] for a special discount code. 

Therapists, Counselors, Coaches and Students are able to save an additional $150 by attending a Gottman Level 1 Clinical Training  and  the Art & Science of Love workshop. Email [email protected] for more information.

Scholarships are occasionally available on an as-needed basis and at varying rates. If you are wishing to attend and are in need of financial assistance, please email [email protected] to inquire about attending at a discounted rate. Only a limited number of scholarships are available for each event and there is no guarantee that a scholarship will be available when you request. 


Event Policies

Transfer/Cancellation Policy:
If cancellation is made on or before the Early Bird Registration deadline, a full refund minus a $75 processing fee will be given. If your cancellation occurs after the Early Registration deadline, your registration will be converted to a credit, good for a full year, that can be applied to future workshops.

COVID-19 Policy:
All couple’s workshops and clinical trainings (“events”) hosted by SCS adhere to the following policy: *Presently, all in-person events will proceed without restrictions or limitations.* Live In-Person events will follow any social distancing mandates as well as any local ordinances, including but not limited to the recommendation of face coverings. If local statutes change and prevent a scheduled in-person event, -or- low attendance is projected, the event will be held virtually on the same dates. Should an In-Person event be switched to an online event, you may either a) attend the online event, b) request a full refund, or c) request your registration be applied toward a future event within the next 12 months. 

Inclement Weather Policy:
All couple’s workshops and clinical trainings (“events”) hosted by SCS adhere to the following policy: Events will be cancelled due to inclement weather  ONLY if the Venue where the event is being hosted is closed, if there is a government ordered travel ban, or if the presenters are prohibited by weather from being there. If the event is cancelled due to inclement weather, you may either a) request a full refund, or b) request your registration fee to be applied to a rescheduled date or to another SCS event of your choosing in the next 12-month period. Any travel expenses that may have been incurred cannot be refunded. If the event is held, but weather conditions or other factors prohibit your safe travel so you are unable to attend, your registration fee will be applied to another SCS event of your choosing in the next 12-month period. 


Additional Workshop Information

We would like to advise that our couples workshop is presented as a seminar. It is meant to be psycho-educational and is not meant to be couples therapy. We do offer virtual and in-person couples therapy, consultations, and additional resources at Smithey Counseling Services. While we believe that the content of this workshop is based on sound research and principles, there is no warranty or guarantee, expressed or implied about the benefit of this workshop for your specific concerns.

Assessment First?

While not required, some workshop couples desire to complete a Limited Assessment prior to attending a workshop. Here you will complete an extensive online questionnaire and schedule one 60-min session where we will review information and gain some insight and prescribed focus on what portion(s) of the workshop might provide the greatest benefit. You will also receive tailored suggestions and resources. Email [email protected] for more information. 

Private Workshop Options: 

For our high profile couples, or couples that simply prefer more privacy, we recommend you inquire about a private 1:1, or small-group presentation (with your friends or family). The Art & Science of Love presentation is tailored to you and your relationship and you receive expert support from Dr. Adam throughout the experience. Flexible weekdays, evenings, weekends to meet your scheduling needs.  Two consecutive days or four 3-hour sessions spread out. Presented live virtually or in-your-home. Email [email protected] for custom package pricing. 

Questions:

Please review the FAQ section below. For any additional questions, please email [email protected]. Please only send workshop-related questions. We are unable to respond to therapeutic questions via email.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Drs. John and Julie Gottman are the presenters for the couples workshops in Seattle, WA. Dr. Adam Smithey is the presenter for smitheycounseling.com. He is a private Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who is a Certified Gottman Couples Workshop Leader and Therapist bringing a decade of experience to the workshop as a presenter.

*Certified Gottman Couples Workshop Leaders are Certified Gottman Therapists who have been specifically trained by The Gottman Institute to present couples workshops. All workshop leaders use The Art and Science of Love curriculum designed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman. These workshops are offered independent of The Gottman Institute.

Once you have completed registration and provided an email address and phone number upon checkout, you will be contacted by our staff to complete the Registration Process. Typically you will be contacted via email within 24-48 hours of registration. Within that email, you may be requested to schedule a 10-minute phone call. During the Registration Phone Call, we will gather further information from you, answer any lingering questions you may have, and either confirm your registration or suggest other services that are appropriate to your situation.

Couples of all ages, incomes, races, nationalities, professions, religions, abilities, and orientations attend our workshops. Couples attend who already have a strong, healthy relationship, and couples attend to repair relationship damage and get back on track. Parents sometimes attend who have decided to end their relationship but want to do so in a way that doesn’t negatively impact their children, and receive skills to become healthy co-parents moving forward. We welcome all couples who want to work on making their relationship stronger.

We strongly encourage all couples in committed relationships to attend, whether you are dating, engaged and seeking premarital preparation, not married and living together, or committed to a potentially life-long relationship but don’t plan to get married—this workshop is for you!

Yes. We strongly encourage attending our workshop as premarital preparation.

Yes. We welcome all couples. While some of the workshop language is heteronormative, our curriculum does include research data on same-sex relationships.

Per couple.

Yes. Gift certificates are available upon request.

Sorry, no. Our workshops are specifically designed to be interactive and experiential for couples only.

We believe that it is important for all individuals to learn the basics of how relationships work based on our scientific research. Many individuals have found that a good place to start is by sharing some of the research on our website with their partners. We have videos of Dr. John Gottman covering our concepts of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (with Anderson Cooper), the Magic Relationship Ratio, and Making Marriage Work, all of which introduce the most important concepts that Drs. John and Julie Gottman will present at the Art and Science of Love workshop. You can also visit the Gottman Relationship Blog for more information on our methods, and you can look through our Research Overview page. For a preview of the kinds of exercises you’ll do at the workshop, you can download our free Gottman Card Decks app.

No problem. Couples sit as an audience during the lectures, but we provide lots of extra square footage for privacy while couples engage in the workshop exercises. In smaller groups (7 couples or fewer), Dr. Adam Smithey will be available to briefly work one-on-one with couples who desire support and assistance during exercises. In larger groups, other Certified Gottman Therapists are available to work one-on-one with couples who desire support and assistance during exercises. There is no group work, and no mandatory sharing.

No. Couples sit as an audience during the lectures, but for couples’ individual exercises we provide lots of extra space and seating for you to engage in those exercises with plenty of privacy. Couples will not be asked to publicly participate in any exercises in front of the audience, nor will any of your exercises be publicly disclosed by SCS in any form.

The presenters are highly experienced Certified Gottman Therapists. In larger groups, we will call upon other Certified Gottman Therapists to assist during the exercises. These presenters/therapists are available to work one-on-one with you during the exercises. Couples are not required to use clinical help, but we strongly encourage using this resource while you have the opportunity.

Yes. Couples who attend our workshop tend to fall into two categories: enhancement and repair. We applaud couples who are wise enough to attend the workshop for enhancement purposes. Our brains are more open to new learning when we are not stressed out, and our workshop is designed with plenty of humor and romance, so enhancement couples have a terrific time while learning. Feedback from both enhancement and repair couples indicates that the couples workshop is very beneficial.

Sometimes. While each situation is unique, we do have many couples attend the workshop who are separated or have begun divorce proceedings. These couples continue to report that the workshop was very helpful to them. We will discuss the specifics of your situation with you during the registration process to see if it is appropriate for you.

There are no prerequisites to attending a couples workshop. The workshop is self-contained and is appropriate even if you’ve never heard of Dr. John Gottman and his work.

We do not provide childcare options.

No. We recognize that newborns spend a lot of time sleeping, and it is difficult to be away from them during the first couples months. However, you will not be able to focus entirely on your relationship and it can be a distraction for other couples.

Yes, if you are coming from out of town. Our staff will provide hotel information for each venue. If you are local, you can certainly go home. However, we recommend you try to preserve your focus on your relationship throughout the entire weekend, if possible. Try not to go home to kids, jobs, neighbors, pets, all the daily distractions and stressors we face. Try to keep the weekend just for the two of you.

Yes. You can receive 14 CEs through R Cassidy. There is a separate fee that is payable directly to them. Visit here for additional details.

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