What practices support emotional attunement in Gottman therapy?

• A. Silent treatment
• B. Labeled emotional language, reflective listening, empathic response to bids; practice with I statements and validating feelings.
• C. Avoid discussing feelings
• D. Use generalized statements

Answer: (B)

Emotional attunement in Gottman therapy comes from recognizing a partner’s emotional state and responding in a way that shows you understand and care. The best-supported practices involve naming emotions, listening with reflection, and replying with empathy to bids for connection, while using I statements and validating what the partner feels. Labeled emotional language helps partners identify exactly what they’re feeling rather than staying vague. Reflective listening confirms you heard and understood, which reduces misinterpretation and builds trust. An empathic response to bids demonstrates you’re attuned to the partner’s need for connection, strengthening the relationship. Silent treatment, avoiding discussions about feelings, or making only generalized statements undermine attunement by shutting down or vague communication.