Gottman Method & Emotionally Focused Therapy
Dr. Yuki Tanaka
Couples & Relationship Therapist
“Dr. Tanaka believes that most relationship struggles stem from unmet emotional needs and broken patterns of connection. Her work helps couples understand each other more deeply — and build a relationship that is genuinely fulfilling for both partners.”
About
Dr. Yuki Tanaka is Clearwater's Couples and Relationship Therapist, helping partners rebuild trust, communication, and intimacy after conflict, infidelity, grief, or life transitions. Born in Osaka, Japan, she completed her doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy at Columbia University before training in the Gottman Method at the Gottman Institute in Seattle.
Dr. Tanaka has worked with hundreds of couples across a wide range of challenges — from communication breakdown and emotional disconnection to recovering from affairs and navigating major life changes such as parenthood, illness, and loss.
She also works with individuals on relationship patterns, attachment styles, and interpersonal effectiveness, drawing on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Selected Publications
- Tanaka Y. et al. (2020). Gottman Method outcomes in couples recovering from infidelity. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.
- Tanaka Y. (2022). Attachment-based couples therapy: integrating EFT and Gottman principles. Family Process.
Education
- PhD Marriage & Family Therapy, Columbia University
- MA Counselling Psychology, Keio University, Tokyo
- Internship in Couples Therapy, The Gottman Institute, Seattle
- Post-doctoral Training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), ICEEFT
Licences & Certifications
- Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (FL #MT4521)
- Certified Gottman Therapist (Level 3)
- Certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Member, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)