Couples Goal Setting | Known Counseling

Known Counseling — Couples Tool

Building Us

A guided couples goal-setting worksheet grounded in Gottman, EFT, and ACT. Do this together.

1

Where Are We Going?

Answer individually first — without looking at each other's answers. Then share and write your summary together.

The practice: Honest individual reflection before joint conversation. This prevents one partner from anchoring the other's answer.
Partner 1
Partner 2
Together — Complete This
"The kind of relationship we are building is…"
2

Honest Assessment

Rate each area from 1–10. Be honest, not blaming. This is a starting point, not a verdict.

Gottman principle: You can't navigate toward where you want to go without knowing where you actually are.
💬 Communication
5
🤝 Emotional Connection
5
🔒 Trust
5
⚡ Conflict Resolution
5
🤗 Physical Affection
5
😄 Fun & Enjoyment
5
Strongest area
Area of growth
3

Start, Stop, Continue

Simple but powerful. Be specific — vague answers don't create change.

▶ Start
+ Add
⏹ Stop
+ Add
↻ Continue
+ Add
4

Three Core Goals

Three max. Focus beats ambition. For each one: what it is, why it matters, and what it looks like in real life.

Goal 1
What
Why it matters
What it looks like
Goal 2
What
Why it matters
What it looks like
Goal 3
What
Why it matters
What it looks like
5

Conflict Plan

Write this before you need it. Couples who have a plan de-escalate faster and repair better.

Gottman research: The key to conflict isn't avoiding it — it's having a shared protocol for when it arrives. Agree on this now, while you're calm.
How will we pause when things get heated?
What words signal "I need a break"?
How long is the break?
How do we come back?
Our Conflict Agreement
"When things get heated, we will…"
6

Emotional Safety

This is the deeper layer — below behavior. Most couples work on what they do without addressing what they feel. This section changes that.

"Love is not just a feeling. It is a decision to remain emotionally accessible and responsive."

— Dr. Sue Johnson, EFT Founder
I feel closest to you when…
P1
P2
I feel distant when…
P1
P2
What I need more of from you…
P1
P2
What I'm afraid to say sometimes…
P1
P2
7

Commitment

This is the difference maker. Feeling motivated is not the same as being committed. One is a feeling. The other is a decision.

ACT principle: Commitment is not the absence of doubt — it's the willingness to act in alignment with your values even when doubt is present.

Are you willing to work on this relationship even when you don't feel like it?

Answer honestly. If the answer isn't yes — the goal isn't real yet, or the belief needs work first.

Partner 1
Partner 2
8

Weekly Check-In

10–15 minutes, once a week. These four questions are the structure. Set a recurring time right now.

✦ What felt good this week?
Partner 1
Partner 2
✦ Where did we miss each other?
Partner 1
Partner 2
✦ What do you need from me this week?
Partner 1
Partner 2
✦ One appreciation
Partner 1
Partner 2
Scheduled Day & Time
Location
9

Your Anchor Statement

This creates identity, not just goals. Couples who see themselves a certain way act accordingly — even when it's hard.

Why this matters: Identity-based commitments outlast motivation-based ones. "We are a couple who…" is more durable than "We want to be a couple who…"
Your Couple Identity
"We are a couple who even when ."

Your Relationship Plan

Review this together. Return to it monthly. Let it be a living document.

Your Anchor Statement

Our Vision

Reality Check Ratings

Three Core Goals

Our Conflict Agreement

Want to go deeper with a therapist? Book couples therapy at Known Counseling →