Dr. Robert Navarra

Dr. Robert Navarra New research-based workshops in addiction recovery for couples and training for therapists.

Roadmap for the Journey is a relational model of addiction recovery designed to support simultaneously three separate recoveries: each partner’s recovery and their relationship recovery. Maintaining separate individual recoveries helps partners identify and work on their own recovery issues, but often the relationship is overlooked or ignored in the process. This model is based on over 10 years of

research by Dr. Navarra who developed the "Couple Recovery Development Approach", integrating Gottman research and methods. Research informs us that happier relationships are predictive of better long-term recovery outcomes. We also know that the risks of divorce and separation are higher than normal for couples impacted by addiction. Few would argue the belief that addiction is a family disease, but current recovery approaches don’t reflect that statement, instead encouraging partners to work their own program and not to address relationship issues until recovery is well established, at least a year or longer. A relational approach is needed sooner than later to help couples adjust to the changes recovery brings to their relationship. CARE teaches tools for communication, problem-solving, identifying dysfunctional patterns, developing goals, and addressing for the hurts and baggage from addiction. MISSION STATEMENT:
Through ongoing research, sharing, and collaboration with couples and addiction treatment professionals, the CARE approach and philosophy supports, encourages, and advocates a holistic approach to addiction recovery that includes ways to address and manage individual and couple recoveries from addiction.

04/25/2023

Join the 800+ registrants who signed up for a Hazelden webcast on couple recovery I am presenting on Wednesday April 25, 2023, 9:00 AM PT. Don't worry if you can't make the time, it's being recorded for future review.

Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 11:00 AM Central Daylight Time.

Latest vlog on Valentine's Day and relationship tips designed to bring more meaning and connection tear-round.https://yo...
02/13/2023

Latest vlog on Valentine's Day and relationship tips designed to bring more meaning and connection tear-round.
https://youtu.be/H7VDnVe8d3k.

Coming soon: Relationships, Addiction, and Recovery podcast. Tips for all relationships with special episodes for couples impacted by addiction.

The Gottman research on couple relationship boils down to overriding concept. This Valentine's Day tip is relevant for every coupe, whether you celebrate Val...

My latest vlog on Valentine's Day, really applies to all couples. What we know predicts happy couple relationships from ...
02/06/2023

My latest vlog on Valentine's Day, really applies to all couples. What we know predicts happy couple relationships from the Gottman research can be summarized in one sentence.

The Gottman research on couple relationship boils down to overriding concept. This Valentine's Day tip is relevant for every coupe, whether you celebrate Val...

Last of the three day Gottman Level 2 training. Liz and I finished with interventions to strengthen the couples closenes...
10/21/2022

Last of the three day Gottman Level 2 training. Liz and I finished with interventions to strengthen the couples closeness and intimacy, and strategies to help couples impacted by addiction, trauma,affairs, and violence. A very full day with an amazing community of therapists that have deepened their understanding and skill set in the Gottman work. I brought my drone for a few pics of the group taking advantage of a very high ceiling and ample space!

My Couple and Addiction Recovery workshop in Sydney, Australia. A great group of new friends and colleagues from down un...
10/21/2022

My Couple and Addiction Recovery workshop in Sydney, Australia. A great group of new friends and colleagues from down under. Thankfully, problematic drinking has trended downward in Australia over the last decade, and Australia has not followed suit with the USA and Canada with an opioid epidemic. Substance and alcohol problems nevertheless still contribute to the burden of disease with nearly one-quarter of Australians reported hazardous drinking. Therapists need training to sort out problematic use, from a use disorder, from a use disorder that is an addiction. Couples need help and support to address problematic use, and in many cases from active addiction to active recovery.

Sharing the research, and coaching in the role plays is really energizing. Working with therapists to find their own voi...
10/19/2022

Sharing the research, and coaching in the role plays is really energizing. Working with therapists to find their own voice in the Gottman model, as well as sharing our own experience in Gottman Method Couples Therapy provides a new way for participants to conceptualize couple assessment, and the research-based interventions to support the relationship in those areas that need attention. Tomorrow we delve into the core interventions and support the participants in the role plays to practice those skills. Have I said this already? I love Australia and the people here with appreciation for warm welcome Cindy and I have received.

Day 1 of Gottman Level 2 workshop: Assessment, Interventions, and Comorbidities. Liz presenting to our amazing group of ...
10/19/2022

Day 1 of Gottman Level 2 workshop: Assessment, Interventions, and Comorbidities. Liz presenting to our amazing group of participants. We tackled assessment today and giving couples feedback focusing on how to help couples understand what is working in their relationship, and what needs attention as a current challenge.

Doing Gottman Training with Liz Neal. It was great to meet Liz in person. Our professional relationship began in 2017 in...
10/17/2022

Doing Gottman Training with Liz Neal. It was great to meet Liz in person. Our professional relationship began in 2017 in consultation, so this is the first time we actually have met in person. I asked Liz if I looked less pixelated live than on Zoom- I’m not sure she actually answered my question? Liz and her husband Braedy invited my wife Cindy and me to their lovely new house for a fabulous dinner and for planning.Their three lovely sons added to the joy and fun of the evening. Teaching the Gottman method to others is a shared passion with Liz. Providing therapists clear research-based guidelines and strategies for assessment, treatment, and managing comorbidities always circles back to me with the connection and enthusiasm of the participants. I remember my own training process and the excitement, and professional confidence in this powerful couples therapy approach. Thank you Julie and John for your research, the Gottman Community, and for the tools you give therapists to help couples.

It’s finally here, Liz Neal and myself presenting tomorrow in Sydney starting with my Couple and Addiction Recovery Trai...
10/17/2022

It’s finally here, Liz Neal and myself presenting tomorrow in Sydney starting with my Couple and Addiction Recovery Training, followed by our 3-day Gottman Level 2 Workshop. We met last night to cover last minute details.

Sunrise yesterday at Uluru, sacred to the Anangu, the Aboriginal people in this territory. Uluru mythology is is a story...
10/14/2022

Sunrise yesterday at Uluru, sacred to the Anangu, the Aboriginal people in this territory. Uluru mythology is is a story of destruction and creation through creator beings of people, plants, and animals traveling and forming the landscape. One description of what Uluru means to the Anangu people is one of a moral compass, their reason for being, and connection to the environment. Brings to mind the challenging questions: What am I creating as a creator being, and how does that relate to connection- perhaps with myself, with others, with the environment? It’s been said in many different ways, but recovery from substances, trauma, and other issues, is about connection. I think the Anangu people figured that out a long time ago.

In the Northern Territory of Australia, Ayers Rock, attending a didgeridoo presentation and took the opportunity to give...
10/14/2022

In the Northern Territory of Australia, Ayers Rock, attending a didgeridoo presentation and took the opportunity to give it a try. There are numerous regional names for this Aboriginal instrument thought to date back at least 1,00 years, the instructor in this region referred to it as a Yidaki. I found the technique challenging, the goal is to connect with your breath, in through the nose, out gently through the mouth. Less force is better. The instrument actually brings an acute awareness of breathing, and connection with a story told through the sounds and rhythm of those sounds. Feeling emotions in stories through sounds is a fascinating concept. As a musician, I play jazz guitar, the same concept holds for the musician to express feeling through the music. My take always: I’m a lot better with instruments with strings; the importance of connecting with my breath; stories have emotions, be aware of what those emotions are; there are countless ways to create sounds and create differing emotions from those sounds, it may take some inner work to find those emotions; I’m in awe of circular breathing, a technique where breathing in and out at the same time creates a constant sound, and I’m determined to learn the technique. Getting ready to present Gottman workshops in Sydney starting Tuesday

Arrived in Australia to give two workshops, Couples and Addiction Recovery, and co-presenting with Liz Neal Gottman Leve...
10/12/2022

Arrived in Australia to give two workshops, Couples and Addiction Recovery, and co-presenting with Liz Neal Gottman Level 2 training Assessment, Interventions, and Comibidities. Touring a week in front of the workshops being held in Sydney starting in Melbourne, on the Ayer’s Rock, then Sydney next week.

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The Couple Recovery Community Advocacy

MISSION STATEMENT: Through ongoing research and collaboration with couples and professionals, the Couple Recovery Development Approach (CRDA) and philosophy supports, encourages, and advocates a holistic approach to addiction recovery addressing and supporting individual and couple recovery from addiction.

CRDA is a research-based model to help couples impacted by addiction. Intervention with couples in early recovery is still considered inappropriate in many if not most addiction treatment programs, despite the lack of empirical studies to support this position. My research over the last years has led to an evolution in rethinking that position, to now advocate for couples impacted by addiction with resources and tools to navigate the path from active addiction to early recovery. I am grateful for the support I have received form Drs. Julie & John Gottman and the Gottman Institute to develop interventions and workshops for recovering couples, and to offer training for professionals who work with couples. This training has extended nationally and internationally.

“Roadmap for the Journey” is a two-day Gottman Institute sponsored research-based relational model of addiction recovery designed to support simultaneously three separate recoveries: each partner’s recovery and their relationship recovery. Maintaining separate individual recoveries helps partners identify and work on their own recovery issues, but often the relationship is overlooked or ignored in the process. This model is based on over 15 years of research by Dr. Navarra who developed the "Couple Recovery Development Approach", integrating Gottman research and methods. Roadmap has been sponsored by treatment programs in northern and southern California, Seattle, and Arizona. A two-day version is held in clinical therapeutic settings, a one-day version, focusing on communication tools for couples in recovery is now being offered in community settings.

“Couples and Addiction Recovery” (CAR), is a one-day Gottman-sponsored workshop designed for counselors, therapists, and addiction professionals who work, or plan to work, with couples impacted by addiction, and/or are now in recovery, but needing additional tools to heal from the impact of addiction and recovery. This workshop offers 14 interventions participants can implement immediately with couples and groups. Participants learn assessment tools and strategies to help couples get into recovery and develop a strong recovery for their relationship that supports their individual health and recovery.