What is one goal of the Dreams Within Conflict intervention?

The primary goal of the Dreams Within Conflict intervention is to explore the underlying dreams of each partner. This approach focuses on identifying the deeper emotional needs and aspirations that lie beneath the surface of a conflict. By understanding and expressing these dreams, couples can gain insight into what is truly important to each other, fostering empathy and connection. This exploration is essential in creating a shared understanding that can help de-escalate tensions and promote effective communication.

In this context, changing the content of a conversation may not address the core emotional issues, which could lead to unresolved conflicts. Similarly, resolving the conflict immediately overlooks the importance of understanding the dreams and values that are at stake. Lastly, temporarily separating the couple would not facilitate the exploration of their underlying emotions, as the intervention aims to bring couples together to discover and validate each other’s dreams rather than creating distance. Thus, the focus on exploring dreams highlights a key principle of Gottman's approach—prioritizing emotional connection in understanding and navigating conflicts.