Brent Atkinson, PhD

Based on new discoveries in neurobiology and the science of intimate relationships, my approach will help you and your partner each more fully develop a core set of emotional habits that have been proven to lead to satisfying relationship over 90% of the time. Throughout the process you can expect that I will... - understand and care about the things that are most important to you. - expertly guide you (and/or your partner) through the stages needed for healing and change to occur. - provide clear direction and give step-by-step guidance about how to do things differently. - operate on the basis of established scientific evidence about relationships, rather than personal opinion.

Dr. Atkinson is a primary creator of pragmatic/experiential therapy for couples. This approach utilizes neurological research to revolutionize our approach to relationships. Dr. Atkinson is also the author of Developing Habits for Relationship Success and Emotional Intelligence in Couples Therapy: Advances from Neurobiology and the Science of Intimate Relationships. He directs post-graduate training at the Couples Research Institute in Geneva, Illinois. He also has a senior graduate faculty post at Northern Illinois University. Dr. Atkinson's groundbreaking research has been the topic of numerous keynote addresses at professional conferences and many articles in professional journals, He has also been discussed in publications such as The Washington Post, The Oprah Magazine, Cosmopolitan, and many other media outlets. Dr. Atkinson is a co-founder of the Couples Clinic, home to a team of therapists and educators who are constantly developing new approaches to improving romantic relationships. The clinic's approach is widely used by marriage therapists and educators in the U.S. The clinic draws from long-term research studies that identify the traits of both successful and unsuccessful couples, as well as research showing how emotional attachments function in marriage and why these attachments are so critical. The center also builds its work upon new neurological studies showing how we can recondition our old patterns of interaction and change our brains in a way that makes it possible to make healthier choices. You can learn more about the Couples Clinic, our seminars, and the experiences of couples who have benefited form our work by visiting our website. We welcome couples of diverse backgrounds, and do not discriminate according to race, age, marital status, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.