Who We Are
Introducing Dr. John Gottman
John M. Gottman, Ph.D. is a Senior Scientist and founder of the Relationship Research Institute, a non-profit research institute dedicated to strengthening relationships through research. He is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Washington in Seattle and is one of the leading research scientists in the world on marriage, relationships and family.
Dr. Gottman is the author of over 130 journal articles and has authored, coauthored or edited over 30 books, including “Why Marriages Succeed or Fail,” “The Heart of Parenting: Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child,” (Simon and Schuster), “What Predicts Divorce?” (L. Erlbaum Assoc.), “The Marriage Clinic” (W.W. Norton); “The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work,” and “The Mathematics of Marriage, Dynamic Non-linear Models,” (MIT Press).
Dr. Gottman has conducted seminars, lectures and workshops throughout the world for his academic colleagues in the field of psychology and family relations. He has also appeared on numerous radio and television programs such as 20/20, Dateline NBC, Good Morning America, Eye to Eye, NPR’s Fresh Air, BBC and Discovery Channel documentaries, among others.
Introducing Dr. Renay Bradley
Renay P. Cleary Bradley, Ph.D. is the Research Director for the Relationship Research Institute and has worked extensively with the Senior Scientist, John Gottman, developing and implementing programs, and analyzing data from studies exploring parenting, marriage, and family relationships. Renay’s work has focused on identification of family-level protective factors that encourage healthy child development and discourage maladjustment. Renay has a special interest in conducting research that provides a solid foundation from which we can develop and implement programs and services that help families, including those experiencing the transition to parenthood.
Renay has worked in both clinical and research settings with families that have encountered adversities, such as intimate partner violence, child maltreatment, mental illness, and poverty. Renay also has extensive teaching experience and has taught undergraduate courses at the University of Washington on topics such as Research Methods in Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Stress & Coping. Renay has received awards for her teaching, service to the academic community, and research. She was the recipient of the 2007 American Psychological Association Division 43 Family Psychology Student Research Award.
Introducing Emily Nackley
In January, 2009, Emily Nackley began working as the Program Coordinator for Bringing Baby Home. She received her undergraduate at the University of California, Los Angeles, majoring in Sociology. After college she found she was more and more oriented towards marriage and family studies.
When she moved to Seattle from the San Francisco Bay Area in 2007, she learned of two doctors named Julie and John Gottman and fell in love with their research; so much so that she began working with the Relationship Research Insitute! Emily considers it an honor to be on staff with the "RRI", working as their Bringing Baby Home Program Coordinator.
Recently, Emily Nackley and her husband, CGE Lloyd Nackley, have officially made the transition to parenthood! Welcome to the world, Louis Lloyd Nackley, who made his official arrival at Swedish Hospital in Ballard on Sunday September 26, 2010. Emily reports that mom, dad, and baby are doing well. Emily is looking forward to having time to focus on being a mom and spending time with Baby Louis over the next several months.
Introducing Allison White
Since June 2009, Allison White has been working as a volunteer research assistant at the Relationship Research Institute and became a CGE herself this past February. While Emily is on maternity leave, Allison is working as the Assistant Program Coordinator for the Bringing Baby Home Program. Allison has a varied history working with families and young children, especially in the realm of aquatics: promoting safety knowledge to the parents, teaching swimming to all age and skill levels, giving parents teaching tips, and providing creative ways to learn the swimming skills in the context of games and play. She has also worked as an elementary school tutor and most recently she works as an in-home autism therapist assistant. Allison graduated Magna Cum Laude and received a B.A. in Psychology from Seattle University. She plans on applying for a doctorate in Clinical Psychology focusing on trauma and PTSD.