Trauma-Informed Design
Beyond Matching: Rewiring Romantic Intelligence
Clinical psychology meets matching technology
Year :
2024-2025 Clinical Validation
Industry :
Trauma-Informed Relationship Technology
Client :
Gottman Institute + Attachment Research Collective
Project Duration :
18 months psychometric development + 6 months pilot testing
Clinical Foundation - The Four Horsemen Intervention System
Beyond Matching synthesizes decades of peer-reviewed relationship psychology research into the first trauma-informed dating technology. Drawing from Gottman's Four Horsemen research, attachment science, and post-traumatic growth literature, this 156-gate system applies clinically-validated intervention methods to digital connection. Each interaction is designed using evidence-based principles from relationship therapy, creating technology that supports rather than undermines emotional wellbeing.
60 Safety Gates Preventing Gottman's Relationship Killers
Wouch embeds Dr. John Gottman's 40 years of relationship research directly into the matching algorithm through 60 Safety & Trauma Response gates. Each interaction is screened for contempt, criticism, defensiveness, and stonewalling patterns before they can damage connection. Unlike traditional apps that amplify harsh start-ups, Wouch's gates create what Gottman calls 'gentle start-up' conditions, intercepting harm patterns at the neurological level before they trigger fight/flight responses.
Attachment Science Application - State-Responsive Technology
45 Trust Gates Adapting to Your Attachment System
Drawing from Dr. Sue Johnson's EFT and Dr. Mary Ainsworth's attachment patterns, Wouch's 45 Attachment & Trust Dynamics gates recognize when users are in anxious, avoidant, or disorganized states and automatically adjust messaging pace and tone. This is the first technology that buffers attachment wounds rather than triggering them, creating what attachment theorists call 'earned security' through digital interaction design
Emotional Regulation Integration - Anti-Flooding Architecture
30 Communication Gates Preventing Emotional Overwhelm
Using Dr. Gottman's flooding research and Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication principles, Wouch's 30 Emotional Regulation gates detect when conversations approach emotional overwhelm and automatically introduce pacing, reflection prompts, and repair opportunities. This prevents what Gottman identified as the #1 predictor of relationship failure - flooding that leads to emotional shutdown.
Post-Traumatic Growth Framework - Window of Tolerance Expansion
21 Growth Gates Supporting Long-Term Nervous System Healing
Informed by Dr. Dan Siegel's 'window of tolerance' concept and Dr. Richard Tedeschi's Post-Traumatic Growth research, Wouch's final 21 gates focus on meaning-making, practice-to-habit integration, and long-term relational stability. This transforms dating from trauma repetition into active healing, making Wouch the first platform where finding love actually improves your nervous system capacity.
More Projects
Trauma-Informed Design
Beyond Matching: Rewiring Romantic Intelligence
Clinical psychology meets matching technology
Year :
2024-2025 Clinical Validation
Industry :
Trauma-Informed Relationship Technology
Client :
Gottman Institute + Attachment Research Collective
Project Duration :
18 months psychometric development + 6 months pilot testing
Clinical Foundation - The Four Horsemen Intervention System
Beyond Matching synthesizes decades of peer-reviewed relationship psychology research into the first trauma-informed dating technology. Drawing from Gottman's Four Horsemen research, attachment science, and post-traumatic growth literature, this 156-gate system applies clinically-validated intervention methods to digital connection. Each interaction is designed using evidence-based principles from relationship therapy, creating technology that supports rather than undermines emotional wellbeing.
60 Safety Gates Preventing Gottman's Relationship Killers
Wouch embeds Dr. John Gottman's 40 years of relationship research directly into the matching algorithm through 60 Safety & Trauma Response gates. Each interaction is screened for contempt, criticism, defensiveness, and stonewalling patterns before they can damage connection. Unlike traditional apps that amplify harsh start-ups, Wouch's gates create what Gottman calls 'gentle start-up' conditions, intercepting harm patterns at the neurological level before they trigger fight/flight responses.
Attachment Science Application - State-Responsive Technology
45 Trust Gates Adapting to Your Attachment System
Drawing from Dr. Sue Johnson's EFT and Dr. Mary Ainsworth's attachment patterns, Wouch's 45 Attachment & Trust Dynamics gates recognize when users are in anxious, avoidant, or disorganized states and automatically adjust messaging pace and tone. This is the first technology that buffers attachment wounds rather than triggering them, creating what attachment theorists call 'earned security' through digital interaction design
Emotional Regulation Integration - Anti-Flooding Architecture
30 Communication Gates Preventing Emotional Overwhelm
Using Dr. Gottman's flooding research and Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication principles, Wouch's 30 Emotional Regulation gates detect when conversations approach emotional overwhelm and automatically introduce pacing, reflection prompts, and repair opportunities. This prevents what Gottman identified as the #1 predictor of relationship failure - flooding that leads to emotional shutdown.
Post-Traumatic Growth Framework - Window of Tolerance Expansion
21 Growth Gates Supporting Long-Term Nervous System Healing
Informed by Dr. Dan Siegel's 'window of tolerance' concept and Dr. Richard Tedeschi's Post-Traumatic Growth research, Wouch's final 21 gates focus on meaning-making, practice-to-habit integration, and long-term relational stability. This transforms dating from trauma repetition into active healing, making Wouch the first platform where finding love actually improves your nervous system capacity.
More Projects
Trauma-Informed Design
Beyond Matching: Rewiring Romantic Intelligence
Clinical psychology meets matching technology
Year :
2024-2025 Clinical Validation
Industry :
Trauma-Informed Relationship Technology
Client :
Gottman Institute + Attachment Research Collective
Project Duration :
18 months psychometric development + 6 months pilot testing
Clinical Foundation - The Four Horsemen Intervention System
Beyond Matching synthesizes decades of peer-reviewed relationship psychology research into the first trauma-informed dating technology. Drawing from Gottman's Four Horsemen research, attachment science, and post-traumatic growth literature, this 156-gate system applies clinically-validated intervention methods to digital connection. Each interaction is designed using evidence-based principles from relationship therapy, creating technology that supports rather than undermines emotional wellbeing.
60 Safety Gates Preventing Gottman's Relationship Killers
Wouch embeds Dr. John Gottman's 40 years of relationship research directly into the matching algorithm through 60 Safety & Trauma Response gates. Each interaction is screened for contempt, criticism, defensiveness, and stonewalling patterns before they can damage connection. Unlike traditional apps that amplify harsh start-ups, Wouch's gates create what Gottman calls 'gentle start-up' conditions, intercepting harm patterns at the neurological level before they trigger fight/flight responses.
Attachment Science Application - State-Responsive Technology
45 Trust Gates Adapting to Your Attachment System
Drawing from Dr. Sue Johnson's EFT and Dr. Mary Ainsworth's attachment patterns, Wouch's 45 Attachment & Trust Dynamics gates recognize when users are in anxious, avoidant, or disorganized states and automatically adjust messaging pace and tone. This is the first technology that buffers attachment wounds rather than triggering them, creating what attachment theorists call 'earned security' through digital interaction design
Emotional Regulation Integration - Anti-Flooding Architecture
30 Communication Gates Preventing Emotional Overwhelm
Using Dr. Gottman's flooding research and Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication principles, Wouch's 30 Emotional Regulation gates detect when conversations approach emotional overwhelm and automatically introduce pacing, reflection prompts, and repair opportunities. This prevents what Gottman identified as the #1 predictor of relationship failure - flooding that leads to emotional shutdown.
Post-Traumatic Growth Framework - Window of Tolerance Expansion
21 Growth Gates Supporting Long-Term Nervous System Healing
Informed by Dr. Dan Siegel's 'window of tolerance' concept and Dr. Richard Tedeschi's Post-Traumatic Growth research, Wouch's final 21 gates focus on meaning-making, practice-to-habit integration, and long-term relational stability. This transforms dating from trauma repetition into active healing, making Wouch the first platform where finding love actually improves your nervous system capacity.