It is with great sadness that we announce that Sue Johnson has passed away from cancer at the age of 76. She is a dear friend and valued colleague. We love her very much. She provides us with great insights into how to be connected and safe in an intimate relationship. Sue uses attachment theory to brilliantly illustrate the logic of emotion and how, once revealed, it can become a guide to our interpersonal needs. These needs, once expressed in a loving, safe haven, can guide couples toward lasting love.
From the beginning, Sue created and empirically tested theories of adult love relationships. She combines the best qualities of a therapist with the best qualities of a scientist. She can also express her insights poetically and lyrically. When she observed some couples struggling while using her emotionally focused therapy, she reviewed the data and revealed that in most cases, there was a regrettable event that caused the attachment damage, and she then demonstrated that healing the attachment damage can Increase her attachment damage. Science guided by clinical intuition, it doesn’t get better than this.
The three of us had an in-depth discussion about the dance of love and how to further study the choreography of it. Sue also attended one of our best Gottman Institute summits a few years ago. She is always willing to share her insights. The simplest way to put it might be that we have a mutual admiration society.
For Sue, relationship synchrony can be a beautiful dance that inspires a couple’s imagination and intimacy. Sue Johnson taps into vital sources of love and connection that can heal and create safe connections. What a meaningful life she lived.
She will be deeply missed.