For Therapists
A between-session tool for couples you work with.
What Riparo is
Riparo is a simple mobile app that guides couples through a structured listening exercise. One partner speaks, the other mirrors and empathizes, and then they switch. The structure is inspired by principles from the Gottman Method, including active listening, validation, and reflective response.
How it may help your clients
- Practice between sessions. Clients can rehearse the listening skills you teach them without needing your presence.
- Low friction. No accounts, no cloud, no journal logs. Nothing about their conversations leaves their device.
- A shared structure. The app provides a neutral framework so couples don't have to negotiate who speaks first or when to stop.
- A soft landing for conflict. The speaker's side and listener's side are clearly separated, which can de-escalate charged conversations.
What Riparo is not
Riparo is not therapy. It is not a diagnostic tool, and it does not replace professional counseling. It is a structured exercise, similar to a guided homework sheet, delivered through a phone screen.
We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with The Gottman Institute.
Privacy
Riparo collects no personal data. Everything a couple enters stays on their device. There are no accounts and no analytics. You can recommend the app to clients without concerns about their conversations being stored externally.
How it works, briefly
- Each partner checks in with how they are feeling.
- One partner speaks, while the other uses suggested opening prompts.
- The listener mirrors back what they heard, then empathizes.
- They switch roles and repeat.
- At the end, both partners check in again and see a summary of their conversation.
Try it
Riparo is available on the App Store for a one-time $2.99 purchase. Google Play is coming soon.
Get in touch
If you are a therapist or counselor and have feedback, questions, or would like to talk about how Riparo fits into your practice, we would love to hear from you.