We are very sorrowful to inform you that Sue Johnson passed away at 76 years old due to cancer. She was a close friend and esteemed coworker. We cared for her greatly. She provided us with deep understanding on how to establish connection and safety in intimate relationships. Sue utilized attachment theory to effectively explain the logic of emotions and how they can serve as a guide to our interpersonal needs once they are revealed. Expressing these needs within a loving, secure environment can steer a couple towards enduring love.
From the beginning, Sue formulated a theory on adult romantic relationships which she put to the test through empirical methods. She embodied the qualities of both a healer and a scientist. Additionally, she possessed the ability to eloquently communicate her insights through poetry and lyrical expression. Upon noticing that some couples were struggling with her emotionally-focused therapy, she revisited the data and discovered that in most cases, there was an unfortunate incident that caused an attachment injury. She then demonstrated that healing this attachment injury increased the effectiveness of her therapy. This combination of science guided by clinical intuition is unparalleled.
The three of us used to engage in profound discussions about the intricacies of love and how to further explore its orchestration. Sue also attended a Gottman Institute Summit conference with us years ago, which was one of our most successful experiences. She was always open to sharing her insights. It's fair to say that we held a mutual admiration for each other.
Sue viewed relationship synchrony as a beautiful dance that could inspire a couple's imagination and intimacy. She unlocked a valuable source of love and connection that could mend and cultivate a secure bond. What a meaningful life she lived.
We will deeply miss her.
