James V. Cordova Ph.D.

Dr. James Cordova is Professor of Psychology at Clark University and the Director of the Relationship Checkup Program in Worcester, Massachusetts. A leading figure in couples research and therapy, Dr. Cordova developed The Relationship Checkup, a proactive relationship healthcare intervention designed to prevent relationship deterioration through an annual relationship health checkup, akin to a physical health checkup.

Dr. Cordova was co-Pincipal Investigator, alongside retired Lt. Colonel Jeffrey Cigrang, on a $1.3M DoD-funded grant to conduct a full-scale randomized control trial of The Relationship Checkup in the Air Force’s integrated behavioral healthcare settings. This study demonstrated that the checkup is easily adapted to primary-care settings in the Air Force and significantly improves relationship health and reduces depression among airmen and their spouses.

As the founder and president of Arammu: The Relationship Checkup, Inc., Dr. Cordova leads efforts to disseminate the checkup across both military and civilian populations, aiming to enhance overall relationship health nationwide. Arammu Inc. currently partners with the Office of the Secretary of Defense to train over one thousand military and family life counselors serving all branches of the military.

Previously, Dr. Cordova served as PI on a one-million-dollar NIH grant investigating the efficacy of The Marriage Checkup in civilian populations. He also collaborated with Dr. Kristi Coop Gordon on a $3.1 million ACF grant to implement The Marriage Checkup in primary care settings for low-income couples.

Dr. Cordova is the author of The Marriage Checkup: A Scientific Program for Sustaining and Strengthening Marital Health, a self-help book based on his research, and The Marriage Checkup Practitioner’s Guide: Promoting Lifelong Relationship Health, published by APA Press. Additionally, he wrote The Story of Mu, a children's book for adults about Zen. His work has been extensively covered in media outlets such as The New York Times Science section, the Washington Post, CNN, the Rachael Ray show, and Good Morning America. He

His latest book, The Mindful Path to Intimacy, to be published by Guilford Press, explores relational intimacy as a spiritual practice from a mindfulness perspective. Blending research, clinical literature, and Zen mindfulness, the book covers topics such as vulnerability, attachment, deep listening, interconnectedness, physical intimacy, emotional reactivity, relationship patterns, forgiveness, conflict resolution, and coping with illness and loss. It includes specific mindfulness practices and serves as a practical workbook for couples and individuals, targeting therapists, counselors, mindfulness practitioners, and spiritual seekers.

Dr. Cordova also hosts Relationship Checkup and other workshop for mental health providers. These workshops focus on applying an evidence-based, strengths-based model of preventative relationship healthcare and certify participants as Relationship Checkup providers.