It has been estimated that nearly twenty percent of the one million divorces each year in the US involve high-conflict relationships. Angry, emotional disputes related to custody, parenting time, child support payments, visitation and more may go on for years. Who suffers? The children, mostly. Post-divorce conflict may be the most significant factor in adjustment (or maladjustment) for children of divorce. DEFUSING THE HIGH CONFLICT DIVORCE is a practical guide for therapists and others who work with angry divorcing couples. The book offers a unique set of proven programs for quelling the hostility in high-conflict co-parenting couples, and “defusing” their prolonged, bitter and emotional struggles.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Excellent book for professionals who deal with high-conlict divorces and for their clients
In “Defusing the High-Conflict Divorce,” the authors get underneath the surface of high-conflict divorces and describe the types of dysfunction occurring in these families — dysfunctions which are often not recognized for what they are by legal or mental health professionals. Problems in both the legal and mental health fields that contribute to our dysfunctional adversarial system of divorce are outlined. The authors share information about the kinds of interventions that work and those that don’t, in resolving the underlying issues in the family. Throughout the focus is on reducing the parental conflict so that parents are able to meet their children’s needs. This book is crucial for legal and mental health professionals who work with divorcing families. It can also offer hope to divorcing couples that there are alternatives other than litigation for resolving conflict.

5 Stars How to prevail if your job is to be the cooler head
Couples who divorce and stay angry at each other, making ongoing demands and endless accusations, creating volatile situations around issues like child custody, and refusing to be reasonable no matter how much professional guidance they get are a drain on legal and therapeutic resources. They’re a major pain for counselors and court personnel, whose efforts are wasted when the feuding exes behave like irrational children.

This book’s four authors pooled their expertise in dealing with high-conflict divorce cases to create a resource for other helping professionals. The result is a savvy guide, brimming with common sense and cool-headed ways to resolve conflict and reduce the frustration of toxic post-divorce relationships. How can you help this couple manage their anger toward each other? How can you get them to put their children first and encourage them to be reasonable with each other? How do you keep them focused on issues, and not each other’s personalities? These are a few of the important questions answered in this frank, perceptive volume.

The book begins with an eye-opening overview — incorporating solid research and the authors’ own clinical experience — of what really happens when ex-spouses with children keep fighting. A discussion of dysfunctional patterns that helpers are likely to encounter follows, detailing categories such as co-parents who put their kids in the middle of their fights; substance abuse in one or both exes; one or both ex-partners being accused of mental illness; and other varieties of wheel-spinning pitfalls that cause a lot of collateral damage. There are illustrative examples and a wealth of practical advice here about how to deal with these challenges.

Another part of the book offers an insider’s view of the legal and mental health systems that deal with high-conflict divorces. The emphasis is on key figures, like attorneys, judges, and clinicians, who can influence a combative situation toward either peace or escalating war. The authors explore alternatives to litigation and stress proven interventions (including a highly successful program developed by Price and Margerum) and demonstrate how helpers can get involved in high-conflict cases without finding themselves sucked into the maelstrom of post-divorce bitterness.

This is a clear, astute resource sure to boost the confidence and optimism of anyone responsible for sorting out the complications of high-conflict divorce.

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PROBLEM: If you are a woman who is unfulfilled in your marriage…if you feel unheard or overburdened…if you quietly live in a state of slow-burn resentment…

PROBLEM: If you are a man unhappy that your partner seems so unhappy with you…if you feel bewildered, unappreciated, or betrayed…

Bestselling author and nationally renowned therapist Terrence Real unearths the causes of communication blocks between men and women in this groundbreaking work. Relationships are in trouble; the demand for intimacy today must be met with new skills, and Real — drawing on his pioneering work on male depression — gives both men and women those skills, empowering women and connecting men, radically reversing the attitudes and emotional stumbling blocks of the patriarchal culture in which we were raised. Filled with powerful stories of the couples Real treats, no other relationship book is as straight talking or compelling in its innovative approach to healing wounds and reconnecting partners with a new strength and understanding.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars How Can I get through to you?
This book was written before the Marriage book Terry wrote. In some ways I got more information that I needed. If you are trying to improve any relationship this book is a must read. Terry Real is right on!

5 Stars Own Up!
That’s what this book helps you to do…it’s hard to seperate responsibility when emotions are running high. Sometimes it just helps to know that someone else has been where you are and lived to tell about it!

5 Stars Relational Intimacy in an Era of Changing Roles
This is an excellent book. Real has thought through couple’s issues in a smart way, refreshingly different than many who have preceded him.

In this book, Real faces head-on the reality that many women come into couples work with fierce anger, frustrated by trying to achieve true emotional intimacy with their man. His premise is that many women’s responsibilities and aspirations have grown as part of the women’s movement and their resulting, empowered roles, during decades when many men’s roles and expectations have progressed less dramatically. As difficult as the tone of the anger and complaint, Real suggests the substance of women’s frustrations is right-on, which will provide some much needed vindication for women readers.

This book is full of composite examples of couples-therapy sessions where the woman’s attitude sounds in complaint and withering anger. The man in these examples sounds clueless, and deeply hurt by the woman’s anger. Real’s prototypical woman comes off like a nag, shaming while complaining. It is at this point where men typically recoil avoiding facing women’s needs, and their own fears.

In Real’s analysis, unconscious and almost always unacknowledged entitlement characterizes the man’s side of the relationship problems. We were raised to quietly sit back in much that happens in the home, letting things take care of themselves. In reality, things don’t really take care of themselves; women are taking care of them. Men’s toughest work, it seems, is traditionally as breadwinner outside the home. Once home, perhaps enlightened some by the women’s movement, we may do some chores and help some with the kids. But we may also quietly avoid the challenging work of true relational intimacy with our woman. The man often sees no problem, or at least no rational issue.

The man may think, “what’s the problem: I am nice and thoughtful. I don’t rage or abuse…..” But the rub may be in his disengagement, and in his urgent avoidance of shame. Having studied male depression (I Don’t Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression”), Real understands that men’s issues are often driven by shame, where women’s are often driven by fear.

Because women are most heavily tasked with maintaining relationship, and are very often dependent on the man for economic and child-rearing reasons, women’s fears are usually first expressed circumspectly, on eggshells, rather than angrily. The fierce anger arises later — after more delicate strategies have maddeningly failed. The anger feels like poison to the man.

Real’s approach is much needed, and this book not only explains unflinchingly, but suggests ways out of the deadlock. There have been important contributions along the way – e.g., Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples. And there are libraries full of hyped up, supposed love-life panaceas. This fellow has a smart, tough set of insights, with ideas for finding our way out of the wilderness of too many current relationships. Highly recommended, for both men and women, and for couples therapists.

Real has since published an excellent follow up book structured a bit more as a “how to” guide: The New Rules of Marriage: What You Need to Know to Make Love Work. This is also very highly recommended.

2 Stars Not convinced
Mr. Real asserts as an established fact that traumatizing events in childhood cause us to adopt patriarchal male and female roles in our adult lives and in our relationships. Even if this were true – and for the record I wasn’t convinced – he has precious little in his book that a lay reader can take away and use. I found his writing style to be pedantic and touchy-feely at the same time (not an easy thing to pull off), and sprinkled with long stretches of incomprehensible gibberish. Why use one little word when ten big ones will do? The guy just wouldn’t get to the point.

Professionals in this field may have a better appreciation for the style and content of this book, but I would not recommend it to those in need of counsel.

5 Stars A must read for therapists as well as couples
I read this book to get continuing eductaion credits for my social work license. It’s completely changed how I look at the therapy process. It’s also completely changed how I look at my marriage. It provides an effective, yet not impossibly complicated, roadmap through the dilemmas and no-win situations in which couples find themselves. It gave me insights into what I was doing wrong, and ideas of how I could quickly change.

Is this a male bashing book? I thought so at first. As much as I liked the book, I resented being stereotyped as a male with a certain commitment to accomplishment at the expense of vulnerability and feelings. I’m actually just the opposite, a product of 1960’s encounter groups. Toward the end of the book, though, Real does acknowledge that every now and then there is a male who has the opposite problem. He’s in touch with feelings, the nurturing side of life, but perhaps viewed as a loser in the world of accomplishments. And that fits me dead on!

The book’s style isn’t typical for a book about therapy. There’s a great deal of self-revelation on Real’s part, and also many passages that would pass as high-caliber fiction were they not obviously based on fact. Real is a skillful writer. And that makes him easier to read.

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In Counseling with Choice Theory, Dr. William Glasser takes readers into his consulting room and illustrates, through a series of conversations with his patients, exactly how he puts his popular therapeutic theories into practice.

These vivid, almost novelistic case histories bring Dr. Glasser’s therapy to life and show readers how to get rid of the controlling, punishing I know what’s right for you psychology that crops up in most situations when people face conflict with one another.

Practical and readable, Counseling with Choice Theory is Dr. Glasser’s most accessible book in years.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Most Useful
This has become one of my most valued counseling companions. For those of you who are familiar with Glasser’s Choice Theory, this is a great look into his actual practice techniques as he relates real case studies he has lead and how he has applied CT in real-life situations.

Great read as well as a super resource.

5 Stars Before you buy…
I am a believer in many of Glasser’s ideas and use his theory within my work. I was so excited to find a new discussion of cases because I had grown so much from <>. I received this book and upon reading the first page realized I was reading something I had read before. This book is the paperback edition of <>. I recommend the book to anyone who desires to be empowered and wants to see where you have more choices than you think. However, if you’ve read (or like me own) <>, check out something else by Glasser.

5 Stars Another Grand Slam Home Run for William Glasser! Excellent!
This is in my opinion one of the best works by William Glasser, one that clearly illuminates both Dr. Glasser’s thought processes as well as the ethical grid from which he makes his peoplehelping decisions. His focus on choice as the central feature of all human difficulties as well as helping efforts clearly puts him inside of a most noble tradition that includes Thomas Szasz, Harold Greenwald and John Narciso. Regardless of whether you come to this book as a professional or as a layperson, I would recommend that you closely read, study and apply what you can from the sterling case studies Dr. Glasser lays out before you in this book.

5 Stars The Mind of A Therapist in Action
There is a certain fascination about reading case studies but these are special. The creator of Reality Therapy, William Glasser, opens his mind to the reader explaining the processes that guide his interventions with the clients. This gives a rare insight into the mind of a great therapist and theorist. The book contains 12 case studies some of which are documented over several sessions. They provide a range of typical counselling scenarios and Glasser explains how he applies Choice Theory through Reality Therapy. Several of the cases bring very modern issues into focus.

The book also offers the reader many ideas for dealing with the range of problems represented in its pages. Moreover, it shows clearly just how important a solid guiding theory is in the practice of therapy.

One comforting feature for the professional therapist is Glasser’s admission of doubts and even mistakes in his process as he sometimes backtracks to change the focus of his counselling. There is a lot to be learned from his exploratory methods.

I write as an Instructor in Reality Therapy with an obvious personal interest in having a resource such as this available to my own trainees. However I believe that the practice and theory presented in <> will interest all students of counselling and therapy. Its firm approval by people such as Albert Ellis, Gerald Corey and Peter Breggin is a fair indication that this book will have an appeal beyond the confines of Reality Therapy and Choice Theory.

For the lay reader there is the Choice Theory message of personal responsibility, that in all human predicaments we have a choice. This is a message of hope and optimism well suited to a book that greets a new millennium.

5 Stars Make the choice to read a wonderfully practtical guide
The next best thing to watching videos of his work! Glasser explains his techniques and concurrent thinking in a clear and concise manner. Great read and highly recommended.

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For use with the Saving Your Second Marriage Before It Starts DVD, the expanded and updated men’s and women’s workbooks include twenty-eight self tests and a group discussion guide. Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott help couples uncover and understand the dynamics each person brings into their second marriage, both as a man or woman and as an individual.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Excellent Guid For Remarriage
This workbook contains very thought provoking exercises that really help you to learn more about yourself and your partner. The concepts that the Parrotts cover in their book are enhanced by the activities. This should be a primer for remarriage.

4 Stars Good questions that need to be asked
Are you or your new mate carrying too much baggage to move on to a good and fulfilling relationship? There are questions that you might not generally feel comfortable asking about, or talking about, but with this book (and the accompanying opposite gender version) my guy and I were able to clear up a lot of things that we didn’t think was getting in our way, but turned out to be big for both of us. Now that we asked the pointed questions, compared our responses and beliefs, we are able to move on in a positive direction, with much less baggage weighing us down. I liked that we could go through the books long distance. We just compared our answers when we got together, since we are 800 miles apart at this time. It was worth it to invest the time and money. I believe it has allowed us to avoid some of the pitfalls of relationships after divorce.

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This collection bridges the gap between John Gottman’s popular theories of marital success and the unique application of therapeutic principles to real-life cases. Chapters apply the powerful Sound Marital House theory to difficult clinical issues such as comorbid psychopathologies, domestic violence, and extramarital affairs.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Very helpful
Having taken the 1st Gottman seminar, I found this book very helpful to extend my knowledge of how to apply Gottman’s interventions and theories to real couples with challenging problems. It was great to know I was not alone in needing to use interventions multiple times (where some of the Gottman texts makes it sound like more should happen with a first time intervention.) There are detailed examples and the therapists rationale for why and how they administered their interventions.

5 Stars book purchase
the book arrived on time and in great condition as promised. would buy from this seller again! =)

5 Stars A Must Have Book !
Great book for learning the Gottman approach, or any couples counseling, for various situations. Has nice parts where the therapist explains his/her rationale for why/what intervention was used and any experienced countertransference issues observed. Great learning tool for the novice and experienced couples therapist !

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In this ground-breaking book, Michele Weiner-Davis gives straightforward, effective advice on how couples can stay together instead of come apart.

Using case histories to illustrate her marriage-enriching, divorce-preventing techniques, which can be used even if only one partner participates, Weiner-Davis shows readers:

* How to leave the past behind and set attainable goals

* Strategies for identifying problem-solving behavior that works — and how to make changes last

* “Uncommon-sense” methods for breaking unproductive patterns

Inspirational and accessible, Divorce Busting shows readers in pain that working it out is better than getting out.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars This book was the start of saving my relationship
There was a point in my relationship where I didn’t know what to do, it was near over. A friend recommended reading this book and I got it right away. There are so many proactive suggestions that you can use that actually work. Of course, this isn’t the only thing that did save my relationship, but it sure got me onto a great start. I now recommend my friends who are having difficulties to get this book. It’s permanent in my personal library.

4 Stars Worthwhile strategies made understandable
I recommended this book to an acquaintance today who is, she believes, watching her marriage of 20+ years fall apart. Her helplessness is what reminded me of this wonderful book which I read more than 15 years ago and which saved ME and allowed my spouse and I to save our marriage. In fact, it began a journey that changed a great deal about how I look at life and what I understand about the power each of us has to control our feelings and reactions, and make helpful choices in a crisis.

I won’t go into detail because others have already covered most of that. I will say, however, that the lessons in this book are universal and can be applied to any relationship. Each of us is responsible for our feelings and for our actions and going through life depending upon or allowing others to determine how we feel is a recipe for misery.

If your marriage is confusing, shaky, destructive, unpleasant or at a “dead end”, or if you are feeling that it’s all “just happening to you” and you are powerless, this book is an excellent resource. You aren’t powerless. Get the book and read. It’s worth every penny.

5 Stars HOPE GIVER
This book was recomened by a wonderful Christian Doctor that I work for. He knew my son was going thru a critical time with his wife and offered to purchase this book for him. I got online and ordered one that night. When it arrived it was the first time my son really got excited about the fact that his marraige could be saved. We orderd another one of the books and had it sent to his wife. Truthfully there are not enough books or people that encourage a person to work hard at saving your marraige. Most will tell you to move on. True, saving a marriage is hard, hard, hard work, but this book helps you see it can be done and there are people out there who are willing to help you achive this goal. People with serious marraige problems have a hugh feeling of failure, and feel the only way to succeed is to move on and divorce. This book helps you see that being successful is finding the strenght and support and making your marriage work again!!!!

2 Stars Ho Hum
If there were a 2.5 stars selection I’d give it to this book.

Average in nature, it gives a reader a common sense approach, step by step, as the title touts. It is divided into three sections, first the “nuts and bolts” of the approach to helping the marriage. The second section tells the reader that communication is key and breaking the bad habits that you’ve made in your marriage. “Change yourself to change your marriage” is the premise. The third section primarily tells the reader to keep going with those newly formed habits and questions the reader “is working on my marriage working?” It gives a basic real world look at the union for the reader to decide if they want to keep the union together.

The first section is an absolute snore, I’m a psychology major and it bored me to death. I read on, hoping it would become more interesting. Lots of clinical jargon that didn’t even interest me with my college background, I studied that years ago. Not considering my jaded point of view from my studies in my opinion the average reader would not be able to wade through the clinical language and concepts presented.

It tells briefly some statistics of how marriage affects children, even into adulthood. The children feel as if the marriage falling apart were their faults and it haunts them for years to come. By using scare tactics such as that it apparently urges the reader to keep the union together because of the kids but basically in the same paragraph negates itself, telling the reader to not keep a loveless marriage in tact “just because of the kids”.

That being considered the average reader looking for marriage advice would put the book down less than halfway through the first section. It explains the concept of Solution-Oriented Brief Therapy, a “quick fix” type therapy that focuses on the end product of what would like to be achieved rather than focusing on the path that caused you to be where you’re at. My thoughts in reaction to that is for the reader to put on rose colored glasses and focus on the end product rather than the things between A and B.

The second section of the book is slightly more interesting although no real brain power needed. It’s the basic advice you’ll find in any marriage counseling book or website. “Communication is key” communicate to your spouse using “I” statements so that it’s non-confrontational. It does give some case studies showing the different dynamics for couples with the same problem, thus showing that not every couple is the same and won’t have the same “fix” for their problems.

It stresses breaking old, destructive habits that interfere with your relationship. This again is basic advice. Break the old, replace with new, more effective habits. Other advice is to make yourself happy and by that your spouse will be happy. Be kind to your spouse and it will return tri-fold to you, because you’re kind the spouse will be pleasantly surprised and return the favor.

The third section asks the reader if they feel that the changes have been effective and how they will continue to affect the relationship. Either the book has done one of two things at this point, it has helped and the changes necessary have been made or it’s been completely useless and the inevitable answer to that question will be “no”.

“A particular kind of problem doesn’t necessarily lead to divorce; it’s the unwillingness to change that destroys marriages”. (pg 218) Obviously change is needed to preserve a union, otherwise a reader would have never picked up this book. It questions the reader if they’ve given the changes enough time to work, this goes back to negate the first chapter where it states this is Solution Oriented Brief Therapy, brief being the operative word.

Suggestions are made to talk to other people about it or seek counseling from a licensed family or marriage counselor. With that in mind the counselor will be using a totally different technique than that described in the book as it’s not widely viewed as effective in the long run.

The book offers some parting words, not necessarily a fourth section but included anyway. It offers a congratulations to the reader for actually finishing the book, urges them to seek further help and to keep those positive habits going. It tells the reader to let go of grudges that prevent them from moving forward with the relationship. Bear in mind that a stress point is to keep the reader from “going through the motions” of fixing things without really trying, obviously that’s counterproductive.

“It reminds people that the vast majority of relationship problems are solvable and the vast majority of marriages are worth the effort required to make them work.” Is the final words offered to the reader, it sums up what the beginning of the book explains to him/her.

Overall I’d not recommend this book or technique to someone with marital problems, there are far more effective ways to solve problems in my opinion. At least I only paid $4 for it.

5 Stars Good book, good advice
this book offered some very practical advice on how to mend a marriage and how important it is to try to resolve difference to maintain the marriage. It makes a very valuable point that there’s really no point in trying to decide who is to blame for the problems, but just work on fixing them.

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If you re about to pop the question, this book will be a great way to communicate with your future life mate. This book contains approximately 250 questions that will stimulate many heart-to-heart conversations in each of the seven basic areas of life. The book also has steps for resolving disagreements. Pre-Marriage Counseling: This book can literally save you hundreds of hours per year of pre-marriage counseling time. These are the heart-to-heart questions you ask before you say “I Do” to make sure this is the right person for you. A very appropriate pre-marriage gift for any friend.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Get the Answers Before the Test
My husband and I went through this book prior to marriage. When an unexpected pregnancy came we had already discussed how we would deal with an unexpected pregnancy emotionally, financially, and the changes to our plans. Our child was born 11 months after our marriage with a birth defect. Both of us were better able to discuss and handle this difficult situation because we “role-played” the situation before we were married. This book is a relationship saver and I highly recommend it.

5 Stars Excellent book
A great book that is really just a list of questions – all of which you need to know about a future spouse and many that probably never occured to you. The anti-Christian review below is ridiculous – what is “Christian” about asking your thoughts about your child’s education or how much money you make? NONE of the questions are specific to Christians. Only a few questions deal with religion at all and they are just as important to athiests (such as, do you want to go to church when we get married).

1 Star The book is not as described.
You need to know that this book is written for Christians. I never would have bought this book if any part of the description mentioned this fact. The description of this book should be more explicit so Christians can buy it and the rest of us can avoid wasting our money.

4 Stars Review of pre-marriage book
We have not yet finished the book because there are many questions in it but we have enjoyed sharing our answers to the questions as we think about our possible life together. The questions are well chosen and are helping us think through what we expect from ourselves and from our prospective partner in the years ahead. We have found it to be very useful and can recommend it to any couple contemplating marriage.

5 Stars Getting to know the one you love…..
This is an excellent book to get to know the one you are in love with. Makes you ask all those questions that you are afraid to ask or perhaps haven’t thought of. Makes you reveal all the things that two people should know about one another before they get hitched.

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This is the Participant’s Guide for the Boundaries in Marriage GroupWare, a complete resource kit for groups of all sizes which will encourage the kind of spiritual and emotional growth and character development that enables marriage–within God’s boundaries–to be fun, spiritually fulfilling, and growth producing.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Marriages staying together
I think that this book is wonderful for couples who are married and trying to stay together. It helps you to understand things that every marriage experience. It is even good for those couples who are having problems it helps you to see things from another perspective.

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Now in paperback! “The #1 self-help book for 2000″ (USA Today) and the #1 New York Times bestseller, with 1 million copies in print.”

After successfully helping hundreds of thousands of people take responsibility for their own actions, Dr. Phil McGraw now turns his expertise to the primary area of concern troubling most people: their relationships. In his tell-it-like-it-is style that already has influenced millions of Oprah viewers, “Dr. Phil” blows the whistle on the rhetoric of traditional “couples therapy” and instead tells you that — no matter what state your relationship is in — not only are you responsible for it, you are responsible for getting it back on track. By doing this, he offers readers the chance for further happiness through meaningful, fulfilling relationships that work.

Dr. Phil McGraw sets the record straight on the most popular myths about what a good relationship is supposed to be, such as:

Myth #1: A great relationship depends on a great meeting of the minds

Myth #6: A great relationship lets you vent all your feelings

Myth #7: A great relationship has nothing to do with sex

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star Not his best
This book is not what it is hyped to be, Not very informative and not what I thought it would be.

3 Stars Take Charge of Your Relationship
“When you own your relationship, you must hold up the mirror to look at yourself. You will finally realize that whatever your partner is doing, you are either eliciting, maintaining, or allowing that behavior.” ~ 97

It is difficult to work on your relationship by yourself. That said, Dr. Phil believes you have a lot more control than you think. By analyzing your relationship you learn about the areas that need improvement. The book begins with a questionnaire of sixty-two sentences. You choose true or false then instantly find out if your relationship is in distress.

It takes quite a lot of time to answer all the other questions including sentences you complete and analyze. You may think you have a pretty good relationship until you see what the test results are. This book may even temporarily make your relationship worse, especially if you try to get your partner to take any of the tests. The 17 page family history evaluation did seem a little over the top.

This book requires you to make a commitment to making your relationships work. It is an extremely detailed program designed to improve your relationship in a matter of weeks. You learn to agree to disagree or to argue more effectively. You develop relationship skills instead of relying on the feelings (infatuation) you felt at the start of the relationship. Dr. Phil then delves into the dark side that can sabotage a relationship.

Dr. Phil completes the book with questions he thinks you might want to ask him and then in conclusion he writes a separate letter to women and then to men. For the most part this book is complicated yet engaging. The tests are fun to take if you have the time and they do reveal aspects you might not uncover in a more casual conversation. Dr. Phil takes on all the difficult subjects and puts the ball in your court. In one sense it can be discouraging to work on a relationship by yourself and on the other hand your partner might actually get involved in making the relationship work. “Relationship Rescue” is one of the most intense relationship books I’ve ever read.

~The Rebecca Review

5 Stars Relationship Rescue
From what my husband and I have read so far, there is a lot to learn from Dr. Phil’s Relationship Rescue. We also bought the workbook to go along with it and would highly suggest that people do that as well. The two resources put together are wonderfully productive. Just don’t expect a “how to get your spouse to change” book, this is a book designed to help you better yourself. You realize what you are doing wrong so that you can begin doing the right things. Eventually, your spouse will come around based on your actions. The old proverb that goes something along the lines of kill meanness with kindness definetely applies here.

4 Stars My books of the month
My past months pick for best books are the two SKBF Publishing’s best selling which was recommended by anther reader and I am glad I listened

1) Rumi & Self Psychology (Psychology of Tranquility)

2) Sara’s Therapy: The Way to Purity (A session by session therapy for self growth)

And two other books

3) Seat of the Soul

4) Changing your anxious mind

Who am I? No one important, just read a lot of books about psychology and spirituality and science. I love telling people about the books I like.

5 Stars Not Bad
The Doctor focuses on The Reader, and hammers away at making the point again and again that it is The Reader, not their partner, that must embrace change and improvement. It’s a strong book. I laughed at how he puts into light how good my relationship is by his standards of trouble. My reasons for buying and reading this book are the same as anyone’s for buying a self-helper: uncharted territory and the wish of self-improvement.

My only concern is that this book would most likely never help those who are the ones who really need it. It makes strong points to this itself: You cannot control or change other people. And those who need this book are probably not smart enough to even consider reading it or seeing the need to change and modify themselves.

Thanks Dr. Phill. I am glad I read your book. It is strong and helpful.

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User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Excellent ! A must read !
I have read close to 50 books on relationships, marriage, etc… and this is by far the most valuable book I have read on the topic. It’s short, to the point, written simply and clearly. No psycho-babble here ! Each chapter covers one point, an example to illustrate the point and a summary list of what action to take. He covers how to get rid of resentment, conflict, heal the hurt and find the issues that destroy love. Definitely a life-changing book !

5 Stars This Book Changed My Life
This book changed my life and the way I handle all relationships. I am recommending it to all of my friends.

It taught me that learning to let go is the key to healing any relationship. And though it sounds anti-intuitive, learning to let go brings people closer. I think it is useful for all people, not just married people going through a difficult time but unmarried people too. (I am not married, not even engaged–just in a long distance relationship.) This book has made me a stronger person and this positive attitude has permeated my relationship with my boyfriend.

5 Stars Not only for intimate relationships
This is a well-written and insightful book on relationships and how they relate to the individual. In fact, your relationships truly ARE all about YOU. The author dispells the theory that relationships are 50/50. I never thought of it quite this way, but as he points out they are truly 100/100. Both persons are FULLY responsible for what happens in a relationship. It is all about actions and reactions. You can apply the concepts in this book to intimate relationships as well as working relationships…whatever… Anytime two people interact you have a relationship.

One caveat is that you may find yourself thinking that there is a bit of repetition of the same ideas in the book. Well, there are repetitions. However, they are useful and the repetition is not excessive.

Even if you are in a fabulous relationship/marriage, you owe it to yourself to read this book. It is relatively short and is a quick read. Most of the concepts in the book are nothing new, but the presentation forces you to really think it through. I suspect that you will find yourself thinking “I never really thought of it exactly like that before” quite a few times as you read.

Easy read, well written, good concepts, buy the book!

RHB

5 Stars Excellent Advice for How to Let Go
This is a great book that taught me how to let go. I’m going through a difficult separation process right now and it has given me the strength and the insights to let go and find my peace of mind. The book is not written with a lot of psychology wordiness but rather straight to the point with simple language that anyone can understand…

I would recommend this book to anyone who is going through a separation or divorce in their marriage.

5 Stars HOPE
Please read this book. To say this is the most important book I’ve ever read after the Bible is an understatement. I cannot strongly enough express my heartfelt recommendation for these simple, elegantly written, true words of how to place hope and faith in action. This book will give you insight, perhaps not the kind you’re expecting; in fact, it’s not what you’re expecting.

That is what makes this message unlike any other. Seriously, it is all true, based on our (wife) life changing relationship experience this book inspired. Bill’s book saved a marriage of 20 years. [also help from his brother Randy Ferguson - LCAProject.com] Nothing I’ve done or read has been more transformational than this work. Enough said.

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