Books on Relationships

Behavioral Couples Therapy for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

Behavioral Couples therapy for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. Jacobson and colleagues have done research to improve the effectiveness of behavioral therapy by adding an element of "emotional acceptance." Jacobson and colleagues argue that some problems can be resolved by compromise, but some likely can not. The greatest harm to the couple comes not from the incompatibilities; rather, the greatest harm comes from the rigid, negative, and excessive emotional responses that develop from these unresolved issues. Thus, the IBCT model is based on a few simple ideas:


talking about how you feel and think about problems sometimes is necessary before you accept them most partners can learn ways to alter the negative emotional responses they have to problems, responses that make them, as well as their partners, unhappy  most partners can learn new ways to resolve problems and the emotions that come with them, as a result, most any couple can be happy and content

Emotional Intelligence in Couples Therapy: Advances from Neurobiology and the Science of Intimate Relationships

Emotional Intelligence in Couples Therapy. Brent Atkinson, Ph.D., is the principle architect of Pragmatic/Experiential Therapy for Couples, an approach that translates new scientific findings about the brain into practical methods for improving relationships. Dr. Atkinson is author of Developing Habits for Relationship Success, and Emotional Intelligence in Couples Therapy: Advances from Neurobiology and the Science of Intimate Relationships. He is Director of Post-Graduate Training at the Couples Research Institute in Geneva, Illinois and holds a senior graduate faculty post at Northern Illinois University. Dr. Atkinson's pioneering work has been the subject of dozens of professional journal articles, and has recently been featured in magazines and newspapers such as the Oprah Magazine, the Washington Post, Cosmopolitan Magazine, the Psychotherapy Networker, and others. A personable and engaging speaker, Dr. Atkinson is known for his ability to present complex scientific ideas in compelling and easy-to-understand ways. His seminars are packed with cutting-edge information, practical interventions, and handouts that can be given to clients. For more information about Brent and his work, please visit his website: www.thecouplesclinic.com  Comes with a CD that creates personalized reports for couples, Developing Habits for Relationshp Success.

Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples 1st Edition

Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples. "Greenberg and Johnson's description of the implementation of emotionally focused therapy is lively and abounds with clinical insights. Clinical material and transcripts are used liberally to illustrate points, and the balance achieved between exposition and illustration results in a highly readable text. The course of emotionally focused therapy is brought to life in a detailed case example that provides an almost palpable sense of the therapy."--Contemporary Psychology









The High Conflict Couple, DBT for Couples. "This is a highly recommended resource when one spouse (or significant other) has Borderline Personality Disorder. High Conflict Couple is a guide for couples seeking to ease their conflicts and deepen their relationship. This is an excellent book to share with your BPD partner as it doesn't make direct mention of BPD - other than that the authors are all leaders in the field of BPD.

"BPD" couples need more than just the run-of-the-mill relationship advice to solve relationship problems. When out-of-control emotions are the root cause of problems, no amount of effective communication or intimacy building will fix what ails it. According to Fruzzetti, what "high-conflict" couples need is help regulating the emotions that provoke the "escape or win" mode of interaction that has come to define them.

In this book, Fruzzetti, adapts these emotion regulation tools (dialectical behavior therapy - DBT) for use by couples. For example, Fruzzetti suggest analyzing the relationship and identify the issues that cause conflict ("triggers") - and then identify more constructive ways to handle them. Once you have identified the typical triggers and also identified more helpful alternatives; put them together - 1) imagine a trigger; 2) imagine remembering your goal (to improve your relationship); and 3) imagine responding in a self- respecting and respectful way. "

Harville Hendrix is a classic author on "Imago" Relationships and has several titles of value:

Charlotte Kasl writes about relationships, sexuality and spirituality:

Pia Mellody is my favorite author about codependency and intimacy from the recovery field.