What if couples could take their relationship vitamins or medicine in order to prevent and treat problems in their relationships or restore their struggling relationship back to health? Here, two seasoned relationship experts address the top problems in relationships and provide simple strategies and exercises, grounded in relationship science, that couples can use to have the healthiest - and happiest - relationship of their lives. The reader will benefit from discussions about research on effective communication strategies, adult attachment styles, cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, and lessons learned from decades of relationship research - all presented in an easy to digest fashion, making Relationship Rx an easy pill to swallow. As Griffin and Schwartz tackle the major issues most couples face (or will inevitably face), they offer a tiered approach to mild, moderate, or severe relationship symptoms - each requiring various levels of intervention . The reader is introduced to three new couples in each chapter - all struggling to some degree in their marriages or long-term relationships. Each chapter concludes with a series of practical relationship exercises or techniques that couples can do in their own homes. Any couple hoping to prevent or address those issues in their relationships that often derail couples will find a relatable resource here and easy-to-implement strategies for restoring even the most challenges relationships.
Jessica L. Griffin, PsyD, is professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, where she has been a faculty member since 2006. Dr. Griffin is a nationally recognized expert in Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), trauma, and relationships. As Principal Investigator and Executive Director, she developed the UMMS Child Trauma Training Center, now known as Lifeline for Kids. In April of 2020, Dr. Griffin was awarded a multi-year, multimillion dollar grant to develop the national Resilience through Relationships Center, housed at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. She is a co-author of Childhood Trauma and Resilience, A Practical Guide, and has received numerous awards for her work. She has been featured on NPR, BBC, US News and World Report, Fox News, the Insider, Sirius XM Doctor Radio, People Magazine, Readers' Digest, iHeartRadio, the New York Post, MedScape, the Daily Mail, and hundreds of other news and media outlets. Griffin has been an expert and consultant on several television docuseries about relationships, marriage and divorce on A&E's Lifetime Television network including: Seven Year Switch, Married at First Sight, Honeymoon Island, and Happily Ever After. She has a private consulting and coaching business and is the CEO of LoveBuilder, which provides educational online courses to couples, singles, and parents. Dr. Jessica resides in Massachusetts. Pepper Schwartz, PhD, is a highly acclaimed relationship and sexuality professional. She is a professor in the Sociology Department at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she has created the Pepper Schwartz fellowship on intimate relationships and sexuality. She is also on the advisory board of the University of Minnesota Medical School's Program in Human Sexuality where they have created an endowed professorship in her name: the Pepper Schwartz Professorship on Sexuality and Life Cycle Aging. She is Past President of the international group of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexualities, A member of the International Academy of Sex Research, and Past President of the Pacific Sociological Association. She was the Love, Sex and Relationship Ambassador and columnist for AARP and AARP.com for over ten years. She is the only original expert on Married at First Sight and has remained with the franchise since Season One. She resides outside of Seattle.
Table of Contents Acknowledgements.....................................................................................................................XX Introduction.................................................................................................................................XX Fear of Change................................................................................................................1 Trust................................................................................................................................20 Emotional Intimacy.........................................................................................................50 Sex and Attraction.............. ............................................................................................73 Unfulfilled Needs and Unmet Expectations....................................................................92 Boredom..........................................................................................................................108 Disrespect and Contempt................................................................................................126 Household Responsibilities.............................................................................................149 Money and Finances.......................................................................................................171 Friends and Family........................................................................................................188 Children and Parenting...................................................................................................208 Conclusions.................................................................................................................................228 Bibliography................................................................................................................................
Offers a prescription for restoring the struggling relationship back to health.
This is an amazing book, wise and extremely useful. It is a must read for anyone who wants to have emotionally satisfying relationships. Buy this book! It will change your life.--John Gottman, Author of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work Dr. Pepper and Dr. Jessica have made an outstanding contribution to relationship health in this book. Relationship Rx is a beautiful blend of head and heart. They have managed to provide a respectable amount of scientific data and yet have given the reader fun and digestible ways of finding practical solutions to serious relationship issues. Whether discovering your own relationship attachment style or treading the murky waters of parenting, they have given actionable steps to find hope. Their narratives of couple conflicts and resolutions will prove an unquestionable benefit to anyone who is serious about finding help with any relationship they are experiencing.--Cal Roberson, TV relationship expert (Married at First Sight), author of Marriage Ain't for Punks Need a good relationship Rx? Here's your ticket to a longer, richer and deeper partnership. Griffen and Schwartz have given us a pile of wise and original ideas on how to build and keep life's greatest prize--a happy partnership.--Helen Fisher, MD, lead advisor for chemistry.com, scientific advisor for Match.com, author of The Anatomy of Love Relationships - even the most excellent ones - are often messy with maladies, and Relationship RX provides practical, proven, and insightful support from renowned specialists Griffin and Schwartz to help couples live enriched lives together through thick and thin. Based on real world common couple challenges, this book provides use-it-today guidance to help relationships in all stages of development be more fulfilling, sustainable, and alive. It is a resource I recommend to all my patients who are looking to improve intimacy and connection in their relationship.--Serena McKenzie, ND, IF, NCMP, founder of Whole Life Medicine, specialist in sexual medicine This book authored by two outstanding experts offers hope and practical help for couples dealing with troubled relationships and trying to find authentic and meaningful intimacy. A useful guide for anyone searching for answers and a great companion to the work of a couple's therapist.--Eli Coleman, PhD, director of Human Sexuality program at Univ. of Minnesota, prev. director of Institute on Gender and Sexual Health
