Married And Alone

Over the unpredictable course of a marriage, many unavoidable realities and obstacles challenge the nature of the relationship and strain the bonds of intimacy. Married and Alone identifies the ways in which relationships frequently break down and provides usable tools through which they can be mended. Peter M. Rosenzweig, Ph.D., an experienced clinical psychologist and marital therapist, encourages the reader to examine those behaviors that may be undermining long-term commitment. Syndromes such as Competition Cycle, Shaming and Blaming, the Masking of Fear, and the Crisis of Trust are exposed as key hindrances to a couple's healthy development. Using rich, illustrative clinical vignettes, Dr. Rosenzweig highlights the importance of recognizing each other's feelings and needs in order to lay the groundwork for restoring intimacy. He describes life situations that are likely to impair and strain relationships, for example: . A wife's conflicting responsibilities to husband, home, and career, resulting in a loss of personal dreams and a feeling of being alone; . A husband's painful frustration and shame in trying to "fix" those he loves and sometimes losing closeness in the process; . A couple caught in a competitive power struggle, preventing them from achieving what they both need; . A poor sexual relationship traceable to hidden emotional wounds that resist healing and drain intimacy; . A bout of anger or jealousy brought on by the shift in attention from partner to children. Through an examination of kinds of conflicts common to the contemporary marriage, Dr. Rosenzweig helps the reader understand the dynamics underlying maligned trust that can occur in a relationship. He firmlyguides the reader toward "the way back," the path that must be taken to restore the trust that is vital to a marriage. The author has woven a rich tapestry of the nuances of marital behavior and asserts the fundamental need to acknowledge and assimilate personal differences before a new closeness can be forged. Unlike many other books of this genre, Married and Alone offers troubled couples a value-centered approach directed toward an enduring commitment. Not only general readers but also marriage and family therapists, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers, as well as concerned couples, will find this compassionate book a hopeful and instructive guide.