An outline of how power, an inherent feature of social interactions, operates and affects close relationships.

Course objectives: Recognize relationship as an emotional healer; identify triggers, move through them, and come back into ease and alivenessDiscover how intimacy in relationship requires curiosity, wonder, and the ability to find the truth of one's experience deep in one's bodyDiscuss how to speak the "unarguable truth"; utilizing the eight step moving emotions process—moving from stuckness into emotional flowDefine three toxic habits within relationships and their antidotes—transforming our own behavior, as well as those around us through positive attentionSummarize how to move out of power struggles within relationships and into agreements which allow everyone to get everything they wantDiscuss how to live within the relationship you really want moving between contractiona and expansiveness—welcoming appreciations, creativity, play, aliveness, as well as love for self and otherUtilize checklists, tools, and journaling exercises as a way to engage, reflect and explore relationship skills and self-growth What are the ingredients of a successful and enduring relationship? Love, passion, and commitment are all vital—yet without certain basic skills, even the most devoted partners can find themselves descending into arguments, power struggles, and disillusionment. With The Relationship Skills Workbook, Dr. Julia Colwell presents a practical guide for building a conscious partnership based on cooperation and trust—offering relationship-saving techniques and on-the-spot conflict resolution tools for disarming the explosive clashes that most commonly break couples apart. In this friendly and easy-to-use resource, Dr. Colwell teaches you essential tools for: Crisis and conflict first aid—communication strategies and emotional mastery techniques to stop arguing and start connectingGetting unstuck from power struggles—how to shift from deadlock to mutual responsibility and supportEnding the blame game—letting go of accusation and resentment to create win-win agreementsSupporting each other's growth and success—how to retain your personal autonomy while fully committing to your partner's happinessMoving from reactivity to creative solutions—techniques to keep your brain's flight-or-fight instinct from undermining your heart's desiresSustaining love, passion, and romance—how you can choose to create a magnificent relationship together "Relationships, while seemingly complicated, don't have to be so mysterious," Dr. Colwell says. "What I've learned from my decades of personal and professional experiences is that a few elegantly simple concepts and skills can help any couple through the most difficult spots—and help us transform conflict into intimacy, passion, and ever-deepening love."

A variety of evidence, including the authors' own clinical work and their recent research, is presented to consider how symptoms, including sexual problems, may evolve as a way of balancing power in intimate relationships.

Many scientific studies and spiritual teachings suggest that being in a healthy lifelong love relationship, raising conscious children, and living on purpose are fundamental both for our own long-term well-being as well as for that of future generations, so that we and they can flourish in all respects materially, physically, sexually, mentally, psychologically, and spiritually.Yet in today s modern and postmodern societies, an increasing number of people are not in such relationships, don t have children, and pursue an individualistic hedonistic lifestyle. Sadly, this individualism has been contributing to the ongoing socioeconomic and environmental problems that humanity is creating, rather than being part of their solution.The sexual selection process has gone completely out of whack, more people live alone, most couples procreate way below sustainable rates. As a consequence, we may become the next endangered species if we don t change our way of relating with each other and the world. What happened? Many people moved from we to me, or loving themselves more than others, lost touch with what their life s purpose is beyond enjoying life to the fullest, and didn t acquire the relationship skills to master the complexities of love in the twenty-first century.While our personal relationships and global challenges are constantly increasing in complexity, more people are looking for easy answers to address these problems. This simplistic approach is obviously not working.On the other hand, most of the complex meta-models that are offered to solve the wicked problems that humanity is facing are rarely effective either, as they require a Ph.D.-level grasp of philosophical and scientific subtleties just to be understood. Ironically, these complex perspectives routinely overlook the basic fact that integrating the fundamental human dimensions of sex, purpose, love, and sustainable procreation is an essential prerequisite for creating the eudaimonic world that the creators of these models envision.It is the purpose of this book to remedy these two problems by, on the one hand, providing a practical road map or model (the Integral Love Relationship model) that is simple enough to be fully grasped and put into action by singles and couples of all walks of life and educational levels, and on the other, by presenting a vision that is comprehensive enough to effectively address the relational and global challenges that humanity is facing in the twenty-first century.Without such a model, we cannot even see what kind of love relationships are possible and necessary for our own well-being, and for the creation of a peaceful and sustainable world in which current and future generations can flourish.My intention is to inspire singles and couples to realize their full healing and growth potentials to co-create the kind of love relationships that are not only personally satisfying, but that also radiate their love outward in growing concentric rings to embrace all of humanity.In the four parts of this book, you find a practical application of Ken Wilber s acclaimed Integral theory of human growth and potentials to (1) co-creating a fulfilling sexual relationship, (2) sharing your deepest purpose with your partner, (3) deeply loving your partner and what is uniquely co-created between the two of you at all levels of your being, and (4) understanding why co-creation and procreation in Integral love relationships matter in the grand scheme of things. Or, in short, it is a book about sex, purpose, love, and creating a better world.

"[A] comprehensive, critical, empirical, and practical compilation of investigations about how diverse couples are trying to implement change and pursue equality in their relationships." -Katherine R. Allen, PhD Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University "[A] true gift to couple researchÖ.The studies reported in this marvelously disciplined collection hold living implications for couples and their therapists." -Evan Imber-Black Director, Center for Families and Health, Ackerman Institute for the Family While numerous couples strive for equality in their relationships, many are unaware of the insidious ways in which gender and power still affect them-from their career choices to communication patterns, child-rearing, housework, and more. Written for mental health professionals and others interested in contemporary couple relationships, this research-based book shows how couples are able to move beyond the dangers of gendered inequality and the legacy of hidden male power. The book analyzes the relationships of couples from various racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The contributors present innovative clinical interventions, and suggest strategies therapists can use to help couples transform their relationships from being gender-based to equality-based. Explores these key issues: The risks of being in a relationship ruled by "gender legacy" behavior The differences between couples who get caught in gender legacy patterns and those who do not Gender-based patterns across the life cycle, including newly formed couples; early marriage; child-rearing; mothering and fathering Gendered power in couples dealing with illness; ethnic and racial differences; immigration and displacement issues

This book offers a detailed road map for overcoming sexual and relationship impasses originating from painful childhood experiences. Large numbers of adults with histories of childhood trauma and neglect suffer persistent relationship and sexual difficulties. Unfortunately, most have failed to receive adequate help with emerging from these deep and complex problems. Coming Home to Passion: Restoring Loving Sexuality in Couples with Histories of Childhood Trauma and Neglect explores the enduring impacts—physiological, psychological, and behavioral—of childhood trauma and neglect. Author Ruth Cohn, drawing on 25 years of experience working with trauma survivors and their partners and families, lays out a practical and actionable course for recovery in clear, accessible language. This book provides direction and hope to those with trauma backgrounds while also serving as a unique resource for professional readers. Integrating in-depth information on attachment and relationship, trauma and neglect, and sexuality, Cohn details a practical, hands-on treatment approach for revitalizing love, health, and passion.