A Couples Communication Book - Compassion for Couples
Compassion for Couples
Building the Skills of Loving Connection
No relationship is simple or perfect. But relationships rooted in love and security have the potential to thrive more than you ever imagined. This inspiring and insightful guide will help you achieve a loving, compassionate, and supportive relationship.
Are you in:
- A struggling relationship, where you and your partner have difficulties communicating and fall into cycles of resentment, annoyance, and detachment?
- A happy relationship, but you see the overwhelming value in investing in your relationship to make it even better?
With the science-based information and powerful practices in Michelle Becker’s groundbreaking book, Compassion for Couples, you’ll learn the threefold approach to compassion:
- Self-compassion for ourselves, where you’ll learn how to reframe your inner dialogue and speak to yourself with tenderness and loving kindness. When you practice self-compassion, you can comfort and soothe yourself, let your partner see who you truly are and what you need, and give yourself the courage to set healthy boundaries and speak up for yourself.
- Compassion for your partner, where you’ll learn how to communicate more openly and affectionately, while identifying where you and your partner get caught in negative patterns and learning how to free yourselves from those patterns. You’ll also learn how to see the pain beneath our partners’ undesirable behavior, and rather than take their behavior personally, we foster a sense of understanding rather than bitterness, even in times we need to set limits or boundaries.
- Compassion for your relationship, where you’ll discover how to activate the care system instead of getting caught in “reactivity mode,” and build a positive base built on appreciating the good in each other, knowing what your relationship needs, and how to properly care for and nurture the relationship.
Praised by some of the world’s leading experts on self-compassion, this book will help you discover a deeper connection with your partner, and anchor your relationship in what really matters.
Below, you’ll find audio snippets of exercises from the Compassion for Couples book. To get the most out of these exercises, you’ll want to read the book to better understand the context of the exercises and how they can help. From practicing gratitude and appreciation to learning new communication skills, these practices are designed to give you the tools to build the relationship you’ve always longed for—perhaps even better than you ever imagined.
Order your copy today, and take the first step towards a happier and healthier relationship!
“Stunning revelations. Michelle Becker’s approach has helped us find a deeper connection and finally stop trying to fix each other—paradoxically, by learning to be kind to ourselves. The ‘Core Values’ exercise yanked us out of the routine doldrums of marriage and reminded us why we are together. We are grateful.”
—Becky and Tim P., Fort Wayne, Indiana
“This beautiful book will help couples move their relationships from a place of pain and blame to love and acceptance. Drawing on empirically supported self-compassion practices, the author provides concrete tools to help people open their hearts to themselves so they can open fully to their partners.”
—Kristin Neff, PhD, coauthor of The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook
“The absorbing, step-by-step approach makes the exercises easy to dive into. I especially enjoyed the ‘Touching Hands’ exercise, where my partner and I experienced what it felt like to withdraw or be withdrawn from. This is definitely the book for anyone who wants to break negative relationship patterns and work toward the love you deserve.”
—Lynn H., Pleasanton, California
“From her vast experience as a therapist and teacher, Michelle Becker has written a masterpiece for any couple, whether you are seeking greater intimacy or help with serious conflicts. Her advice is grounded in science, with lots of examples and many simple, powerful exercises. Beautiful, timely, and important.”
—Rick Hanson, PhD, author of Resilient
“We would all like to have relationships that are constantly supportive, empathic, and fun—but, unfortunately, things don’t always work out that way. Having compassion for each other allows us to resolve conflicts, face disappointments, accept compromise, and learn the arts of apology and forgiveness. For anyone interested in building relationships based on courage, wisdom, and deep friendship, this is an ideal, inspiring guide.”
—Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, author of The Compassionate Mind
“Michelle Becker is the therapist any couple would be lucky to find when they hit a rough spot—she is wise, practical and without judgment. Compassion for Coupleswill transform your relationship.”
—Susan M. Pollak, MTS, EdD, author of Self-Compassion for Parents
“This book is designed to help couples heal and thrive. Compassion does both. Compassion is a positive emotion. It brings energy and happiness into our lives. Therefore, when we wrap ourselves and our partners in compassion, suffering is transformed into something different, even into joy. It’s like alchemy, but it has to be personally experienced to be understood. Please go ahead and try, and see what happens in your own relationship.”
—from the Foreword by Christopher Germer, PhD, coauthor of The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook
Finding Strength and Softness
Uncovering Your Survival Strategies and How They Impact Your Partner
Discovering Our Tendencies to Fix and Finding Vulnerability Underneath
Discovering What’s Underneath Your Need to Control, What Your Partner Feels, and How to Speak from Vulnerability
Finding the Strong Back of Compassion
Finding the Soft Front of Compassion
Discovering How We Treat Ourselves and Others
Putting Self-Compassion Into Practice with Mindfulness, Common Humanity, and Kindness
Supportive Touch
Soles of the Feet
Awareness of the Breath
Awareness of Sound
STOP
Touching Hands
Discovering Common Humanity
Belonging
Loving-Kindness for Couples
Motivating Yourself With Compassion
Soften, Soothe, and Allow
Meeting Our Own Needs
Discovering Your Core Values
STOP and LOVE
Forgiving Others
Forgiving Yourself