The High-Conflict Couple

A Dialectical Behavior Therapy Guide to Finding Peace, Intimacy, and Validation

By: Alan E. Fruzzetti PhD

Narrated by: Vanessa Daniels

Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

You hear and read a lot about ways to improve your relationship. But if you've tried these without much success, you're not alone. Many highly reactive couples - pairs that are quick to argue, anger, and blame - need more than just the run-of-the-mill relationship advice to solve their problems in love. When destructive emotions are at the heart of problems in your relationship, no amount of effective communication or intimacy building will fix what ails it. If you're part of a high-conflict couple, you need to get control of your emotions first, to stop making things worse, and only then work on building a better relationship.

The High-Conflict Couple adapts the powerful techniques of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) into skills you can use to tame out-of-control emotions that flare up in your relationship. Using mindfulness and distress tolerance techniques, you'll learn how to deescalate angry situations before they have a chance to explode into destructive fights. You'll discover ways to manage problems with negotiation, not conflict, and to find true acceptance and closeness with the person you love the most.

©2006 Alan E. Fruzzetti (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Fruzzetti's focused use of the specialized dialectical behavior therapy makes his book unique in the couples-therapy field and recommends it for larger public libraries." ( Library Journal)

practical and deep

practical but also deep and thought provoking.
I read as a clinician in a DBT skills group. it’s prob better for the clinician then a recommendation to a patient. enjoy.

Loved it

Recommended to anyone not just couples with problems. I'll listen to it again. Great purchase!

Truly helpful amazing book for a struggling couple

It is helping me change my marriage and myself. Love this book. Recommend it to anyone going through a difficult time in relationship. Wonderful narrator. Thank you.

Perfect save for my marriage.

We really enjoyed the discussions even when it wasn't a perfect description of our situation it gave information that was impossible to deny it would help us. this was a great place start before counseling.

Shocked

I always was blaming my partner for things he didn’t do. This book made me see it in a different light. I can’t wait to apply the things I learned into our life because I don’t want to give up on our relationship.
Thank you so much for this book!!

Good advice, good book, narrator will put you😴

To the audiobook. Despite the narration, the content is worth the read if you are seeking advice on how to navigate a 'high conflict' relationship. The authors provide insights into the various dynamics at play in such relationships and offer practical strategies for improving communication and resolving conflict. Additionally, the book offers guidance on how to cope with and self-regulate in the midst of high conflict situations. Overall, despite the dry narration, the book offers valuable insights and strategies for anyone struggling with communication, letting go of past, resentment, loving unconditionally, and so much more.

A Audiobook to listen to many times over

Every Morning I listen to this audiobook while getting ready for work. I have been in couples therapy for 1.5 years with a man that is bipolar and has a personality disorder. This book has been perfect in getting my own self esteem back on track.
It teaches you how to stay present remembering that your partner is the one you love, no mater what. I do recommend this book to couples that spend time, energy, blaming, returning to past events letting go and seeing the big picture

very insightful and helpful into self and partner

not for easy listening. Take slow, pay attention, test, apply, repeat. re-listen if necessary. Must have!!for seemingly "overly emotional" people and their partners.

practical new patterns<br />

tangible practices offered to break away from old patterns. listen through to get the full concepts.

Good advice, a million narrated citations not needed

I understand that people's research must be cited, but it's really annoying to listen to every single citation while trying to hear the message of the book. Is that really necessary when listening to the book (vs. reading it)? It's just distracting, and it's the only reason I would not recommend the audio version of this book to anyone. I don't mind seeing citations, but I don't want to hear them for an entire book.

Good message though. Useful information.