Concepts
- Couples Time Container
- A dedicated, bounded space for intentional connection—separate from daily logistics—where partners practice the skills covered in each section rather than just reading about them.
- Imago Dialogue
- A structured three-part conversation tool (mirroring, validation, empathy) that slows communication down enough to prevent automatic reactive patterns from controlling the exchange.
- Psychological Ownership
- Taking full responsibility for your own emotional reactions rather than attributing them entirely to your partner's behavior, which is the precondition for genuine change.
- Intimacy Tolerance
- The capacity to stay present with closeness without triggering avoidance, withdrawal, or self-protective distancing — a skill that can be developed through gradual, deliberate practice.
- Drama Triangle
- Karpman's model of three reactive relational roles (Victim, Persecutor, Rescuer) that keep conflict cycling rather than resolving, used by Muñoz to help couples identify and exit their default patterns.
Chapters
- Foreword
- Introduction
- Part 1. Self-Care
- Chapter 1. The Oxygen Mask
- Chapter 2. Saying No
- Stepping Stone. Self-Care
- Part 2. Communication
- Chapter 3. Feeling Your Feelings
- Chapter 4. The Stories We Tell Ourselves
- Chapter 5. Listening
- Stepping Stone. Communication Stoppers
- Part 3. Your Partner's World
- Chapter 6. Validation
- Chapter 7. Empathy
- Stepping Stone. The Imago Dialogue
- Part 4. Intimacy Issues
- Chapter 8. Intimacy Tolerance
- Chapter 9. Vulnerability
- Stepping Stone. Intimacy Comfort Levels
- Part 5. Taking Responsbility
- Chapter 10. You Should Know What I Need
- Chapter 11. Pyschological Ownership
- Chapter 12. Projection'
- Stepping Stone. Vent Boxes
- Part 6. Love Rituals
- Chapter 16. Inferiority and Superiority
- Chapter 17. Reparenting Your Own Inner Orphan
- Stepping Stone. The Huddle
- Part 7. Life Philosophy
- Chapter 18. Different Values
- Chapter 19. Scarcity and Abundance
- Stepping Stone. Infinite Universes
- Part 8. Social Styles
- Chapter 20. Extrovert, Introvert, or Ambivert
- Chapter 21. Relationships with Friends
- Stepping Stone. What You Need to Receive, I need to Give
- Part 9. Attachment Issues
- Chapter 22. Excessive Dependence
- Chapter 23. Counterdependency
- Chapter 24. Unconditional Love
- Stepping Stone. Messengers in Disguise
- Part 10. Power and Control
- Chapter 25. Gender Roles and Relationship Roles
- Chapter 26. Shared Decision-Making
- Stepping stone. Compare and Despair
- Part 11. Ruptures
- Chapter 27. The Damage of Disrepect
- Chapter 28. Expressing Anger
- Chapter 29. Understanding Your Triggers
- Stepping Stone. What to Do Mid-Fight
- Part 12. The Art of Repair
- Chapter 30. Being Right or Being in Relationship
- Chapter 31. Remorse and Forgiveness
- Stepping Stone. Sensation Is Information
- Part 13. Money Matters
- Chapter 32. The Meaning of Money
- Chapter 33. My money, Your Money, Our Money
- Stepping Stone. Time Management
- Part 14. Coping with Stress
- Chapter 34. Different Kinds of Stress
- Chapter 35. Fight, Flight, or Freeze
- Stepping Stone. From Distress to Eustress
- Part 15. Parenting
- Chapter 36. Parenting Styles
- Chapter 37. Blended Family
- Chapter 38. In-Laws
- Stepping Stone. Move It
- Part 16. Love Languages
- Chapter 39. Identifying Your Love Languages
- Chapter 40. Speaking Your Partner's Love Language
- Chapter 41. To-Do Love Lists
- Stepping Stone. It's Already Happening
- Part 17. Sexuality
- Chapter 42. Desire Discrepancy
- Chapter 43. Understanding Sexual Shame
- Chapter 44. Erotic Blueprints
- Stepping Stone. What's in a World?
- Part 18. Relationship Wreckers
- Chapter 45. Addictions
- Chapter 46. Dishonesty
- Chapter 47. Wanring What We Don't Have
- Stepping Stone. Radical Honesty Shares
- Part 19. Monogamy and Beyond
- Chapter 48. Affairs
- Chapter 49. Resilient Monogamy
- Chapter 50. Polymory
- Stepping Stone. Being "All-In"
- Part 20. General Inspiration
- Chapter 51. Loving Imperfectly
- Chapter 52. Celebrating Life Together
- Stepping Stone. Sustainable Love
- Resources and References
- Online Articles and Websites
Rating
Topics
- Conflict, Relationships, High Conflict, Couples Spot, Couples Time Container, Speaker Role, Listener Role, Self-Care, Saying No, Communication Skills, Feeling Your Feelings, Defense Mechanisms, Feeling Wheel, Stories We Tell Ourselves, Imago Dialogue, Mirroring, Communication Stoppers, Validation, Empathy, Intimacy Issues, Intimacy Tolerance, Vulnerability, Taking Responsibility, Psychological Ownership, Projection, Love Rituals, Check-Ins, Dream Check, Day Check, Feeling Check, Night Check, Take-Offs, Re-Entries, Appreciation, Gratitude, 5-to-1 Rule, Self-Esteem, Reparenting, Inner Child, Inner Orphan, Life Philosophy, Different Values, Scarcity Mindset, Abundance Mindset, Social Styles, Extrovert, Extroversion, Introvert, Introversion, Ambivert, Ambiversion, Friendship, Attachment Issues, Excessive Dependence, Dependency Distortions, Counter Dependency, Unconditional Love, Gender Roles, Relationship Roles, Shared Decision Making, Ruptures, Damage of Disrepect, Four Horsemen, Criticism, Defensiveness, Contempt, Stonewalling, Expressing Anger, Triggers, Art of Repair, Remorse, Forgiveness, Money Matters, Finances, Stress, Fight-Flight-Freeze, Parenting, Parenting Styles, Blended Family, In-Laws, Drama Triangle, Victim-Persecutor-Rescuer, Love Languages, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time, Physical Touch, Words of Affirmation, To-Do Love Lists, Sexuality, Desire Discrepancy, Sexual Shame, Erotic Blueprints, Relationship Wreckers, Addiction, Dishonesty, Affairs, Resilient Monogamy, Polyamory, Loving Imperfectly, Celebrating Life, Sustainable Love
Published
- December 4, 2018
Publisher
- Zephyros Press