The Mindful Couple: How Acceptance and Mindfulness Can Lead You to the Love You Want

by Robyn D. Walser, Darrah Westrup

All of us want to be fully accepted in our relationships, yet it can be difficult to fully accept our partners for who they are. This insightful guide for couples is based on a simple Act out of kindness, love, and acceptance, and you will open your relationship for the creation of greater kindness, love, and acceptance. With strategies drawn from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), a powerful therapeutic approach, this book will help you identify your core values and discover, as a couple, the beauty that is available to you and your partner when you bring greater awareness and values-guided behavior to your relationship. Each chapter explores a key issue, such as passion, fidelity, and the balance between dependence and independence, and includes specific practices you can do alone or with your partner to help you build a vital relationship.

Genres: Relationships, Psychology, Self Help, Marriage, Nonfiction, Personal Development

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[sendann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with some of the other commenters that this is a lovely book, but a bit superficial compared to what I anticipated. It's pretty breezy and fun, with lots of anecdotes from couples overcoming emotional and psychological difficulties. I liked it, but I think anyone drawn to the title, or left wanting a more concrete sense of what goes on when two hearts join forces, Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth is probably the best bet. Shame that one has such a misleading, new agey, off-putting title. Anyway, I think I'll keep this in my Kindle and return occasionally to read passages from time to time, but as a light version of Tolle's powerful counsel.

[Gemma Cribb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully gentle book full of tips on how to wholeheartedly remain present with and love your partner. Maybe not as useful or as in depth as is needed for a couple who is a long way down the path of disconnection, distress and ill will.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband and I read this book together. It is an easy read, short (only 166 pages). But it took us forever to finish it because we were reading one chapter at a time (36 chapters). It gave us the opportunity to talk about our relationship and relationships in general (relationship with family, friends, co-workers). We were able to talk about different topics relating to our relationship, such as trust, forgiveness, friendship, and quirks. This book provided insight on how it all comes down to our own choices, what we choose to do, and how we choose to love our partner. Instead of depending on our partner to make the change, we have to choose to treat our partner with kindness and love. We have to accept them and love them for who they are, their full self.

[David Bryce Vornholt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book, recommended. I will read it again to review. I wish I had read this before my first marriage ended. I know I could have done some things differently now. I will be more 'mindful' this second, and hopefully last, time.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good tool for mindfulness discussion between couples.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still reading this book, but am finding so much guidance & clarity within it's pages and inside of me due to reading it. It is just as much as a guide for a person to look inside & accept themselves and help them with all relationships. It is not necessarily just about a couple. It covers values, acceptance of oneself & our partner, being open & present, shifting perspective & doing what you care about.

must return & re-check from the library - will write more when feel the urge to do so. This is a book I plan on buying for my own resource shelf.

[Dennise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected something different than what I read. I expected profound, deep concepts and examples and what I got was very basic, simple but truth. It put things in perspective in such a light way but really it's more about changing your thoughts and attitude about situations we have no control over. The only thing we can control is ourselves, our thoughts and how we respond to things. It's difficult to put into practice but not impossible.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book, written by two researchers who developed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a mindfulness-based therapeutic practice, was a disappointment. I expected insightful, specific tips for cultivating more aware, thoughtful and enriching relationships. However, the book was full of stereotypical examples, clichés and banalities.

[Valerie]

Good book, a little simplistic, but had some nice tips on making an already-good marriage better. I don't think it would be helpful for a couple struggling with any deeper or more longstanding issues though.

[Aaron K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overview of ACT and how it pertains to relationships.

[Celina Ureña Cot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Really good book for new original exercises to give out to patients in couple's therapy. The mindfulness part just feels natuRal and doable.