Dr. Patrick Carnes

Many individuals and their partners have tried over and over to "fix" their relationship to no avail. Open Hearts is a creative resource for any struggling couples, despite the reason, offering a hopeful path to healthy and fulfilling intimacy. The book addresses areas in which couples often struggle such as: communication, parenting, finances, and sex. Exercises are provided to help couples explore their own family of origin and its impact on their current relationship. In addition, the characteristics and dynamics of a troubled relationship are explored for couples to personally reflect on their own relationship. Concrete steps for moving towards a more healthy relationship make up the second portion of the workbook with exercises such as a couples first step, spiritual journey contract, and healthy fighting. This book is for any couple who is
struggling in their relationship and seeking a closer, authentic, and truly intimate relationship.

​

Excerpt from the book:

"We know what it's like to have trouble with communication, parenting, finances, and sex. We know what it means to feel discouraged or hopeless about the future of your relationship, and even ashamed about yourselves as a couple. We understand how you got to this point. This workbook describes a series of exercises to help couples use the strength and hope of the Twelve Steps to heal a struggling relationship and create a healthy one. You need not be familiar with the Twelve Steps or part of a 12-step recovery group to make this process work for you. Any couple wanting to build healthy and fulfilling intimacy will benefit from this book."