Book Description

In Intimate Relationships: Skills and Strategies that Lead to Success, editors Veronica Johnson, Kimberly Parrow, and Sara Polanchek bring together a collective of voices from different fields and perspectives to offer readers a comprehensive and practical guide to intimate relationships. The text considers all varieties of intimate relationships, including familial relationships, friendships, romantic relationships, and sexual relationships. Through revealing narratives and research, readers are encouraged to consider the many identities we each bring into our relationships, as well as how the practice of inclusivity and a greater understanding of differences can enhance intimacy. Dedicated chapters address the role of technology in modern relationships, interpersonal communication about sex, emotional intelligence, and managing conflict. Readers learn about the connection between friendship and mental health functioning, issues related to breakups, blended families, and dating later in life. Each chapter features contextual information, reflection questions, activities, and recommended reading to enhance the learning experience. Designed to provide readers with skills and knowledge they can apply in their everyday lives, Intimate Relationships is ideal for courses in psychology, counseling, counselor education, and others within the helping disciplines.