Over two-thirds of American families are "blended," which means they are made up of remarried adults and often stepchildren. Although it's good news that many divorced people remarry, the bad news is that too many of them carry the animosities and negative behavior patterns of their former heartbreaks into their new situation.
In this supportive and uplifting book that is aimed at both men and women, Dr. Stephan B. Poulter--acclaimed author of The Father Factor and The Mother Factor--tackles this pervasive problem with great sensitivity and understanding. Dividing the work into three parts, Dr. Poulter takes the reader step by step from the anguish of divorce to the security of a stronger and more fulfilling future attachment.
In part one, he explains how breakups happen and explores the challenges of dealing with the emotional wreckage, from guilt and anger to feelings of rejection and despair. Part two describes five relationship styles and helps readers develop insight into their own styles so that present and future relationships can grow in a healthy and refreshed atmosphere. In part three he shows ways to go beyond blame, tension, and other "ex-factors" and objectively assess inner needs. As Dr. Poulter shows, the key to forming lasting bonds with another is discovering exactly what one needs to feel loved.
Your Ex-Factor will be a welcome resource to anyone trying to move forward beyond the pain of emotional loss and rediscover the joys of loving again regardless of prior history, circumstances, "old baggage," or fears. This invaluable guide will open your eyes to promote healthy and truly fulfilling relationships now and into the future.

This collection of essays by prominent lawyers, theologians, social scientists, policy makers, and activists examines the reasons why the once treasured institution of marriage has been steadily displaced by a culture of divorce and unwed parenthood. Promises to Keep presents the full text of The Council on Families in America's 1995 investigation, Marriage in America: A Report to the Nation, and the contributors provide suggestions for marital resurrection to counteract trends that have created tragic hardships for children, generated poverty within families, and burdened us with insupportable social costs. Sponsored by The Institute for American Values.

A compelling examination of the social and legal experiences of lesbian, bisexual, and queer stepparent families Lesbian, bisexual, and queer families formed after the dissolution of a marriage face a range of obstacles. In Queer Stepfamilies, Katie L. Acosta offers a wealth of insight into their complex experiences as they negotiate parenting among multiple parents and family-building in a world not designed to meet their needs. Drawing on in-depth interviews, Acosta follows the journeys of more than forty families as they navigate a legal and social landscape that fails to recognize their existence. Acosta contextualizes the legal realities of LGBTQ stepparent families and considers the actions these parents take to protect their families in the absence of comprehensive policies or laws geared to meet their needs. Queer Stepfamilies reveals the obstacles these families face in family courts during divorce proceedings and custody cases, and highlights their distrust of courts when it comes to acting in their children's best interests, especially in the event of an origin parent's death. As LGBTQ families continue to make social and legal strides in acceptance and recognition, this important book shows how queer stepparents find ways to make their unconventional families work, despite the many social and legal obstacles they encounter. Acosta provides a fresh perspective, broadening our understanding about families in the twenty-first century.

Michele Weiner Davis goes beyond her marriage-saving bestseller, Divorce Busting, with this empowering and encouraging guide for revitalizing marriage and building stronger, more loving bonds. In a down-to-earth style that is free of psychobabble, Weiner Davis outlines a realistic, solution-oriented seven-step program for managing marital problems, which, when left unchecked, can drain the life out of a relationship. Using revealing anecdotes and in-depth case studies, she illustrates practical ways for marriage partners to

• avoid the "divorce trap"
• identify specific marriage-saving goals
• move beyond ineffective, hurtful ways of interacting
• become an expert on "doing what works"
• overcome infidelity, Internet obsessions, depression, sexual problems, and midlife crises
• get your marriage back on track -- and keep it there

Rescue your marriage with the proven techniques of The Divorce Remedy -- sound, sensible advice from a renowned relationship expert!

The straight-talking guide to divorce by a seasoned family lawyer. The No-Nonsense Guide to Divorce is the straight-talking, reassuring book you need now if you find yourself facing divorce. Written by an experienced family law attorney, the book is an often blunt, sometimes funny, always empathetic look at one of the most challenging time in your life. The book begins with a list of rules to help you through the tough parts. They're reliable, time-tested, formulated from the author's 27 years in practice. In a clear, concise, and contemporary voice, author Lori Hellis offers step-by-step, start-to-finish advice on the many phases of divorce. She covers the full spectrum of divorce issues from beginning to end, from how to start and what temporary measures to take to deciding child custody and parenting time, calculating child and spousal support, and dividing property and debts. The book contains essential information for anyone during a divorce and includes specialized chapters for divorcing seniors, gay couples, and military members. It's filled with concrete advice, sample documents, and hilarious and sometimes cringe-worthy examples from the author's years as a practicing divorce attorney. It's the perfect blend of how-to and what-not-to-do.

With over half of marriages ending in divorce, there are nearly one million American men every year who are being introduced back into the dating world. This text is a survival guide aimed at the women who love the men who are in the process of divorce.

Should I Leave My Relationship or Not? helps women decide if they should stay or leave their relationship. Constantly wondering and not knowing feels terrible. Should I Leave My Relationship or Not? provides women with the needed tools to figure out what exactly is the right move for them, and not just a pro/con list (which is a terrible way to decide). Life coach Karen Lin shares her blueprint for a simple and kind path forward. In Should I Leave My Relationship or Not?, women learn how to: Make a decision free from guilt or fear Stop torturing themselves with doubt and uncertainty Evaluate if they will ever get what they need from the relationship Handle the emotional burden of figuring out what to do Create the conditions to be confident in the outcome

For every woman searching for her voice, Anna Kloots shares her story of starting over by trusting the magic that was always within...

Despite what appeared to be a glamorous existence full of globetrotting adventures, behind the scenes, Anna felt invisible in her own life. Consumed by a marriage that left no space for her own desires and creativity, she chose to reframe the failure of her marriage as an opportunity to begin again.

It was Anna's innate sense of adventure and love for the unknown that led her to move abroad; travel around the world, visiting 80 countries; start her own business; and marry a magician—all before her mid-twenties. From the outside, her jet-setting lifestyle alongside her husband looked perfect. But though she appeared to have all the freedom in the world, in reality she was trapped in a slow-motion disappearing act.

When her marriage collapsed, she decided to use her unhappy ending as a chance for a new beginning—a reappearance into her own life and sense of exploration and discovery, letting each destination challenge, change, and shape her.

Following Anna's extensive travels from the bustling streets of Jaipur to the canals of Venice to the desert of Dubai, My Own Magic is a powerful memoir—a true, coming-of-age story about a woman rediscovering the magic that she always had.

Anna's memoir is proof that travel can transform you, inspire you, and even save you. Perfect for fans of Eat Pray Love.

The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Think Like a Monk offers a revelatory guide to every stage of romance, drawing on ancient wisdom and new science. Nobody sits us down and teaches us how to love. So we're often thrown into relationships with nothing but romance movies and pop culture to help us muddle through. Until now. Instead of presenting love as an ethereal concept or a collection of cliches, Jay Shetty lays out specific, actionable steps to help you develop the skills to practice and nurture love better than ever before. He shares insights on how to win or lose together, how to define love, and why you don't break in a break-up. Inspired by Vedic wisdom and modern science, he tackles the entire relationship cycle, from first dates to moving in together to breaking up and starting over. And he shows us how to avoid falling for false promises and unfulfilling partners. By living Jay Shetty's eight rules, we can all love ourselves, our partner, and the world better than we ever thought possible.

Examine a wide variety of divorce therapy approaches with this seminal book. Divorce Therapy is one of the first books to present a comprehensive approach to divorce therapy. Based on a foundation of theory and research about divorce, this landmark volume focuses on the help that psychotherapists can provide during the three stages of divorce--pre-divorce decision making, divorce restructuring, and post-divorce recovery. A distinguished array of researchers and clinicians address discuss mediation, criteria for a constructive divorce, remarriage, custody issues, and much more.

It's over--and it really hurts. But as unbelievable as it may seem when you are in the throes of heartache, you "can "move past your breakup. Forget about trying to win your ex back. Forget about losing yourself and trying to make this person love you. Forget it Starting today, this breakup is the best time to change your life for the better, inside and out.

"Getting Past Your Breakup" is a proven roadmap for overcoming the painful end of any romantic relationship, even divorce. Through her workshops and popular blog, Susan Elliott has helped thousands of clients and readers transform their love lives. Now, she'll help you put your energy back where it belongs--on you. Her plan includes: The rules of disengagement: how and why to go "no contact" with your ex How to work through grief, move past fear, and take back your life The secret to breaking the pattern of failed relationships What to do when you can't stop thinking about your ex, texting, calling, checking social networking sites, or driving by the house

Complete with inspiring stories from real people and strategies to jump-start the moving-on process, "Getting Past Your Breakup" is the most effective plan for getting permanently past a breakup, getting your confidence back, and opening yourself to true love.

Love isn't always shiny. And it isn't always forever. With the same gentle, hopeful voice that has captivated readers worldwide comes the guide for starting over. Emma Grace's second book, Untangling, begins at an ending- and ends at a beginning. Untangling is for anyone navigating the beautifully complicated process of untangling the knots our love stories tie into us. Each chapter tackles the sometimes sequential, sometimes parallel stages of healing a heart- from 'When it all comes Tumbling Down' to 'Don't you Dare Pick up that Phone.' From 'I Keep Forgetting I Can't Call' to 'I will Never Love like this Again.' This is a journey towards self-growth through reflection. Sprinkled with stories from her own journey, Emma will have you laughing. Reflecting. Tearing up. Letting go. But ultimately, feeling whole. Like a conversation with a best friend, Untangling will help you find your balance again. Remind you that you're not alone in all this. Encourage you to learn from experiences in love instead of just having them. But mostly- how to find the kind of happiness that someone else didn't make. And a broken heart can never take. Untangling is the book that helps you move forward without going back. That starts at an ending and ends at a beginning. And helps us each find peace with all the things we do, and did, when love was leading us.

Could the end of your marriage be the first step toward reclaiming your personal power and joyfully living the life of your dreams? If the answer is yes, this book is for you.

Divorce rocks the very foundation of our beings, leaving us feeling lonely, flawed, enraged, undesirable, hopeless, and empty. In Spiritual Divorce, New York Times bestselling author Debbie Ford reveals how this devastation can be transformed into a profoundly enlightening experience. This empowering guide shows how the collapse of a marriage is, at root, a spiritual wake-up call, an opportunity to liberate ourselves and reclaim our lives. The end of a relationship&#8212no matter who ends it&#8212is a damaging moment. Ford offers a clear program for turning ruin into renewal.

A valuable resource for parents who are transitioning from being married with children to co-parenting together, this handbook will help ensure kids and co-parents thrive. Parents need help to confidently take on the challenges of guiding children through divorce or separation and raising them skillfully in two homes. The authors, both trusted divorce and co-parenting coaches, provide the road map for all family members to safely navigate the difficult emotional terrain through separation/divorce and beyond. Addressing parents' questions about the emotional impact of separation, conflict, grief, and recovery, the authors share their well-tested and reassuring guidance on how to move from angry, hurt partners to constructive, successful co-parents who are able to put their children's needs first. Chock-full of strategies to help resolve day-to-day issues, create boundaries, and establish guidelines.

Arm yourself with the tools you need to parent with confidence, raise happy and independent children, and find the fulfillment you deserve. You're getting divorced; you're angry, afraid, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Stop, stop and breathe. What lies ahead is a journey that starts now -- with the focus on you becoming the person you want to be and the parent you need to be. You can get through this and "Not At Your Child's Expense" can help. Do you feel like you'll never laugh again, engage in a meaningful exchange with your former spouse or parent with confidence? You can and you will. You're taking the first step right now by getting the help you need as you navigate through the stages of establishing a long-term, mutually-beneficial co-parenting relationship. Judith Fitzsimmons' successful co-parenting story might seem uncommon, but it is an experience that, with the right tools and attitude, you can achieve in your own family unit. "Not At Your Child's Expense" is a guide to help you overcome the obstacles of divorce and co-parenting, find a path to clearer thinking, and develop a healthy family dynamic. "Not At Your Child's Expense" provides valuable, practical ideas that are constructive to you, your co-parent, and, most importantly, your child. While you may not have expected your life to reach this phase, you do have a choice on how to move forward.

People going through a divorce or separation have only one wish: to be happy again. Happy Again is a powerful, step-by-step guide that provides a blueprint for a brighter, happier, more fulfilling future after a breakup or divorce. It's not enough for those going through a breakup or divorce to simply understand their emotions, reactions, and what caused their relationship to end. They need immediate, implementable action steps to move forward productively and consistently while in the midst of the chaos and pain of a separation. Happy Again is the definitive handbook for those going through a separation to get their life back on track. Eveline Jurry's proven Positive Separation Method (TM)provides a blueprint for disconnecting from the old life, and getting through each day with energy intact and a new, happy life in sight. It is also full of interesting and motivational stories from well-known thought leaders including Marci Shimoff, Janet Bray Attwood, Chris Attwood, Lisa Nichols, and Debra Poneman, as well as Eveline's clients who have created their own Positive Separations.

Get Powerful Now is a woman's guide from zero to becoming her own hero after "he" is gone. Carol Zurita begins by sharing her personal story about a breakup that led to a deep depression. She takes readers on the journey with her through the chapters, explaining the sequence of actions she took to recover from that broken heart. Unexpectedly, the actions she took combined with a new environment drove Carol to become an inspirational mentor not only to women going through similar situations, but to anyone searching to gain confidence and find their life purpose. Get Powerful Now empowers those going through hard times to become unstoppable and unbreakable.

No more spinning your wheels trying to figure out how to leave your abusive spouse. Have you ever wished you had the perfect guidebook that would give you step-by-step information to help you carefully plan a swift and safe departure from your emotionally abusive spouse and help you prepare for getting a divorce - at the same time? Here it is! In I Just Want Out, Jodi Schuelke combines detailed practical information with her personal experiences and the lessons she learned from strategically planning her exit (along with her children) from her emotionally abusive first marriage. I Just Want Out expands on the information found in such books as Stop Walking on Eggshells and Splitting, by providing pre-departure and pre-divorce planning and details about what to do, when to do it, how to do it, and why it's important. Jodi will support you and travel beside you on your journey to freedom using her practical seven-step FREEDOM Framework process.