10 Books for a Healthy Relationship Every Couple Should Read

As a therapist, I work with a lot of couples. While we can do important work during our sessions, they are limited to 45-60 minutes every 1-2 weeks. There are so many tools and techniques for the couples to practice between sessions, not to mention all the additional information many of them are seeking to supplement their sessions with. There are many resources available to help couples learn new ways to examine and strengthen their relationships. Here are 10 of my top picks from the last few years.

1. "The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts" By Gary D Chapman

This book by Dr. Gary Chapman looks at one of the most common issues in relationship issues, that we speak different love languages. The languages he has identified are: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. Chapman is able to demonstrate each of our unique needs, and how they must be met for effective relationships. Examples from his own practice are used to illustrate his concepts. The book contains a questionnaire, questions and answers throughout the book, and a journal for further consideration

2. "Couple Skills: Making Your Relationship Work" By Matthew McKay PhD and Patrick Fanning

This book will demonstrate how to work effectively in your relationship. Some skills focused on are: improved communication, coping with problems, and resolving conflicts in healthier ways. This version of the book teaches the reader acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). ACT helps each person to accept his or her partner's feelings and emotions, without resorting to judgment. This book helps the couple decide what is important to them, and put these skills into practice.

3. "Deal Breakers: When to Work On a Relationship and When to Walk Away" By Dr. Bethany Marshall

This book discusses emotionally unhealthy men. It has you examine the people you choose, and the patterns you repeat. It makes you ask yourself while relationships can and cannot succeed. It is based in the reality of people's willingness to change, or likelihood to remain in their same bad habits. The book helps women examine what their deal breakers are. What they will and will not tolerate in a relationship. When it is worth fighting for, and when it is time to leave. They learn to set healthy boundaries, and to stick to them.

4. "The Relationship Cure: A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships" By John Gottman

John Gottman is probably the most well know couples expert we have. He has authored numerous books that help people turn troubled relationships into positive and workable ones. This book is based on 20 years of proven research. He discusses what a healthy relationship consists of, looks at emotional connections, and how the couple responds to each other's needs

5. "When the Past Is Present: Healing the Emotional Wounds that Sabotage our Relationships" By David Richo

In this book, David Richo explores how being stuck in the past can destroy our present relationship. He states, "We all have a tendency to transfer potent feelings, needs, expectations, and beliefs from childhood or from former relationships onto the people in our daily lives, whether they are our intimate partners, friends, or acquaintances." If we can become more aware of dysfunctional patterns, we can prevent ourselves from repeating them. This can be the key to a healthy relationship in the present.

6. "Relationships: The Ultimate Guide to Better Relationships! - Communication in Relationships to Handle Dysfunctional Relationships And Create Lasting Relationships" By Mia Conrad

This book looks at ending dysfunctional relationships. Mai Conrad wants her readers to have stronger and healthier relationships than they have ever had. She examines identifying and removing toxic people from your life. This enables a person to have relationships that give them more peace than relationships have before. She looks at: what breaks down and ruins relationships, what makes a relationship strong, what makes certain relationships last, why certain relationships are romantic, and having healthier and happier family connections.

7. "I Love You But I Don't Trust You: The Complete Guide to Restoring Trust in Your Relationship" By Mira Kirshenbaum

Mira Kirshenbaum states, "Whether broken trust is due to daily dishonesties, a monumental betrayal, or even a history of hurts from the past, it can put a relationship at risk." This book helps the couple to rebuild mildly to severely damaged trust between a couples. She looks at the stages if trust, and when a couple has reached a stage that is appropriate to attempt to rebuild that trusts. She shows you that you can heal and trust each other again, that there is hope for the relationship if you both truly want it to work.

8. "Love, Sex and Staying Warm: Creating a Vital Relationship" By Neil Rosenthal

Neil Rosenthal states that his book helps a couples to, "Reignite Your Passion, Strengthen Your Relationship, and Keep the Romance Alive." The intent is to prevent couples from having their relationships slowly fracture and come apart over the years. Learning to notice the warning signs before they become major concerns can strengthen the bonds of a couple. The book contains techniques and strategies that the couples can apply to reinforce their bond, and restore the passion they have for each other. Fill out a quiz, practice techniques, and examine the current state of your relationship.

9. "Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay: A Step-by-Step Guide to Help You Decide Whether to Stay In or Get Out of Your Relationship" By Mira Kirshenbaum

Mira Kirshenbaum states that she asks the reader, "36 questions and self-analysis techniques designed to get to the heart of relationship and marriage problems." This book is simple and direct, and works for relationships that are at any stage. It gets to the root of whether a relationship is worth working out, or whether it is comes to its natural conclusion. It helps the reader step back and look at the relationship in a practical manner, and offers guidance on what is in their long term best interest.

10. "47 Little Love Boosters For a Happy Marriage: Connect and Instantly Deepen Your Bond No Matter How Busy You Are" By Marko Petkovic

This book addresses relationships ranging from early days, to decades old. Many couples struggle to keep the romance and passion going. The book uses couples who are successful as examples to live by and model your relationship over. It demonstrates that it literally takes only minutes per day to connect with your partner and let them know they are loved. She uses techniques called "Little Love Boosters for a Happy Marriage." This is due to the fact that an individual can do them, they are very time limited, they can be done without ever leaving your house, and they cost you nothing! The book comes with an easy to use checklist, so that you can track what you have and have not done for your partner. It even comes with an audio book you can listen to on the train, or while you are driving.

With the help of these aides, most couples can strengthen their marriage to a state that it has not been in years, perhaps ever! For those wanting to build awaken the passion, connection, and intimacy they once had in their relationship, it would seem the price of a book or two would be well worth it. Happy Reading!