Conflict in close relationships is inevitable. How you manage it can make or break your most critical connections! Is poor communication negatively impacting an important relationship in your life? Do you ever feel frustrated because you don’t feel heard, understood, and/or validated? Do you wish you had the courage and skills to express your feelings assertively, be a better listener, and resolve conflict more peacefully? Are you eager to learn tools to improve your relationships through better communication? If you answered YES to any of these questions, you have chosen the right book! In Communicating Courageously , psychologist and relationship expert Dr. Deborah Stern presents a how-to, practical, psychoeducational deep dive into understanding the nuances of communication in close relationships. She offers a unique approach to learning how to hear, be heard, and connect in your most important relationships by providing: An exploration of various styles of communication. - An easy-to-follow, detailed, step-by-step guide to communicating, including how and when to share, listen, and respond during conflict. - Insights, tips, and advice to help you overcome common communication struggles. - Engaging reminders, graphics, flowcharts, checklists, and more to keep you on course. - Numerous “from the couch” anecdotes to help you relate to the lessons. - Self-reflection prompts to deepen your insight and guided exercises to practice the skills as you learn them. With the Share-Hear-Care model as your guide, the wealth of information in this book will teach you an approach to communication that strengthens, rather than damages, the connection you have with those who matter most to you. Most important, it will offer you the courage and inspiration to do so. "Imagine for a moment: people throughout the world equipped to communicate, not just talk but to listen, not to "win" but to create in themselves that which exists in others . . . to even disagree but without enmity and instead with relationship-saving connections of empathy. If you like that dream, get this book and start making that happen." —Dr. Michael Bradley, best-selling author of Crazy Stressed: Saving Today's Overwhelmed Teens with Love, Laughter and the Science of Resilience "Effective communication forms the cornerstone of thriving relationships. Dr. Deborah Stern generously shares insights gleaned from years of therapeutic experience with countless individuals grappling with feelings of discord and disconnection in their relationships on account of unhealthy communication patterns. Through this book, readers gain invaluable insights into various communication styles and practical techniques to enhance their relationships. As a mental health professional, educator, and advocate, I wholeheartedly endorse this book and plan to integrate its teachings into my work with families and fellow professionals. I cannot emphasize enough the value of this resource." —Audrey Grunst, LCSW, CEO of Simply Bee, author of 5 Steps to Grow a Resilient Mind, host of Well, Not Perfect podcast, speaker, named one of Top Women Leaders of Illinois for 2023 "As a practicing psychologist, I have many relationship and communication books on my shelves, but I'm glad to now have Debbie Stern's book in hand. Dr. Stern's book does what the others do not: It provides readers not only with a thorough understanding of how and why they communicate as they do but also offers them a host of self-reflection prompts, practice activities, and accessible anecdotes and examples. Readers will find themselves better understanding how to communicate assertively in their daily lives, while also improving their listening skills and their ability to connect with others. This is a rare and much-needed resource!" —Mitch Abblett, PhD, psychologist, and author of the Nautilus Gold Award-Winning book Prizeworthy "For anyone who has ever thought of what they should have said, really wanted to say, or wished they'd said differently after a hard conversation, Dr. Stern has created the guide you need to read before you set out to communicate on difficult topics in the future with the people who matter most to you." —Deborah Gilboa, MD, Resilience Expert and Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine "When I was seventeen, Dr. Stern invited and inspired me to write a letter confronting my cousin who had sexually molested me to share with him the pain and suffering he'd caused me. That advice changed the course of my life, as it empowered me to release the intense shame I had been carrying for years. That courageous decision and the written dialogue that ensued with my cousin for the next seven months was a turning point in my healing. Feeling heard and being able to reclaim my voice inspired me to write my first book, Stolen Innocence: Triumphing Over a Childhood Broken by Abuse, to encourage other survivors to break their silence and claim the healing they also deserved. "