[.ca] Fear of Intimacy (ISBN 1557986053)

Written in clear, jargon-free language:
Robert Firestone and Joyce Catlett bring almost 40 years of combined clinical experience to bear in Fear Of Intimacy, challenging traditional ways of thinking about couples and families. They argue that adult interpersonal and familial relationships fail because of psychological defenses formed in childhood acting as a barrier to closeness in adulthood. A range of cross-generation case studies and personal accounts illustrate and document how the "fantasy bond" has become a destructive form of self-parenting, jeopardizing meaningful attachments. An important, scholarly, and "user friendly" addition to psychology and counseling libraries, Fear Of Intimacy is impressively written in clear, jargon-free language making the work easily accessible to psychologists and counselors seeking to help couples identify and overcome distortions of the self, thereby fostering healthy bonding and relations with their loved ones.

Firestone's books clear up many mysteries of human relations:
I first became aware of Robert Firestone's books when I stumbled across "Compassionate Childrearing" in our college library. On the first page was a revelation that answered questions I'd pondered over for years concerning the early failure of my first marriage. I have gone on to read several of his books, and each is excellent. These books are not the kind that a person can read quickly, only because they are so profound that they take a lot of personal reflection to absorb. Yet to say they are invaluable is a great understatement. They have continually helped me to understand my own behavior as well as that of others.

Life Altering Reading Experience:
This book has something for everyone that is experiencing some form of difficulty with cultivating healthy intimate relationships. By this I mean it will help those that have not acknowledged that they have difficulties and it is especially powerful for people like myself who have been searching for answers to their problems with intimate relationships. Firestone's clear and succinct writing style makes it possible to relate and identify with various issues that may apply to you. His approach is clinical at times but his formula is very simple: identification of issue, cause of issue and alternatives for dealing with the issue. Before reading this book make a promise that if you see yourself in any of the descriptions, don't run or turn to denial, be honest with yourself. Read the particular passage a couple of times. It helps with acceptance. I highly recommend this book.

An awakening:
The information presented in this book was truly an awakening for me. I realized long ago that something was wrong with my marriage. I am a strong believer that once you identify the problem you're all ready halfway to solving it. The information presented, using case studies and common sense language, ushered me gently to the understanding that I (and my husband) have a fear of intimacy that needs to be squarely faced and resolved. I found the case studies interesting but the author's direct style was even more helpful. Thanks to this book we're all ready halfway to solving our problems and healing our marriage and ourselves. I highly recommend it.

Get This Book:
As someone who has been in group therapy for a while, I must say this is a terrific book. What I like about it is that it is not a "self-help," feel good book. The book doesn't necessarily tell us anything we don't already know. But it crystallizes things with astonishing lucidity. Get this book--and share it with your partner. Talk about it in bed.