Magnetic Partners, Stephen J. Betchen
Magnetic Partners, Stephen J. Betchen
List: $16.99 | Sale: $11.89
Club: $8.49

Magnetic Partners
Discover How the Hidden Conflict That Once Attracted You to Each Other Is Now Driving You Apart

Author: Stephen J. Betchen

Narrator: Danny Campbell

Unabridged: 6 hr 52 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 05/18/2010


Synopsis

Stephen J. Betchen, a therapist in private practice who teaches couples therapy in the clinical doctoral program of the University of Pennsylvania and who writes regularly for the "Can This Marriage Be Saved?" column of the Ladies' Home Journal, has pioneered the remarkably effective "master conflict" method of saving relationships. Through his extensive couples counseling he has discovered that for most couples, the powerful, magnetic force of attraction that first brought them together is actually a subconscious inner conflict rooted in their upbringings that can drive them apart. Couples who experience this are "twins in conflict," and the fact that both individuals are conflicted in the same way is a core source of bonding between them. But over time, and with changing life situations, that same shared conflict becomes the source of the unstoppable arguments that may eventually tear a couple apart. A couple that shares a master conflict between closeness and distance, for example, might start to have horrible fights after they have a child and are required to spend more time together.

In this simple guide, written with great empathy for struggling couples, Betchen introduces the seven most common master conflicts, as well as four less common ones, and offers fascinating and revelatory diagnostics that help identify which of them is at the root of the problem in one's own relationship. He then provides clear, empowering steps for managing the tensions being caused by that conflict and brings the relationship to a new level based on deeper understanding, ultimately leading to greater happiness and long-term resilience.

About Stephen J. Betchen

Stephen J. Betchen maintains a full-time private practice in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, specializing in couples therapy and teaches couples therapy in the clinical doctoral program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. In addition, he is a contributor to the popular Ladies' Home Journal column "Can This Marriage Be Saved?" He lives in New Jersey.


Reviews

While still fundamentally a good read, the arguments and anecdotes in this book were filled with fallacies. I could go into a great deal of detail about so much of what was said. But I've noticed, simply, everything falls into a very simple to describe problem. The author was grasping at anything to......more

Goodreads review by Will

An outstanding book for those who seem to keep running into the same problems and arguments in marriage and are looking for a deeper explanation to what is causing it. I will say the first half of the book seems to take a while dealing with case after case of people with certain issues. While it many......more

Goodreads review by Chris

I listened to the audio book and I increased the speed to 1.25x because the narrator spoke so slow. While the book is okay the book sounds like a sales pitch to enter counseling and stay there for life. The author says you must find your hidden conflict you and your partner/spouse have in order to mo......more

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I didn't have high expectations going in. I found that this book really helped me discover myself and the source of my family's conflicts. The author's perspective is unique. I've read a fair number of relationship books, and I've never had someone present......more