The Mindful Marriage: Create Your Best Relationship Through Understanding and Managing Yourself

Backed by neuroscience and biblical principles, The Mindful Marriage uncovers a revolutionary new therapeutic model for couples who want to stop cycles of reactivity that harm their marriage, identify and manage their individual emotional triggers, and create safer, loving, and more deeply connected relationships.

Why does my spouse trigger my emotions so much? What can I do to manage my reactions that cause so much pain in our marriage?

Ron and Nan Deal have been there. Involved in Christian marriage and family ministry for over two decades, they taught and counseled couples about having a healthy marriage, yet privately their marriage was struggling. When they suffered the devastating loss of one of their children, their marriage was nearly shattered by their destructive cycles. At wits' end, they sought the help of pioneering therapists Dr. Terry Hargrave and Sharon Hargrave, LMFT, whose transformational Restoration Therapy has helped millions through the practice of emotional mindfulness. The Deals identified the patterns of coping that threatened their attachment, both individually and as a couple, and became less reactive, allowing them to move with intention from a Pain Cycle into a Peace Cycle. As they embraced this Scripture-based model, they became more skilled at responding with humility to each other, strengthening and forever changing their marriage.

Now the Deals and Hargraves introduce readers to this proven method-part science, part art-that challenges popular beliefs about how relationships work. In their winsome and vulnerable way, they show readers how to better understand themselves, especially in times of emotional distress, so that they may self-regulate and, in turn, strengthen their relationships. Christian readers will especially appreciate the balance of scientifically proven methods along with Scripturally sound teaching, resulting in more loving, faithful marital relationships.

Terry Hargrave, PhD, and Sharon Hargrave, LMFT, are the founders of Restoration Therapy. Terry served as the Evelyn and Frank Freed Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Fuller Theological Seminary and has been training therapists for over 35 years. Sharon served as the Executive Director of the Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine University, is the Founder of RelateStrong, and maintains a private practice. In their work together as authors, educators, conference speakers, retreat leaders, and trainers, they are passionate about helping people restore love and trust in marriages and families and building close, intimate and connected relationships. They reside in Arizona and have two adult married children and a growing number of grandchildren.

Ron Deal, MMFT, and Nan Deal, BSE, are popular conference speakers who lead marriage seminars based on Restoration Therapy and a small group for parents who have lost a child. Frequently featured in national media, Ron is the bestselling author of more than a dozen books and resources, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and host of the FamilyLife Blended® podcast. Nan retired from teaching after 25 years and currently works for Live Thankfully. They have three sons, a daughter-in-law, one grandson, and a Golden Retriever and reside in Little Rock, Arkansas. Learn more at RonDeal.org.