Taking Space. How to Use Separation to Explore the Future of Your Relationship

Editorial Review
With the high rate of divorce and breakups, marriage and family experts point to the fact that people don't learn from the mistakes of a failed relationship and assume the next relationship will be better, making little effort to fix or understand what didn't work.

There are plenty of self-help books for committed couples on how to enrich a marriage and scores of guidebooks on how to manage through a divorce, but very few focus on partners with differing degrees of commitment where the separation process itself is viewed as an opportunity for self-growth.

Taking Space: How to Use Separations to Explore the Future of Your Relationship provides struggling couples and individuals with a step-by-step process for managing separations. This model allows people to view and use separations as a proactive way to get space, reduce conflict, and focus on self-growth. This method can even work with a non-cooperating partner. This problem-solving road map teaches partners how to design a separation plan that addresses their specific issues by pinpointing 10 essential tasks necessary to maneuver through an often highly stressful experience. The steps are applied through real-life couple situations. Skills, techniques, and coping strategies to empower individuals to overcome feelings of helplessness and victim thinking help create choices where none have been seen previously.

Customer Reviews

Great source for separation in any stage

2008-08-30
This book is helping me understand where I and my husband are in our emotional states, as well as what is missing from the plans for our separation that is making it harder for both of us to move forward. I wish I had gotten it months ago!

Using case studies and easy to follow language (not heavy psychological talk) it has practical tools and exercises to follow. I was the 'left spouse' and this book (along with counseling) has helped me to understand what I am needing and feeling to turn a jumbled time into some real personal growth.

If you think you need space, are headed for divorce, or want change in your relationship, please read this! It may spare you and your spouse months of conflict and grief.

Good for ANY Couple - Even Happy Ones

2007-08-04
This is an excellent aid to any marriage, whether in crisis or not. Even happy couples can benefit from new insight and ideas to improve their relationship and monitor its health. I strongly encourage everyone to at least read the first few chapters of the book, as they apply to the relationship. Types of separation (physical or psychological) are discussed later.

a must read for anyone in a relationship

2007-07-26
This book has really helped me! If you or someone you know is struggling in their relationship buy them this book. The concept of taking a "time out" to be with yourself and improve yourself so that you can be a better person in your relationship is priceless advice. All of those folks in that danger zone of divorce or separation need the suggestions given in this book. The many exercises and examples that are offered by Buchicchio are things anyone can do to work on their conflict and create peace with their significant other. I highly recommend this book!!

a wonderful framework for couples working throught challenging times

2007-05-18
this is a great book that offers a new and important way of looking at
the issues that arise in any significant partner relationship. it is wonderful not only as a self-help book but also for mental health professionals doing couples work. It is easy to read and packed full of good ideas within the context of "taking space."

This book not only helps with your relationships but with who you are as a person.

2007-05-09
This book gives you the framework to building a stronger relationship and at the same time can give you a more positive outlook on everyday life. If your relationship has come to an emotional stand-still, reading this book can help you re-establish a means of communication and cement a more positive foundation for interaction.
I've purchased nine copies of the book and shared them with friends and family members, and have received only positive responses. Even those that think that they have a perfect relationship, there is still much to learn from simply reading this book.

An Optimistic Look at Relationships

2007-04-01
With the high rate of divorce and breakups, marriage and family experts point to the fact that people don't learn from the mistakes of a failed relationship and assume the next relationship will be better, making little effort to fix or understand what didn't work.

Once partners have the tools and time to manage psychological and/or physical separations, they are often better able to make an informed decision about the future of their relationship. Taking Space helps couples use separation to learn, develop, and then recommit to their relationship with adjusted expectations, perspectives, skills, and a stronger sense of themselves.

My feelings on "Taking Space" 2007-02-20
I feel a need to express my feelings on this great book "Taking Space" by Mr. Buchicchio. I can relate to it very much. So many couples are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Couples jump to either a seperation or divorce, or they just live iin misery with each other. This book, "Taking Space", is the alternative to figuring out what's really going on in their relationship. As far as i'm concerned, this book "Taking Space" can help couples decide which direction to take in their relationship. If any couple are having problems in their relationship, please read this book.
John E. Palm Springs, CA