Every newly married couple wants to beat the odds and make their marriage work. Unfortunately, 50 percent of first marriages and 65 percent of second marriages fail. Clearly, couples need guidance and support to keep their partnerships strong. In this guide married couple Stephen Martin and Victoria Costello offer information, tips, and advice to help readers:- Recognize danger signs in a marriage
- Communicate effectively
- Handle discussions about money, sex, kids, and other tough topics
- Keep the passion alive
- Maintain a sense of identity within a partnership
- Navigate special situations, such as stepfamilies and cultural differences
With the help of this concise book, couples can address problems before they become dealbreakers. From the stress of combining finances and raising kids to dealing with in-laws and blending families, there's a lot of pressure in a marriage. But all it takes is a little information and determination to make it work—and to make it last.Stephen Martin, MFT (San Francisco, CA), is a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice in Moss Beach and San Francisco, CA since 1985. He is the recent past president of the 26,000-member CA Association of Marriage Therapists, the largest organization of marriage counselors in the world. Mr. Martin is also a public speaker who gives presentations and couples workshops on making marriage work. An ordained Christian minister, Mr. Martin has performed marriages and conducted marriage counseling. He also writes for Healmarriage.com. Victoria Costello (San Francisco, CA) is an Emmy Award–winning journalist and documentary producer for PBS, Disney Channel, Discovery Channel, Learning Channel, and HGTV.
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