It Takes One to Tango ─ How I Rescued My Marriage With (Almost) No Help from My Spouse--and How You Can, Too

With a focus on independence and autonomy, this refreshing and witty relationship guide has an empowering counter-intuitive message for unhappy spouses: that you only need one partner to take the initiative and help repair a marriage.

Conventional wisdom says that “it takes two” to turn a troubled marriage around and that both spouses must have a shared commitment to change. So when couples can’t agree on how—or whether—to make their marriage better, many give up or settle for a less-than-satisfying marriage (or think the only way out is divorce.) Fortunately, there is an alternative.

It Takes One to Tango is a groundbreaking guide that explains how one determined partner can spark far-reaching positive change in a marriage, no matter how short-fused, argumentative, or seemingly impossible your partner can be—and no matter how long you’ve been stuck.

Marriage and family therapist Winifred Reilly has this message for struggling partners: Take the lead. Doing so is effective—and powerful. Through Reilly’s own story of reclaiming her now nearly forty-year marriage, along with anecdotes from many clients she's worked with, you’ll learn how to:

-Focus on your own behaviors and change them in ways that make you feel better about yourself and your marriage
-Take a firm stand for what truly matters to you without arguing, cajoling, or resorting to threats
-Identify the “big picture” issues at the basis of your repetitive fights—and learn how to unhook from them
-Be less reactive, especially in the face of your spouse’s provocations
-Develop the strength and stamina to be the sole agent of change

Combining psychological theory, practical advice, and personal narrative, It Takes One to Tango is a fresh and engaging guide that will empower those spouses who choose to take a proactive, independent approach to creating a loving and lasting marriage.