Thriving Marriages: An Inspirational and Practical Guide to Lasting Happiness

Since our first publication of Thriving Marriages, we have given seminars on its content to over 300,000 people across the United States. Two areas emerged that needed further clarification and elaboration: how to make conflict resolution more effective and how to communicate our needs more clearly. As a result, we have rewritten Chapter 10: Solving Conflicts with Wisdom and Respect. The new chapter simplifies the conflict resolution process focusing on the role of Understanding, Validating and Acting, which we refer to as the UVA response. This type of emphathic response allows people to integrate their differences and transform the conflict into an opportunity to grow in their unity. The chapter also includes a new questionnaire which covers the skills required and can be used as a tool to engage in constructive dialogue.

For those of you involved in Marriage and Family Life, Religious Education, and Adult Faith Formation ministries, we invite you to include this new edition of Thriving Marriages in your curriculum and ministries as well as our different audio formation materials that accompany it.

You can always find the next speaking venues for John and Claire on their website: www.thrivingfamilies.com.

Article: "How To Deepen Empathy In Your Marriage: Three Key Skills"

It's easy to fall into the trap of taking each other for granted or just putting up with each other. Make this year a break-through year in your relationship by trying three powerful empathy skills to deepen your love for each other.

A great resource for those ministering to couples, Thriving Marriages offers a practical and effective marriage curriculum for couples' and family ministries, or for church-related premarital and marital enrichment programs.

"John and Claire Yzaguirre provide a fresh and positive vision on how to build unity in our married lives. These two extraordinary individuals who personify love, psychology, and spirituality offer an inspiring yet profound guide to nurturing your marriage. If you wish to better yourself and strengthen your relationship with that special person in your life, implement their wisdom."

Dave Pelzer

New York Times best-selling author of Help Yourself and A Child Called "It"

"In this delightful book, couples are urged and gently nudged to consider the exquisite yet simple components of empathy, autonomy and mutuality in marriage. The "Try this" suggestions and practical activities in each chapter will draw you into new horizons of unity as a couple."

Judith and Jack Balswick

Authors of The Family: A Christian Perspective

"An instructive, realistic guide to compassionate marriage. A Christian model of marriage with something for everyone."

Harville Hendrix, Ph.D.

Best-selling author of Getting The Love You Want

Dr. John Yzaguirre, licensed psychologist, consultant, and author, specializes in marriage and family life enrichment and the integration of psychology and Christian spirituality. He has developed successful prevention and intervention programs at mental health agencies in Boston, New York, Los Angeles and Orange County. A native of Barcelona, Spain, he has offered his psychological services in the United States for over 30 years and is a former director of the psychology department at Children's Hospital of Orange County. He has been a keynote speaker at international and national conventions in the United States, Europe, Mexico, and Australia. Dr. Yzaguirre received his Master's degree in Psychology from Boston College, and his doctorate in psychology from the University of Southern California.

Claire Frazier-Yzaguirre, M.Div., M.F.T., is a licensed marriage and family therapist, a formally ordained American Baptist minister, and a marriage and family life consultant, assisting churches in the development and growth of their marriage and family life ministries, women's ministries, Christian leadership and faith formation. She has over 30 years of professional experience helping couples and families. As an ordained minister she has developed programs for campus ministry, church ministries, marriage and family ministries, lay leadership formation and community outreach. She spent one year at the Institute of Holy Land Studies, Jerusalem, specializing in biblical studies and ecumenical dialogue. She has been invited to speak on marriage and family life at churches and conventions throughout the United States. She holds Master's degrees from Fuller School of Psychology and from Fuller School of Theology in Pasadena, CA.

John and Claire currently maintain their clinical practice in Irvine, California. Every year in 50+ cities, they present their Thriving Marriages programs to thousands of couples, people and faith leaders involved in Marriage and Family life, Religious Education and Adult Faith Formation ministries helping them grow more thriving, resilient, and compassionate families and faith communities.