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The Art of Emotional Self-Defense II: The Relational Dojo
Paperback
General ParentingRelationshipsSelf-Help
Publisher Price: $30.99
ISBN13: 9781808575587
Publisher: Terry Lusher
Published: Sep 30 2026
Pages: 552
Weight: 1.61
Height: 1.12 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
What if conflict could become a path to deeper connection instead of greater distance?
In The Art of Emotional Self-Defense II: The Relational Dojo, Dr. Terry Lusher brings decades of clinical experience, relationship work, and martial arts practice into a practical guide for navigating the challenges of intimate relationships.
Relationships require more than love. They require the ability to communicate under pressure, understand emotional needs, manage defensive reactions, maintain healthy boundaries, repair ruptures, and stay connected without losing yourself.
Dr. Lusher introduces the idea of the Relational Dojo: the relationship itself becomes a place to practice awareness, communication, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and repair.
Inside, you'll explore:
- How attachment patterns and emotional needs shape relationship conflict
- The fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses that can take over during stress
- How to shift from blame and opposition toward collaboration
- Communication skills for difficult and emotionally charged conversations
- Healthy dependence, independence, and interdependence
- How to use anger and emotions as information rather than weapons
- Setting boundaries with difficult and high-conflict relationships
- Forgiveness, betrayal, broken trust, and the decision to rebuild or leave
- Maintaining personal integrity while staying connected
- Practical exercises and reflection practices for individual and couples work
Drawing on attachment theory, Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, somatic approaches, neuroscience, and martial arts philosophy, this book offers a framework for turning relationship challenges into opportunities for greater awareness and connection.
Whether you're trying to improve communication, navigate recurring conflict, rebuild trust, strengthen intimacy, or better understand your relationship patterns, The Relational Dojo offers practical tools for the ongoing work of relating well.
Every conflict is practice. Every rupture is an opportunity for repair. The practice continues.
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