1st Edition
Falling Out of Romantic Love A Therapeutic Guide for Individuals, Couples, and Professionals
In this innovative and user-friendly guide, Crystal Wilhite Hemesath identifies the factors that lead to relationship breakdown and suggests key strategies for the prevention and treatment of falling out of romantic love (FORL).
Grounded in research and two decades of clinical experience, Falling Out of Romantic Love outlines strategies for preparing and maintaining healthy, enduring, romantic relationships as well as what to do when FORL becomes a threat. Applicable to daily life, and relevant to a wide range of scenarios, this book contains a plethora of information for individuals just beginning an intimate partner relationship, long-married couples, or for those simply curious about romantic relationships and the problems that may arise. Helpful tips are also provided for individuals trying to decide if they should remain in a relationship and for those experiencing heartbreak on the receiving end of FORL.
Rich in real-life examples, this book arms professionals with a greater understanding of why people fall out of romantic love. It’s an indispensable guide for marriage and family therapists, as well as other mental health professionals or clergy looking to incorporate additional tools and clinical interventions into their work.
1. This Thing Called Love 2. What Gives? Why we Don’t Know More About FORL 3. Why Does FORL Matter Anyway? 4. Family and Relationship Trends 5. A New View 6. Does Romantic Love Endure? 7. Pathways to FORL 8. The Secret Word 9. Common Dimensions of FORL 10. When Romantic Love Ends 11. Mate Selection Roadmap 12. Clinical Recommendations for Professionals 13. Conclusion
Biography
Crystal Wilhite Hemesath is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 20 years of clinical experience, having received her PhD from Iowa State University in 2016. She owns a mental health private practice where she is a practicing clinician. Dr. Hemesath is also clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
"Romantic love is an integral part of Western culture, yet researchers have been reluctant to take it on. In this age of "serial monogamy," Dr. Hemesath’s book is long overdue. She examines the process of relationship dissolution weaving together theories, empirical research, and personal stories of the angst of breaking-up. This engaging and beautifully written book is a welcome addition to the field of family studies that will be of interest to anyone wishing to understand why love sometimes fades."
Dr. Susan D. Stewart, Professor of Sociology, Iowa State University
"To love and be loved are among the most significant and fundamental human life experiences. Finding love can bring us immense joy; losing it can plunge us into the depths of despair. Here, in this well-written text, author Crystal Wilhite Hemesath has given us a book that invites, engages, and instructs both the next generation of scholars and those of us (all of us!) who have ever wondered about, sought, found, and lost love."
Dr. Pamela Regan, author of The Mating Game and Close Relationships
"This is the definitive book on one of the most common and scary experiences in romantic relationships. The author comes across as a warm and approachable scholar and therapist, and the book has much to offer anyone interested in the phenomenon of falling out of love."
William J. Doherty, PhD, Professor and Director of the Minnesota Couples on the Brink Project at the University of Minnesota, and author of Take Back Your Marriage: Sticking Together in a World That Pulls Us Apart
