This book was originally published
in 1988. Using his experience of thirty years as a therapist in the field of
the "psychology of love", Dr. Hendrix has helped couples to transform
and build more loving and lasting relationships.  With the help of his wife
Helen LaKelly Hunt, an introduction has been added to this edition, outlining
the significant impact the material in this book has had on a great many people
since its original publication.

The contents of this book has been
broken down into three components; the Unconscious Marriage, the Conscious
Marriage, the Exercises. As I read through the various sections, what became
clear to me is that the first section (the Unconscious) is designed to help you
recognize and move through the patterns of your past that has inadvertently
kept you stuck there.  Part two (the Conscious) moves you into the present
state of awareness. The last section (the Exercises) seems to be a practical
application of empowerment. The phrase "use it or lose it" would
apply here, in as much as, if you don’t practice using the new awareness to
create healthier relationship patterns, you will inevitability stay stuck in
recreating and repeating your past.

In reading the material of this
book, I experienced mixed emotions. On one hand, I felt elated that once again,
a great gift was being offered within the pages of this book, yet sad, that the
material is written at a level that will only be embraced by those individuals
awake, aware and motivated to change.

The concepts are sound, the
presentation is clear and I would certainly recommend this book to those
persons currently in or contemplating engaging in some form of therapy. Opening
Pandora’s box is said to be a frightfully exciting experience. Equating the "box"
with the "unconscious" seems to be a reasonable comparison, as it
relates to the material in this book.  For some, the greatest awareness gained
from reading this book may be how to have a more personally satisfying
relationship with self.

© 2004 Susan
Wingate