
The Relationship Workbook for Couples is more than a guide—it’s a relationship reset button, a weekly ritual, and a practical toolkit for creating the kind of love that doesn’t just survive—but thrives. Whether you’re dating seriously, newly married, or decades into your partnership, this book will help you communicate better, resolve conflict without resentment, deepen your emotional intimacy, and rekindle the romance you both deserve.
If you're looking for a practical guide to improve your relationship this book is a great resource. Over 7 weeks, it breaks down exercises and reflection prompts that really help you understand your partner better. The book dives deep into key aspects like communication, intimacy, and handling conflicts, rather than just giving superficial advice. What I loved about this workbook is its easy, step-by-step format, with clear bullet points that make the information digestible. Drawing from almost 15 years of marriage and over a decade in counseling, the authors provide practical insights.
What makes this workbook so effective is its structured, step-by-step approach. Over the course of 7 weeks, couples are encouraged to actively engage in exercises, reflection prompts, and actionable strategies to enhance their understanding of each other. Rather than offering surface-level advice, the authors dive deep into the key elements that nurture lasting relationships, including communication, intimacy, and conflict resolution.
"The Relationship Workbook for Couples" is a practical and hands-on guide designed to help partners improve communication, deepen emotional intimacy, and strengthen their bond. Through structured exercises, reflective prompts, and actionable strategies, the book encourages couples to address challenges, build trust, and cultivate a healthier, more fulfilling partnership. It’s an excellent resource for couples at any stage of their relationship, offering tools to navigate conflict and grow together.
Great book for couples. Very basic and easy to go through with lots of bullet points.
"The Relationship Workbook for Couples" by Dan and Dolly Runa is an invaluable guide for anyone looking to strengthen their bond and reignite the spark in their relationship. Combining the authors' nearly 15 years of marriage and over a decade of counseling experience, this workbook provides couples with actionable strategies, real-life case studies, and insightful exercises to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and deepen intimacy. It offers a balanced mix of modern psychological principles, ancient wisdom, and practical tools that empower couples to thrive at every relationship stage. With 15 proven conflict resolution techniques, a deep dive into attachment styles, and unique approaches to reigniting romance, this workbook is perfect for couples at any stage, whether just starting out or navigating the complexities of a long-term partnership. Weekly prompts, downloadable worksheets, and curated activities guide couples on a transformative journey toward a more fulfilling and lasting relationship. This workbook is a must-have for those committed to prioritizing their relationship and nurturing a love that stands the test of time.
There were sections/chapters of the book that were absolutely five stars and are excellent exercises and advice. But there were others that were maybe two stars so I gave it an average of 3.5 rounded up to four. In the beginning of the book where the authors talk about they've been married for 15 years. I don't necessarily think that's long. I do appreciate that they are marriage counselors and that is where their experience matters more to me than their own years of marriage. I'm sure they've seen and heard it all but more than expanding on 15 years of marriage I would rather them have said how long they've been practicing marriage counselors and how many couples they have counseled over the years. I wanted more insight from couples who are celebrating their golden anniversary- what trials and tribulations did they overcome and how did they overcome them. The first 10% really was more marketing. As if the authors had to convince you to continue reading and download the workbook. Perhaps they do. Maybe some couples are so reluctant to follow the steps, seek the counseling, and do the work that they do have to pitch it like a marketing proposal. It wasn't until I read that passage where it said you can still gain incredible benefits by just selecting the content that is most relevant to your situation if you don't go through the entire book that I was onboard. This is what most couples will find beneficial. As they say, choosing your own path because the sections are independent and moving through them in any order that you like starting with the topics that feel most pressing in your relationship. And this is where this becomes a fundamental read for any marriage. I found there was no touch upon the comfortable, contented stage of marriage leading to "boredom and complacency" which I feel is where the real problems begin. Instead, the authors spoke of the reality stage after the honeymoon stage where flaws and all the things you accepted up front seem harder to bare. Here I felt was a perfect place to put examples. Yet there were none. They touched upon often when couples broke up and they had ignored red flags that they began serial dating the exact same types. Here would be a point where sage advice should be given. That perhaps all these individuals who broke up- if they had just put as much time, effort, and energy into their marriage or spouse as into their new serial dating life maybe they could have saved it. It also would have been nice if there was a chapter titled is my marriage worth saving. Because oftentimes the guilt associated with a failing marriage or a failed one is unnecessary. The narcissists, the serial cheaters, the users, the abusers- these can be and definitely are spouses in a lot of marriages. Its okay to tell someone these aren't fixes a marriage counselor will help. Though they didn't call it navigating the comfortable stage instead saying it with the established phase they did have some excellent advice stating regularly create new shared experiences and prioritize quality time together while maintaining individual interests and friendships still nurturing the existing relationship. I especially agreed with the three pillars of a thriving relationship discuss from Caryl Rusbuilts research satisfaction- the level of happiness and contentment, investment the time effort and resources poured into the union, and comparison how do you feel your relationship compares to your alternatives- does the person feel they would be better off alone or searching for someone else. I found the blindfold trust exercises not really trust building. If you can't trust your partner to feed you food or keep you safe then forget about trusting them with fidelity. However, the digital transparency trust exercises are excellent. I would put those to test with any couple before and after the marriage. If your relationship is not strong enough to look through each other's digital media then there're serious problems. The section of communication offered some definite do's and don'ts that were very beneficial. However, the examples they gave of possible conversations sounded false and too TV sitcom marriage”y”. The book offered a lot of insights for those who possibly never delved into any self-help or marriage counseling. But I found most of it to be very basic and kind of generalized. As I stated before there were areas that I wish had been more in-depth or presented differently. Which is why I gave the book 3.5 stars.
The Relationship Workbook for Couples is a breath of fresh air for anyone looking to strengthen their relationship. Written by a couple with years of counseling experience, it’s packed with practical exercises, down-to-earth advice, and relatable stories that make each section feel real and doable. The weekly structure breaks down big topics like trust, boundaries, and communication into manageable chunks, so you can work on them step by step without feeling overwhelmed. Perfect for couples who want a straightforward, no-fluff way to reconnect and grow together.
"The Relationship Workbook for Couples" is an excellent tool for couples looking to strengthen their bond. Packed with simple exercises and fun conversation starters, it helps partners better understand each other. I appreciated the “15 Effective Conflict Resolution Techniques” and “Emotional Roadmap Questions.” this book offers practical communication strategies and ways to navigate challenges. The key takeaway is the importance of openness and honesty, making it a valuable resource for any couple seeking deeper connection.
Wow! This book was incredibly insightful and helped improve my relationship. Easy to follow and apply to information
This book was PACKED with great information. I truly felt like this helped me and my wife reconnect as we can now find common ground. THANK YOU!!
I picked this book up to preview it before giving it as a gift to someone close to me. I wanted to make sure it would be helpful for them, and then realized it's also helpful for me! Filled with insight and practical steps to take to navigate relationships, I think this book and the accompanying exercises should be part of every couple's life if they want to stay together and thrive. I believe this may help my friend save the marriage, despite major trust issues that are tearing them up right now.
The awesome information in this book is so rich and perfectly aligns with the complimentary exercises that go along with it. Looking forward to implementing some of these!
The Relationship Workbook for Couples offers a helpful, structured approach for couples looking to improve their relationship over a seven-week period. Dan and Dolly Runa provide a variety of exercises, strategies, and insights into building better communication, intimacy, and trust. The workbook format, complete with weekly prompts and activities, is well-organised and easy to follow, making it a good fit for couples new to relationship improvement tools. However, while the content is accessible and practical, it may feel a bit superficial for those dealing with more complex or deeply rooted relationship challenges. The book touches on valuable concepts like attachment styles and communication patterns, but these sections could benefit from more in-depth exploration. Additionally, couples already familiar with relationship self-help tools might find some of the advice fairly basic. Overall, this workbook is a decent resource for couples seeking a straightforward, introductory guide to relationship improvement, but it may not provide enough depth for those looking for more advanced or nuanced guidance.
This book is full of information about couples and marriage. The exercises are likely to be helpful in healing or strengthening a marriage. I didn't really care for so many ancient and biblical references, but otherwise this book offers good knowledge and advice on how to have a happy marriage.
As someone who just came out of a 10-year relationship, I know the heartache that can come when things fall apart. But I also know the power of resilience and the strength we can find in our struggles. This book, The Relationship Workbook for Couples, is an invaluable guide for anyone who believes in giving their all to the people they love. It’s practical, insightful, and filled with wisdom that helps us heal and grow together. Dan & Dolly Runa take you through each step, helping you rebuild trust, enhance communication, and reignite the love that may feel lost. If you want to rebuild and strengthen your relationship, this book is a must-read. It's not just about getting by, but about thriving together, hand in hand.
As someone who is new to the dating game, I learned a lot from the advice this book provided. The author did a fantastic job in highlighting practices in keep the fire lit !
This book saved my marriage. After being thrown into slavery and a verbally abusive dominion. I thought I'd never see the light of day again. He wanted me to breed with an infidel (himself) and I couldn't bring myself to do it because of my long historic noble dominion in this realm. But after reading this book, it could make the dustiest man you've ever met in your life a shining diamond! BRAVO AUTHOR FOR RESTORING LOVE!









