Does anyone know of a good book we could buy and read instead of going to marriage guidance counselling?

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Just that really, I feel like our marriage and communication style could do with some support and tweaks.

With a toddler and baby we are tired and under pressure and the thought of actually going to counselling is too draining but I wondered if anyone knows of any good books we could read that may help?

You can do The Marriage Course online I think. It's usually run by local churches (but it's for anyone). There's also a book written by the same people as the course (you get a copy of the book on the course I think) so you could just read that but I'd imagine you'd get more out of the course if you can manage to fit it in.

Here are some ideas that we have used:

Hold me Tight by Sue Johnson:

www.amazon.co.uk/Hold-Me-Tight-Successful-Relationships/dp/0749955481?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Also The Marriage Book: www.amazon.co.uk/Marriage-Book-Nicky-Lee/dp/1905887396?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

We also did the Marriage Course (written by the couple who wrote the above book -NIck and Sila Lee) which comes with its own course book which was useful. You can access that course here: themarriagecourse.org/

Relate do some good books www.relate.org.uk/relationship-help/self-help-tools/book-shop/books-couples

Gary Chapman's 5 Love Languages was an eye opener for me.

Also maybe google the Gottman Institute or follow them on FB.

I’d second the 5 Love Languages. I also found the empowered wife by Laura Doyle very helpful, but it’s def not a MN favourite- I guess it depends how desperate you are to save your marriage. it worked for me (in less than a week) and I’m certainly no doormat.

Thanks for these suggestions.

Does the church marriage course require us to participate either online or face to face? I can't stomach the thought of a zoom thing.