I (Think) I Want Out - by Becky Whetstone (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

I (Think) I Want Out is an essential couples guide that provides comprehensive information, answers, and guidance on how to navigate a marriage crisis.

Among the 600,000 annual divorces that transpire within the United States, almost all of them begin with a marriage crisis. Whether your partner told you they want to leave the marriage, or you are wondering how to break the news that you want out, this breaking point can be filled with overwhelming emotions, worry about children becoming collateral damage, and ill-advised counseling that make navigating this process more frightening and confusing than it has to be. These heartbreaking times can propel couples into a state of fear, panic, and uncertainty about what steps they should take, sometimes leading them to divorce when reconciliation might have been possible. Known as the "Marriage Crisis Manager," marriage and family therapist Becky Whetstone fills in these gaps by speaking to both partners on how to manage themselves and their relationship in the healthiest of ways, regardless of the eventual outcome.

In I (Think) I Want Out, Whetstone's coaching offers clear understanding on why everyone feels crazy and overwhelmed during one of life's most difficult experiences. By promoting peacefulness and self-care, she emphasizes the importance of both partners slowing down throughout the process. With engaging exercises and worksheets, Whetstone organizes an intelligent plan so all parties can successfully manage the crisis in a way where smart, rational decision-making can take place, and mistakes are minimized. Some of the many useful strategies and insight Whetstone provides help couples understand:

How the marriage crisis happened in the first place The stages of marital deterioration and how to diagnose the severity of the marriage crisis How our nervous system impacts the way we feel and influences our actions What factors to consider: mental and physical health, abuse, and addiction When it's time to separate and how to do it peacefully in a way that avoids separation limbo and moves the couple forward toward the end goal of a definitive decision How to manage the crisis and possible divorce amicably, ensuring the best outcome for the children

With the inclusion of useful templates that show couples how to separate in a way that encourages reconciliation and offer a plan for families whose intended divorce is done in a respectful way that encourages a good co-parenting relationship moving forward, this useful guide helps is an invaluable tool for any dissolution of a marriage.

Review Quotes

"(I Think) I Want Out is a stunning, straightforward guide for couples questioning whether to stay together. It shows couples how to be discerning about their relationship in collaborative, conscientious, and caring ways. The many illustrative stories, as well as Dr. Whetstone's openness about her own personal journey, make this a compelling and immediately practical read. This book won't necessarily save all marriages, but it will help couples make wise loving decisions about their future as well as care well together for their children's future. I wish I had had this book to hand to many of the couples that I have treated over the years."

--David Treadway, PhD, couple therapist and author of Treating Couples Well: A Practical Guide to Collaborative Couples Therapy

"I wish I'd had this book years ago for myself, for my staff, and for my patients because it would have made everyone's life easier when dealing with the pain and chaos of marital crisis. Dr. Becky Whetstone has given us what we've always needed: a clear and simple explanation of the possible causes of a marital crisis, what to do about it, and how to heal from it. Dr. Whetstone doesn't pull any punches. She writes in raw, vivid language about her own experiences and those of others, compelling the reader to ask for more. Dr. Whetstone's method--based on years of research, writing, painful self-observation, and professional work--will provide comfort and direction to millions as they navigate a distressing and painful time in their lives. I applaud Dr. Whetstone for her courage in presenting this helpful and important book."

--Bick Wanck, MD, author of Mind Easing: The 3-Layered Healing Plan for Anxiety and Depression, founding member of American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, assistant professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Albany Medical School, and founder and owner of Bick Wanck MD & Associates

About the Author

Becky Whetstone, Ph.D. is a marriage and family therapist in private practice who specializes in trauma, codependency, and marriage crisis. A journalist and former features writer and columnist for the San Antonio Express-News, she created a singles movement dedicated toward kindness, decency, and integrity in dating that became a south Texas phenomenon.

Known as "America's Marriage Crisis Manager," she has created a path for couples on the brink, guiding them through the marriage crisis process with purpose and compassion. She is an avid blogger and media influencer dedicated to teaching couples how to have healthy relationships with themselves and others. She lives in her home state of Arkansas with her husband.