The Balancing Act: Creating Healthy Dependency Without Losing Yourself

This pragmatic guide from therapist Tawwab (Set Boundaries, Find Peace) outlines how to forge relationships that balance connection with independence. The first half of the book unpacks the roots of unhealthy relationships, among them childhood trauma, mental health challenges, and insecure attachment styles (the ways in which people approach close relationships, often rooted in early experiences with caregivers; those with an “anxious” attachment style, for example, can find it tough to form close connections due to ingrained distrust). To improve their relationships, readers should clearly ask for help when they’re having a crisis, balance time alone with time spent together (those who struggle with solo time can find new hobbies or learn to be “alone together”), and recognize that not all relationships require the same level of closeness. Tawwab bolsters her lucid advice for analyzing relationships that aren’t working with plenty of practical tools, including conversational scripts, question prompts, and bulleted lists. Readers who feel dissatisfied with their social lives would do well to take a look. (Feb.)