This book is unique in style. It’s innovative, pro-active, interactive, and acts as a guide or manual to help you figure out what you need to do to change your present situation. This book is preventative in nature. It will teach you how to prevent unhappiness for yourself, your spouse, and your children. If we learn to prevent hardship then all of our lives will be less complicated and more fulfilled. The uniqueness of this book helps you develop and understand your responsibility in the choices you make for yourself. The uniqueness of this book gives you the ability to change.
Getting the connection for your choices is a major part of this book. Nobody deserves to be abused or treated badly and it’s not your fault. You will understand that while no person causes someone else to be abusive, it’s your responsibility and choice when you decide to be with a particular person. You’re responsible for your behavior and your choices. The solid choices we make and the thoughtfulness we show to others is what makes us healthy individuals.
The book has a pre-marital test, personal and partner assessment tests, and a personal workbook to help guide you to understand your past, present, and to deal better with your future life.
This book doesn’t just tell people what to do, but tells you how to change. This book deals with aspects of self, love, relationships, marriage, intimacy, and children. It gives you a wide range of ideas and examples that you can apply to yourself. After each section there’re ideas and examples to try. Not everything works for everybody. This book will provide you with many different ways to understand how to change your life.
Diana Dodson was a guest on the television show, "New Directions for Women," on May 13, 2009. Diana will appear on, "LA Talk Radio," October 5, 2009. Excerpts from Ms. Dodson's book will be reviewed in the July issue of, "Divorce Magazine."
Diana has a BA in Sociology/Psychology and masters work in Criminology from San Diego State University.
Nursing Assistant Credential.
Head Start Program.
She has worked with adolescents in psychiatric treatment facilities.
She has worked with adult schizophrenics in psychiatric treatment facilities.
She was a counselor, supervisor, and mental health consultant within the facilities she worked for.
Some of her work experience includes marriage and family counseling, group and individual therapy. Socialization skills, treatment plans, in-services, and writing individualized programs, were included in her duties. She hired and trained new staff members. She supervised and trained staff members who were doing individual counseling with the clients.
She worked with the California State Mental Health and County Mental Health in San Diego. The work included going over treatment plans, implementing new programs, input with psychotropic medications, and working with County Mental Health doctors and nurses.
She supervised PHD students from colleges around the county. These students did part of their internship through the mental health facility for which she was employed. She also interfaced with program directors and nursing staff.
Diana coached Bobby Sox softball for five years. Diana was the manager/coach for the softball teams. Duties included developing softball skills, dealing with parents, practice, and social interaction.
Diana has been the assistant coach for a high school girl’s tennis team for six years. She worked with the athletes to develop their tennis skills, workout programs, and coaching during league matches. It was very important for Diana and the coach to develop personal and social skills among the girls.
There are a series of tests that will help you to understand yourself, your parents, your spouse, and your children. All of these tests can be taken as a married couple, or as a couple that is planning to get married, or is just dating. These tests will help you to identify compatibility, love, trust, communication, and other vital areas in relationships. These tests are designed to provoke thought, understanding, and stimulate action to change.
Pre-Marital Test: (Examples)
1. Do you love the person you intend to marry? Yes No
2. Do you feel sexual activity will decrease as time passes after marriage? Yes No
3. Can you tell your partner they hurt your feelings? Yes No
4. Do you both want to have children? Yes No (Be Honest.)
Personal and Partner Assessment: (Topics)
1. Conflict from your parents.
2. Test your romantic appeal toward your partner.
3. Test their ability to show love.
4. Test their ability to be kind, considerate, and thoughtful of others.
5. Test their ability to understand one’s self.
6. Test their negativity and selfishness.
Personal Workbook: (Examples)
1. Tell your partner five things you need from them.
2. Tell your partner five things they do that bother you.
3. Name five things you don’t like about your parents.