The Courage to Trust: A Guide to Building Deep and Lasting Relationships

The issue of trust -- of others and of myself -- comes up all the time. Whom do I really trust, and how do I build trust with people whom I would like to trust more? How much can I safely let back in people who have betrayed my trust in the past? What moves can I make that will make me more trustworthy? Cynthia Wall's exercises are often helpful in clarifying underlying blocks, allowing me to go much deeper into the real issues. I am in a process of exploring this issue with my women's group this year; it's a very rich and scary topic. The Courage to Trust is a valuable, compassionate guide for us in this exploration. I think anyone who has ever been betrayed or disappointed by someone will find helpful support in this beautifully and thoughtfully written book.

For any of you who have been hurt--by a dysfunctional family situation or an adult betrayal--this book is helping me to connect how the past is inhibiting me from having all life has to offer. After reading the first 20 pages, I had a few tactics and goals to make a difference in my life. It also confirmed for me that self-trust is the basis for the other types. It's well worth the investment in time and money.

This book is a must read for anyone looking to find true intimacy and fulfilling relationships. Cynthia Wall helps us understand that we already have the keys to success when we learn to trust ourselves. Not only is the book elegantly and compassionatly written, we are given grouding and practical exercises to help access and understand our own personal trust patterns. I have shared and given this book to many of the most imporatant people in my life.

Until I read The Courage to Trust, I had no idea that many of my personal and professional struggles centered around the issue of being able to trust myself. Cynthia Wall is a warm and loving guide who makes it safe for the reader to venture into uncharted territory. I found the exercises to be extremely helpful. They allowed me to take a deep, honest look at how I react to particular situations. After reading this book, I feel more confident, and have experienced a great deal of success in both my personal and professional life.

As a psychotherapist and devoted reader I am always looking for books to recommend that simply, clearly, and effectively communicate how we can live our lives with greater freedom. Cynthia Wall has written an elegant book. Her warm voice guides us throught terrain that we may never have attempted to travel without her wise and kind encouragement. And she leads us in such a way that, amazingly!, it's not all that hard, and (really) not too scary. The exercises are great - small, doable steps. Any book I truly value accompanies me to the beach, the coffee house and (if it's really good and useful) to the bathtub. My copy of this book is water logged; the highest possible praise.