Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love

Build a lifetime of love through seven healing conversations

Sue Johnson

2008

8 Key Insights

About This Book

Discover how to transform argument and distance into deep emotional connection. This guide shows you seven science-backed conversations that replace blame, withdrawal, and fear with real intimacy. You’ll learn why love is our primary survival need and how to bypass reactive fights to connect safely. Through vivid examples—like the “protest polka” of endless bickering or the chilling moment left alone on the hospital stairs—you’ll see how simple shifts in language and touch release floodgates of empathy and trust. Your relationship will move from dreading conflict to welcoming growth. Ready to escape loneliness and rediscover joyful, resilient love?

About the Author

Dr. Sue Johnson is the creator of Emotionally Focused Therapy, a scientifically validated approach to healing relationships. She is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and a professor at the University of Ottawa. With over three decades of research and practice, Dr. Johnson has trained thousands of therapists worldwide and helped countless couples rediscover lasting intimacy. Her warm, empathetic style combines rigorous science with real-world compassion.

Biggest Takeaway

You’ll stop spiraling into blame and defensiveness and instead learn to de-escalate conflicts before they erupt. You’ll identify and soothe your most tender vulnerabilities so you no longer shut down or lash out. You’ll create new ways to ask for comfort and hear each other’s needs as cries for closeness. You’ll discover how thoughtful touch and playful sex become powerful tools for bonding. Finally, you’ll map a future for your relationship—with rituals, stories, and daily check-ins—to keep love alive year after year.

View on Amazon