Don't let your emotions get in the way of your communication! With this powerful, evidence-based workbook, you'll have the tools you need to navigate difficult conversations while maintaining your relationships--whether it's with friends, family, romantic partners, or work colleagues.
Have you ever tried to speak up for yourself in a moment of conflict, and your mind suddenly goes blank? Has an insensitive comment from a loved one, friend, or coworker ever made you lose your temper, putting strain on an important relationship? If so, you aren't alone. It's natural to feel overwhelmed by uncomfortable emotions in the conversations that matter most to us. Yet if we allow these feelings to overpower us, they can stand in the way of what we want or need, and our relationships with other people can suffer.
In The Emotional Intelligence Skills Workbook, psychologists Matthew McKay and Stephanie Catella draw from emotion efficacy therapy (EET) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to offer a wealth of practical skills you can use to navigate difficult conversations effectively while maintaining your relationships. You'll learn what emotional intelligence (EI) is, and why strengthening it can help you overcome conflict with others. You'll also discover strategies and tools to help you be more aware of your emotions without letting them dictate your interactions.
You'll also find skills to help you:
- Manage overwhelming emotions
- Lead with your values
- Be an empathetic listener
- Assert your needs
Living a meaningful life requires the willingness to have tough conversations. With this workbook as your guide, you'll build the skillset needed to boost your EI and improve your relationships.
Industry Reviews
"The Emotional Intelligence Skills Workbook is needed now more than ever. What a better world it would be if we all took the time to listen, be fully present, show empathy, and grow our emotional intelligence. When you use emotional intelligence, the benefits return to you exponentially. Ted Lasso quoted Walt Whitman in saying, 'Be Curious, not Judgmental' about others--this workbook will help you get there."
--Ken Schlechter, organizational change management specialist, founder of Kenneth Michael Consulting Services LLC, and graduate adjunct professor in organizational behavior and business ethics at the University of Dayton--Ken Schlechter
"As adults, there's an expectation for us to skillfully grasp, navigate, and express our emotions--yet many of us lack explicit guidance on handling our emotions, particularly when they become distressing. Catella and McKay have gifted us with a user-friendly instruction manual on how to make our emotions work for us instead of against us. The Emotional Intelligence Skills Workbook uses evidence-based tools to assist readers in living their values and communicating their needs even when faced with intense emotions. Anyone who experiences emotions will benefit from this resource!"
--Robyn L. Gobin, PhD, licensed psychologist; associate professor at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign; and author of several self-help books, including The Self-Care Prescription
--Robyn L. Gobin, PhD
"Catella and McKay have created a masterful resource that recontextualizes emotional experiencing in ways that motivate all of us to want to embrace, rather than avoid, painful feelings. Written in practical terms and replete with relatable examples, this workbook is a must-have for anyone who has been overcome by intense emotions and wants to learn new ways of managing them as a path to living a connected, values-driven life."
--Rochelle I. Frank, PhD, assistant clinical professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley; and coauthor of The Transdiagnostic Road Map to Case Formulation and Treatment Planning --Rochelle I. Frank, PhD
"In this powerful workbook, Catella and McKay provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to live a life filled with emotions without letting your emotions run your life. By bringing awareness to your emotional world, developing skills to manage your emotions, and embracing a values-driven life, you will improve your communication and strengthen your relationships."
--Michelle Skeen, PsyD, psychologist; and author of several self-help books, including Love Me, Don't Leave Me and Why Can't I Let You Go? --Michelle Skeen, PsyD
"Oscar Wilde once famously noted: 'I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.' Many of us struggle with our emotions. They often use us, and sometimes even dominate us. The Emotional Intelligence Skills Workbook provides practical, insightful, and effective tools to help you accept and even enjoy your emotions while communicating and connecting with others."
--Stefan G. Hofmann, PhD, Alexander von Humboldt Professor at the University of Marburg, Germany; and author of several books, including Emotion in Therapy--Stefan G. Hofmann, PhD
"This book is a research-informed emotional gift to the field. Like a beloved friend, Catella and McKay take us by the hand and guide us through a journey of exploring the landscape and functions of our emotions, and ways we may surf their waves. With helpful metaphors, playful comments, and a deep sense of kindness, we are skillfully led to explore and act consistently with what matters most."
--Jennifer Block-Lerner, PhD, associate professor and PsyD program director at Kean University, and coeditor of The Mindfulness-Informed Educator--Jennifer Block-Lerner, PhD
"We have all seen those powerful individuals who engage with a clear compass and skillful navigation of interpersonal tensions. Their emotional intelligence is not innate--it can be learned! Stephanie Catella and Matthew McKay have brought together the essential, evidence-based skills that will empower you to lead with your values and communicate effectively, especially when emotions run high. A must-read for anyone wanting to hone their emotional intelligence."
--Victoria Lemle Beckner, PhD, associate clinical professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco; and coauthor of Conquering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder --Victoria Lemle Beckner, PhD
