A leading therapist explains the skills we all need to communicate effectively and improve our relationships.

Most of us want to get along well with others. Life's a lot easier if you can do that across the whole relationship spectrum. 'Does well socially'; 'seems to make friends' are school reports parents love to get. For they know, quite rightly, that those children are likely to go on and do well in life. Research indicates that the ability to do well socially is more important for success than academic excellence, or high IQ.

Being able to engage in relationships productively _' from intimate domestic ones to relationships with friends and with colleagues ' is the key to thriving. It impacts our health, well-being, financial security and happiness. The case for good relationships is made and settled. But how do we get there?

In this fascinating book, psychologist and therapist Janet Reibstein takes us through how to 'learn' relationships and how to relate well, and explores the skills needed to make any relationship a positive one ' whether at work, with family and friends, or transactional. These skills will help you communicate better, to have empathy for the other person, and enable you to have productive and satisfying relationships at all levels, through sensitive and skillful interactions.

Peppered with case studies, practical tips and advice, Good Relations goes beyond straight self-help to outline the new science and theory behind how we can interact most effectively.