Unbroken Ties by Carol S. Becker

In 1983, Carol Becker ended a five-year relationship. 'My lover and I had sat with friends during their breakups,' she writes, my own relationship felt like being cut loose on an uncharted sea of pain.' As a part of her recovery, Becker decided to chart that sea.

Through nearly one hundred stories and interviews, Becker - also a psychotherapist - has traced the emotional trauma of a couple's breakup, the stages of recovery, and the differing ways these former lovers stayed in contact with each other. She finds the end of a relationship can be a time of positive personal growth, helping avoid destructive behavior in the future. Former lovers can also serve as the foundation for alternative family groups, strengthening our community and our ability to care for one another.