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:
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.
Stephanie Catella, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist with expertise in transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for trauma, anxiety, and building emotional intelligence. After completing fellowships at the San Francisco VA and the University of California, San Francisco; she codirected the Berkeley Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Clinic with Matthew McKay. In addition to her private practice, she authored an FDA-cleared prescription digital therapeutic for fibromyalgia, and serves as an advisor to HealthTech companies.
Matthew McKay, PhD, is a professor at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. He has authored and coauthored numerous books, including The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook, Self-Esteem, and Couple Skills, which have sold more than a million copies combined. He received his PhD in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology, and specializes in the cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety and depression.