Push Back: Speak Up, Face Conflict, and Change Your Life

In her debut book, popular therapist, Psychology Today blogger, and go-to relationship expert Tonya Lester offers a master class on how to be effectively assertive for anyone whose aversion to conflict has led to struggles at home, at work, or in relationships.

Tonya Lester has a bold directive for every conflict-averse woman in the world: It’s OK to be difficult. Not mean, not rigid, not a bully -- but the kind of difficult that makes the people in your life see you and understand what you need.

Lester routinely witnesses clients and friends talking themselves out of justifiable anger, telling half-truths or backing off to avoid difficult conversations, absorbing disappointment to let others have their way, and doing more than their fair share of work to keep the peace. Why? Because most relationship guidance, both personal and professional, ignores the very real problems of uncooperative and avoidant partners, systemic sexism, and cultural pressures encouraging women to be nurturers, people pleasers, and peacemakers -- and not to ＂rock the boat.＂ Through exercises, case studies, and real-life examples, Lester shows how to push back.

You’ll learn to set boundaries in all kinds of relationships, express your needs, engage in productive conflict, and deal calmly with any resulting backlash from spouses, coworkers, bosses, in-laws, siblings, and children. Push Back gives you the tools to build a life that works better for everyone in it, starting with yourself.

Tonya Lester, LCSW, writes regularly for Psychology Today, where her blog, ＂Staying Sane Inside Insanity,＂ reaches more than 100,000 readers. She has been a featured expert in Newsweek, The Guardian, Fatherly, Well + Good, and The Buzz. She has a master’s degree in social work from New York University, with postgraduate training at the Internal Family Systems Institute and the Relational Life Institute. She sees clients and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

TonyaLester.com