how to understand your relationships: a practical guide

’Profound and vulnerable. An essential gift for all of us that relate’ - Anne Mauro

What do we mean when we say ’relationship’?
How do we separate our needs and desires from norms and expectations?
How can we approach our relationships with mutuality, care and compassion?

This down-to-earth guide is the ultimate companion for anybody who wants to examine their place in the world -- how we relate to ourselves, and others.

With considerations of historical, cultural, and developmental contexts; explorations of relationship diversity as it manifests in queerness, the ace and aro spectrum, non-monogamy and neurodivergence; and a look towards deeper, compassionate, interdependent ways to relate - this book will help people of all ages, backgrounds and identities explore their relational world.

Meg-John (MJ) Barker (they/them) is a writer, zine-maker, collaborator, contemplative practitioner, creative mentor, and friend. They are the author of a number of popular books on sex, gender, and relationships, including graphic guides to Queer, Gender, and Sexuality, How To Understand Your Gender and Sexuality, Life Isn’t Binary, Enjoy Sex (How, When, and IF You Want To), Rewriting the Rules, and Hell Yeah Self Care. They also publish zines, comics, and free books on themes including plurality, trauma, consent, and creativity.

Alex Iantaffi has been a therapist for over a decade, and a scholar for two decades. They have published work on gender sexuality, relationship, and disabilities for a broad range of audiences, both academic, and more general. Alex was the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Sexual and Relationship Therapy for eleven years. They teach gender, sexuality, counselling skills, sex therapy and family therapy to both graduate and undergraduate students. Alex is a skilful presenter, and accessible writer, able to translate complex academic ideas into readable content. They co-authored How to Understand Your Gender, Life Isn’t Binary, and Self-Care: Your Workbook with Meg-John Barker, as well as contributing several chapters to a wide range of books, as well as having published extensively in peer reviewed journals.