All couples walk to the altar dreaming of happily ever after, but many forces in our society work against healthy lifelong commitment. Renowned family therapist William J. Doherty has helped many thousands of readers understand how cracks can develop in even a rock-solid marriage--and what steps they can take to keep their love strong. Vivid stories illustrate ways to break free of common traps like confusing desires with needs, seeing your spouse as a consumer product to be traded in for a new model, or becoming overtime parents instead of full-time partners. Empathic and motivating, Dr. Doherty shows how to create doable relationship rituals that stand the test of time. The updated second edition incorporates Dr. Doherty's ongoing experience counseling couples in conflict, plus the latest information on marriage and health, how divorce affects kids, the pitfalls of social media, and more.