In these brief but powerful true stories drawn from his more than thirty-five years counseling patients, Stephen Grosz brings us into the lives of people who cannot fully connect with lovers, spouses, parents, or friends. With patience and compassion, Grosz helps each patient draw a map of their internal world in order to uncover the unconscious fears and desires sabotaging their relationships.

One man obsessively tends to everyone around him, hoping to avoid love's end; another retreats from the world, unable to live fully until he's able to confront a tragic romance; adultery and betrayal tear apart two married couples, but love persists between spouses in surprising ways. Each one works with Grosz to decipher the language of their heart and learns to surrender to the difficult reality of truly connecting with another person.

More than just case histories, these deftly rendered encounters of everyday suffering--and profound relief--are true short stories, marked by Grosz's deep understanding of the human condition and of obstacles on the path to true connection.