Al Turtle's Relationship Wisdom

An Interview Series

Al Turtle — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:51:00 -0800

So we are beginning a series 7 shows. Tune in, listen. Dial in by phone and participate. Tuesdays at 12 noon, Pacific time. (Click the links in the article to download the 60 minute MP3 audio files of the 5 previous shows.)

Learn Validation! Get really good at it. Tis just an idea.

Al Turtle — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:35:00 -0800

FOR INSPIRATION, TRY THIS! This sort of thing doesn't come often to an old therapist, but it is welcome. Here's an ex-client who, I think, got it. "You can either be in Relationship or Right. You can either Validate or be Right. You can either be Empathic or be Right. Take your pick." Thanks to you, friend.

Welcome

Al Turtle — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:50:00 -0800

I hope you are looking for a great relationship for yourself, the skills to get along well with anyone, and ways to make the world a better place. If you have, I’ve got ideas to share with you. Here are some topics:

Building and Rebuildling Trust?

Boundary Skills?

Boundaries in a Relationship?

How to Use this Website?

Which Essays are Popular? (Updated Nov 2nd, 2009)

Al Turtle — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:49:00 -0800

People are taking the time to read, download, and hand out my articles - over 91,000 readers in the last year read half a million articles. This is pretty powerful stuff, and I am very gratified that so many are valuing it. My deep goal is, of course, to get to the children. "Happier couples raise healthier kids." And it all works with any kind of relationship. With your help the world is a little better, a little more connected, than when we found it.

How to Use this Website

Al Turtle — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:17:00 -0700

If you have arrived here interested in getting a wonderful partnership, or interested in how to do better, or interested in saving your marriage or that of friends, parents or children, or just interested in specifics of how peaceful partnerships work, you have arrived at a right place.

And all this is free for the reading. What can you loose? My good wishes to you all. Go 4 It!

Books I Read

Al Turtle — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:13:00 -0700

I have received requests to list books that have been, and are, important to me in developing my thinking. Here I will organize that list, and link them to Amazon.com, so that you can get them. This list will grow as I think of them. I am just listing the ones that have been repeatably, and durably, “hot” for me. Enjoy!

Talk to the Turtle

Al Turtle — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:25:00 -0700

Some clients of mine from about 30 miles away would share notes about visiting me. They spoke of "oh, you're gonna talk to the turtle, right." That casual phrase seems a good place to start here. This is a note about making myself available by phone.

A Book, based on this Website. Take a look!

Al Turtle — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:48:00 -0700

My friend, Scott Dodson, spent years reading and absorbing all the stuff I teach. The "method in his madness" was to write a marvelous fantasy book: kind of a "Harry Potter" meets Relationships. Alfred, the Turtle, not only is central, but seems to be able to fly!

His book is available online for free - probably a limited time (before the publishers get to it).

Three-Drawer Tool Box

Al Turtle — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:17:00 -0800

I believe that everyone needs a three-drawer tool box. Each drawer represents different tools or skills needed in life.

Help, Join In, Leave your footprint (testimonials welcome)

Al Turtle — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:44:00 -0700

Your suggestions could really shape the future here at this website and in the place in the forest where I often sit!

Flying a Great Relationship: An Image

Al Turtle — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:50:00 -0700

People ask me how hard is a great relationship, and I am responding more and more that “it is not rocket science.”

But I have come across an image, that isn’t far from what most of us think is “rocket science,” that may be helpful to you.

Using Al Turtle Logic on Relationship Troubles

Al Turtle — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 16:32:00 -0700

How to approach relationship challenges? Tis all about applying knowledge of the Biological Dream and learning those skills. Tis all about knowing where you currently are on the Map of Relationships. Here are some examples.

Find Mr. Right or Ms. Right

Al Turtle — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 10:29:00 -0700

This question comes in often. “I am single and am looking for a partner. I know I have defects. How do I attract the right partner, one I can work with? How do I go about it?”

Relationship Posters for the Wall

Al Turtle — Tue, 02 May 2006 15:26:00 -0700

In many ways, I am a slow learner. I have used many white sheets of paper with a saying on it. I posted these on the walls at my home and at my office, to keep reminding me over and over until my thick brain “get’s it.” Here are a bunch of them.

One Liners that have helped me stay Dialogical

Al Turtle — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 16:58:00 -0700

I can think of nothing as important as getting to be, and staying, Dialogical. It makes possible solutions to all the relationship troubles. This is the list of one line reminders that I have used over the past 15 years to remind me of "a better way of getting along." I often have had a piece of paper with one of these phrases on my wall (sometimes many walls) at home or in my office where I can see it every day. These are learning tools.

Where do you start? What goes first?

Al Turtle — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 18:56:00 -0700

I often get asked this, and fortunately for me the answer is clear. But let's state the question more clearly. If I am in a couple, a relationship, what do I/we focus on first, second, third, etc. to make things better. Ok, here we go. The answer arises from two different major principles: the Anna Karenina Principle and the Biological Dream.

What to do when He/She Leaves?

Al Turtle — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 19:51:00 -0800

People frequently come to me with this problem. Some years ago I came up with an answer and have not felt the need to change it. It works. Follow the four steps.