Relationships Matter

An expert in father-daughter relationships shows daughters how to forge a new path to communication with their fathers

Psychologist Linda Nielsen shows readers how every daughter can transform her relationship with her father--if she is willing to be the adult who does the emotional embracing rather than the angry, hurt little girl waiting for Daddy to embrace her. Based on her popular Fathers and Daughters course--the first in the country devoted to exploring father-daughter relationships--Nielsen shows every woman how to:

• Go first and initiate a better relationship
• Examine her expectations regarding her relationship with her father
• Cultivate self-reliance
• Get to know her father as a person
• Explore her mother's role in the relationship
• Stay connected, even through divorce

User Reviews about Embracing Your Father: How to Build the Relationship You Always Wanted with Your Dad

The book is addressed to daughters who miss their fathers, physically, emotionally etc. But I gained a lot of insights on what daughters really expect and miss from fathers. Dr.Nielson takes the reader through a human development cycle on how much daughters can give their fathers in terms of love and opportunities to learn, grow and become better human beings, and contribute to family solidarity through empathy. Dr.Nielson advocates a "voluntarist" conception of love. A great departure from screaming "what's in it for me?" That is not to say that she discounts reciprocity in relationships.

The context addressed is set in the US culture of the post 1960 decades. However, the basic motivations are applicable universally. I have lived in the US among young people for over 12 years as a student and as a Univ Faculty. Now, in India I perceive the same problems and the message that parents have even more to learn through interaction with their children. The emphasis on daughters adds more emotional content and nuances to the discourse. I would observe that most of the problems and solutions discussed in the book apply equally well to sons.

There is an elemental message that runs through the book. It urges parents to come out of their pre-conceived roles, inhibitions and relate directly one to one with their children. It echoes TSElliot's view that a cultural role is only a formal outcome of fundamental motivations and rationale`. We will be better off looking for those fundamental rationale` instead of assuming roles and be mere consumers. -- Excellent teacher's book

The author understands the intricacies of modern, father-daughter relationships and helps a daughter to understand, and emotionally embrace, this person people call "father". The author takes a woman, who is desiring to have a relationship with her father, through an enlightening journey of discovery of her own feelings and thoughts, and those of her father. It is obvious that the author understands her subject matter and basic human nature. The insights that the author leads us to are nothing short of amazing! If you read this book and are unchanged, demand your money back and check with the morgue to see if you're still breathing. -- A Masterpiece!

This book is the most insightful, rewarding book I have read in years. Dr. Nielsen unfolds and unlocks real information in a format that you can grasp and apply. It should be a required read for every female, even if she has a good relationship with her father or her father has passed. Pure unlightenment and understanding ~ that is what you walk away with after reading this book. It was very, very helpful to understand more completely the demeaning and demoralizing of divorced fathers. I believe this is a real issue in today's world and she addresses it head on. I would love to see a book by this title from Dr. Nielsen. What a gift to the world that book would be! I hope to see Dr. Nielsen on Oprah and Dr. Phil promoting her book very soon. -- excellent with real data to back it up

Taking time out to read this book has been a blessing to my life and so many of my sisters. We are single mothers who have been divorced and raising girls on our own. The importance of relationships with our daughters and their fathers is essential and Dr. Nielsen did a wonderful job making the interactions realistic and meaningful. I would recommend this book to all of my african american sisters who often times need alittle help from the fathers of their daughters. Thank you Dr. Neilsen for your caring enough to give us sisters a hand at mending and reintiating father-daughter relationships. I can't wait to read more! -- Enlightening and Awesome

A wonderful relationship with your father is truly one of life's greatest joys. But how can we find this if we don't already have it? Dr. Nielsen's book provides many practical and creative suggestions for doing just this. We did not choose our father or the life we had as a child. However, we can choose to change the way we interact with our dad once we are adults. Dr. Nielsen uses a variety of interesting techniques: short questionnairss to focus on specific problems; "Eye Opener" research summaries to provide perspective; and sample dialogues to help us get started talking with our dad. Dr. Nielsen's academic credentials give her the credibility to write this ground-breaking book. And her warm, encouraging voice and helpful ideas give us the courage to actually try to reconnect with our dad. I am recommending this book to all of my friends who are puzzled, angry, or disappointed with their father. It's never too early, or too late, to start. -- It's Never Too Late