Table of Contents

Prologue: Our Stories
Introduction

Part 1: How Stress Affects Our Interior World
1. Reframing Thinking: Expanding Our Perspective
2. Creating Connections: Learning to Embrace Our Emotions
3. Opening the Door to Transformation: Knowing and Naming Our Emotions

Part 2: How Stress Breaks and Makes Relationships
4. Nurturing the Ultimate Connection: Romantic Relationships, Sex, and Stress
5. Enjoying the Wild Ride: Parenting and Stress

Part 3: How External Realities Shape Our Stress
6. Breaking a Dependency: Handling Money with Integrity
7. Claiming Strength and Resiliency: Overcoming the Wounds of Trauma

Epilogue: Befriending Stress
Notes
Suggestions for Further Reading

About the Author

George R. Faller, MS, LMFT, a lieutenant in the New York City Fire Department for twenty years who participated in 9/11 rescue efforts, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy supervisor, and an Emotionally Focused certified therapist, supervisor and trainer. He is also the founder and president of the New York Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy and teaches at the Ackerman Institute in Manhattan.

The Rev. Dr. Heather Wright, an ordained Presbyterian minister, is a licensed professional counselor and executive director for a faith-based counseling center. She taught graduate-level counseling and pastoral theology and served as a board certified chaplain. She is the author of Redeeming Eve: Finding Hope beyond the Struggles of Life and Small Group Leadership as Spiritual Direction.

Reviews

"A thoughtful, accessible and readable guide.... I consider this a valuable resource both personally and professionally. Extremely readable, informative and helpful."
—Dr. Dale Atkins, psychologist; coauthor, Sanity Savers: Tips for Women to Live a Balanced Life

"A must-read for anyone who feels overwhelmed by stress.... Empowers readers to both reframe and 'befriend' stress.... A go-to guide for fostering hope and healing in a stressed-out world."
—Rev. Dr. Andrea Mueller, canon for prayer and healing ministries, Anglican Diocese in New England

“Shows us there is more than one way, and a better way, to win the battle with stress. Equips us with the tools to change defeat into victory. A great resource for everyone.”
—Admiral Vern Clark, U.S. Navy (retired); former chief of Navy operations

“Personally inspiring and deeply insightful, [will] touch your heart and guide your steps toward embracing opportunities for courageous growth and freedom.... Compelling personal examples and psychological insight.”
—James L. Furrow, PhD, Evelyn and Frank Freed Professor of Marital and Family Therapy, Fuller Theological Seminary

“I didn't know reading a book on stress could be so much fun and so informative.... A totally fresh approach for turning distress into life-giving connection.”
—Dr. Sue Johnson, psychologist; researcher; best-selling author, Hold Me Tight and Love Sense

“With creativity and compassion ... show[s] us how to embrace the opportunity that stress provides for transformation and spiritual renewal.”
—Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, Center for Action and Contemplation

“Helpful illustrations, theory and practical stories offer a hopeful and life-giving understanding of stress.... I will recommend this book to many of my parishioners.”
—Rev. Anita L. Bradshaw, PhD, author, Change and Conflict in Your Congregation (Even If You Hate Both)

“A new voice and a fresh perspective on our most challenging moments. Read it with care and share it often; we would all do well to reconsider our response to adversity.”
—Elana Katz, LCSW, senior faculty, Ackerman Institute for the Family

“A thoughtful and compassionate book, filled with wisdom and kindness.”
—John Eldredge, author, Wild at Heart

“For stress to be transformative and not traumatic, we need to connect deeply with another person within a relationship. George Faller and Heather Wright give us a lovely guide for discovering and creating this reality.”
—Dan Hughes, PhD, psychologist, founder of DDP attachment-focused family therapy

“George Faller and Heather Wright’s wise counsel offers a whole new path to hope and healing for readers courageous enough to receive the gift of sacred stress.”
—Ian Morgan Cron, author, Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim’s Tale

“Use[s] vivid stories to advocate a transformative and very helpful paradigm shift.... Many readers living fast-paced, pressured days will greatly benefit from their ideas, as I did.”
—Rev. Lynne M. Baab, PhD, author, Sabbath Keeping and The Power of Listening

“A great book for stressful times. Written from the author’s heart and the heart of God.”
—Kenny Sanderfer, LMFT, certified EFT therapist, supervisor and trainer

“Stress, motivating and challenging, is simply part of our lives. These two colleagues and authors approach its dynamics with great experience, sensitivity and honesty.”
—Rev. Dr. James B. Lemler, rector, Christ Church Greenwich

“A gift of a book—with solid science to back it up, Sacred Stress will help you, uplift you, educate you and engage you.... You will walk away with a lot of new tools for relieving stress in your life.”
—Diana Fosha, PhD, director and founder, AEDP Institute; developer of AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy)

“Uplifting and evocative.”
—Jim Sharon, EdD, coauthor, Secrets of a Soulful Marriage: Creating and Sustaining a Loving, Sacred Relationship

“Highly recommend[ed].... Will help transform stress in your life from a limiting to an enabling force.”
—Michael Lee Stallard, author, Connection Culture: The Competitive Advantage of Shared Identity, Empathy and Understanding at Work

“A highly effective roadmap.... A wonderful resource.”
—Rabbi Mitchell M. Hurvitz, coauthor, Encyclopedia of Judaism; cofounder, Sholom Center for Interfaith Learning and Fellowship

“Inspiring ... deep wisdom about adversity and resilience.”
—Froma Walsh, PhD, Firestone Professor Emerita, University of Chicago; author, Strengthening Family Resilience

“[An] indispensable, compassionate and accessible handbook ... for every minister and caregiver.”
—Rev. Drew Williams, senior pastor, Trinity Church Greenwich

“Poignant vignettes, scattered with pearls of wisdom.... Take[s] us on a journey of transformation and growth.”
—Richard Ager, PhD, dean, Tulane School of Social Work