Click here to order from Amazon

Ch. 1 - Don't Be Blinded by Negative Beliefs

Ch. 2 ~Dad as More than a Wallet:Learning to Bank on Yourself

Ch. 3 - Communicate: Open ears, open mind, open heart

Ch. 4 - Who is this Man?Drawing Dad Out, Allowing Dad In

Ch 5 ~ Don't build the road to dad through mom

Ch. 6 - Sex: Let's stop pretending

Ch. 7 - Divorce & Remarriage: Resolving, Renewing, Rebuilding      

 This book is designed for you if you, or your students or your clients answer Yes...
Are you having trouble communicating with your father?
Are there certain things you’d really like to talk with him about but you re too afraid?
Have you veen out of touch and wondering how to reconnect with him?
Has your parents divorce had a bad effect on your relationship with your dad?
 Is it hard for you to disagree or express your true opinions to him?
Do you often pretend to be someone you’re not when you re with him?
Do you wish you were more relaxed, more open & more talkative with each other?
Do you think he’s too demanding, too critical, or too bossy?
Would you like to get closer to him but afraid your mom might feel left out or a little jealous?
Do you want a better relationship but you think your dad ought to take the first step”?

REVIEWERS COMMENTS

Publishers Weekly - April 26, 2004 "Placing the burden of the father-daughter relationship squarely on the daughter's shoulders, Nielsen argues that women who believe dads should always take the first step towards friendship "haven't moved beyond seeing themselves as a little girl." The psychologist, who teaches a class on father-daughter relationships at Wake Forest University, offers many helpful suggestions to her readers, including tips on how to start seeing dad as "more than a wallet" and how to stop playing the innocent virgin daughter. Chapters on handling the turmoil of divorce and remarriage and on getting to know dad as a person (and not just as a father figure), round out this useful, if somewhat guilt-tripping, self-help guide. "

"This is a groundbreaking book summarizing cutting-edge psychological research in clear, plain terms and giving hordes of practical suggestions. It's a must read for any woman who ever longed for a more fulfilling relationship with her father and for any man who has felt for way too long he'd lost the capacity to communicate with a central woman in his life - his own daughter. As the father of a daughter, I'm so much more "emotionally intelligent" about our relationship since reading Dr. Nielsen's book. Don't miss this opportunity to make positive change in your life and the life of someone you love dearly. I can't recommend it highly enough!
William Pollack, Ph.D., Harvard University, Author of Real Boys, Real Boys' Workbook Co-author/editor: New Psychology of Men, Psychotherapy for Men, & In a Time of Fallen Heroes

"The only word that consistently went through my mind as I was reading was "remarkable!" The book is amazing - thoughtfully weaving research findings, common sense advice, principles of psychotherapy and personal stories into a compelling work that has immense promise to alleviate the weight and pain of daughters being estranged from their fathers. Presuming to speak on behalf of the fathers to whom you will restore the great gift of their daughters, thank you!"Sanford Braver, Ph.D., Psychology Professor, Arizona State University , Author of Divorced Dads: Shattering the Myths Advisor to President Clinton's Fatherhood Initiative

"Dr. Nielsen delivers an important message to daughters who yearn for a connection with their divorced fathers. The suggestions provided to show daughters how to take the initiative to repair old wounds with their fathers is an important step toward improving family relationships after divorce."
Constance Ahrons, Ph.D., Author of We're Still Family: What Grown Children Have to Say about Their Parents' Divorce & The Good Divorce

"Linda Nielsen knows the father-daughter relationship like no one else. And her writing is enjoyable, practical, funny and poignant. If you are a daughter or a father, you'll find piering insights throughout this inspired book." Neil Chethik Author of FatherLoss: How sons of all ages come to terms with the deaths of their dads

"Your chapter on divorce and remarriage is terrific. I will certainly be recommending this book to fathers and daughters whose relationship is not all it could be. " Dr. Richard Warshak, Professor, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Author of Divorce Poison: Protecting the Parent-Child Bond from a Vindictive Ex

"Linda Nielsen takes a serious and multilayered look at the last unexplored family relationship. Her work on fathers and daughters is important." Clea Simon, The Boston Globe, Author of Fatherless Women: How We Change After We Lose Our Dads

"Nielsen's chapter on Divorce and Remarriage is excellent! The reference list is one of the best and most useful I have seen on the subject. Nielsen has covered all the important issues in a manner that enables the reader to re-examine her (and his!) assumptions about the parental breakup and arrive at a place of compassionate understanding. This provides the basis for forgiveness and reconciliation. The format is superb as a self-help tool for the average reader as well as the college student. Nielsen is to be congratulated for dealing so deftly with a very complex problem in such a creative way." Mel Krantzler, Ph.D., Author of Creative Divorce and Moving Beyond Your Parents Divorce

"Wow! That is what I have to say about Nielsen's chapter on divorced fathers and their daughters. It is refreshing to read an academic account of something very near and dear to my heart. I am a sociologist and am very interested in looking at the situations of children and their relationships with their non-custodial father. Nielsen has a wonderful handle on the real world." John Sims, Director, Single & Custodial Fathers Network

EXCERPTS

Getting Your Lion to Talk - There's a fable about a little girl who asks: "How can Tarzan have been so smart, so strong, and so magnificent that without help from anyone at all, he defeated every one of the jungle animals, including the mighty lions?" The listener replied, "Child, you'll get a different story if the lion learns to talk. In the same way, much of what you know about your father may come from what other people have told you - not directly from your conversations with him. And what's wrong with that? Just this: like the lion, your father has his own versions of stories and his own feelings and perspectives about things that have affected his life and yours. So why not go straight to the lion, so to speak? Remember: You don't have unlimited time to get to know your "lion".

Blinded by Beliefs When you believe that something is generally true about fathers (or used car salespeople, or snakes or grandmothers) even though the facts, the statistics or the research show just the opposite to be true, your belief still effects your relationship. Too often this means that your relationship with your father is not as good as it might have been because of the kinds of beliefs you and he started out with.

Deception vs. Privacy If you lie when he specifically asks you about something, or you go to great lengths to hide information, or you pretend to believe things you don't believe in, then you're being deceptive and dishonest - not private. Privacy doesn't detract from your emotional intimacy with your father. Deception and dishonesty do. Pretending can be one of the most damaging kinds of deception because you end up living the lies, rather than just telling them.

Approval or Advice? Let your father know what you want from him: sympathy or approval or advice. Remember: most males have been taught that the best way to comfort someone is to help them fix whatever is bothering them. So if all you want from him is sympathy - a listener who basically says "you poor thing" - then tell him so. Think about his advice this way: If you're thrashing around in the water with a blindfold over your eyes and you're drowning -- too far from shore for your father to swim out to rescue you -- what response do you want from him: Approval: "You're doing a great job!" Sympathy: "Oh, you poor thing." Advice: "Stop thrashing around like that, take off your blindfold and grab the life jacket floating beside you." I doubt you'll make it to shore if your dad only gives you sympathy or approval. But if that's all you want from him, then tell him.

Money - Let's start with this Golden Rule: "Those who have the gold, make the rules." So when you accept the "gold" from your father, there are often strings attached - strings that might be invisible at first, but can eventually become heavy ropes around both your necks.

Your Father's Other Kids Since your father remarried, have you ever felt he was a better parent to his other kids than he was to you? If you're right, hurrah for him! I hope he is a better father than he used to be. The real issue is: If he wasn't any better parent than he was with you, why would that make you feel better? My guess is what you're really feeling is this: "Damn it, dad! Finally you're the father I always wanted. But it's too late for me to benefit from the "new improved" you. It's not fair!" If this is how you feel, there's good news: You can get the benefits of your new improved dad.

Discussing "It" I have rarely met a daughter who doesn't have an "IT" - that one topic she or her father are afraid to discuss, although they both usually want to. Whatever your "it" is, your relationship would probably benefit if you and your father could talk about it. The problem is you're uncomfortable bringing "it" up. You don't know how to start. You're also afraid. Afraid of what?

To order from amazon.com click here