Free Alternative to Expensive Card Decks & More
Compare conversation starter cards, books, apps, and discover why digital alternatives are better and free.
🤝 Professional Support
Sometimes we all need a little extra help
Online Couples Therapy
Online-Therapy.com pairs you with a licensed counselor and includes structured CBT worksheets you both work through together. It's a more accessible middle ground between self-help and in-person counseling.
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In-Person Therapy
Find qualified couples therapists in your local area
Search by location, insurance, and specialty
📚 Recommended Reading
Expert-recommended books to guide your relationship journey
Eight Dates
by John Gottman
Discover the key discussions couples should have to improve your relationship.
Passionate Marriage
by David Schnarch
A groundbreaking guide to deep intimacy through self-growth and sexual connection.
The 80/80 Marriage
by Nate and Kaley Klemp
An accessible, transformative guide for couples seeking greater love, connection, and intimacy in our modern world.
Hold Me Tight
by Sue Johnson
Seven conversations for a lifetime of love using Emotionally Focused Therapy principles.
📚 Recommended Reading
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If any of these questions sparked something worth sitting with, these books go deeper than a list of prompts can.
Also worth reading
Hold Me Tight
Sue Johnson
Dr. Sue Johnson's breakthrough guide using Emotionally Focused Therapy principles to help couples create secure, lasting bonds and repair relationship wounds.
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Also worth reading
The 5 Love Languages
Gary Chapman
Discover the five ways people experience and express love. This bestselling book helps couples understand how their partner prefers to receive affection and appreciation.
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Also worth reading
The Adventure Challenge: Couples Edition
Exploration Nation
A scratch-off adventure book with 50+ daring date ideas and mini-challenges that encourage couples to explore together and create shared memories.
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Also worth reading
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
John Gottman
Based on decades of research with thousands of couples, Gottman reveals the seven principles that predict whether a marriage will succeed or fail. A foundational guide for building lasting relationships.
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Also worth reading
Where Should We Begin? Card Game
Esther Perel
A beautifully designed card game from renowned relationship therapist Esther Perel featuring intimate conversation prompts to deepen emotional and physical connection.
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Also worth reading
Attached
Amir Levine & Rachel Heller
Using attachment theory, this book explains relationship patterns and how understanding your attachment style can lead to healthier, more secure relationships.
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Also worth reading
Mating in Captivity
Esther Perel
Esther Perel's provocative exploration of desire in long-term relationships — why love and lust can pull in opposite directions, and how to keep passion alive over time.
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Also worth reading
Wired for Love
Stan Tatkin
Stan Tatkin explains how each partner's attachment style shapes the relationship — and gives couples a neuroscience-based roadmap for creating a secure, lasting bond.
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Also worth reading
Daring Greatly
Brené Brown
Brené Brown's landmark work on vulnerability, courage, and shame — showing how opening up is the path to deeper connection and more authentic relationships.
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Also worth reading
Us: Getting Past You and Me
Terry Real
Terry Real's guide to moving beyond ego and individualism in relationships — a practical roadmap for building genuine partnership and lasting love.
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Also worth reading
Come as You Are
Emily Nagoski
A groundbreaking book about female sexuality and desire that helps couples understand pleasure, arousal, and intimacy from a scientific and compassionate perspective.
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Also worth reading
The State of Affairs
Esther Perel
Esther Perel's nuanced, unflinching look at infidelity — why affairs happen, what they mean, and how couples can use them as a catalyst for honest transformation.
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📱 Helpful Apps & Tools
Digital tools to support your relationship growth
Paired App
An app that helps bring couples closer together through daily questions and relationship insights.
Features:
- ✓Daily Questions
- ✓Relationship Insights
- ✓Progress Tracking
Lasting App
Marriage counseling and therapy sessions on your phone with professional guidance.
Features:
- ✓Professional Therapy
- ✓Personalized Sessions
- ✓Progress Tracking
Gottman Card Decks
Digital card decks with conversation starters based on research by Dr. John Gottman.
Features:
- ✓Research-Based
- ✓Multiple Categories
- ✓Easy to Use
💡 Creative Date Ideas
Fun activities to strengthen your bond and create memories
At-Home Adventures
- •Cook a meal from a different culture together
- •Have a themed movie marathon with snacks
- •Create art together - painting, crafts, or music
- •Build a blanket fort and share childhood stories
- •Try a new hobby or learn something together
Outdoor Exploration
- •Go hiking and have a picnic at the summit
- •Visit a farmers market and cook with your finds
- •Take a photography walk around your neighborhood
- •Go stargazing and share your dreams
- •Try geocaching or a nature scavenger hunt
Interactive Fun
- •Try an escape room or puzzle game
- •Take a dance or cooking class together
- •Play mini golf or go bowling
- •Visit a museum and discuss the exhibits
- •Attend a local event or festival
Ready to Start Growing Together?
Use these resources alongside our conversation starters for the best results
Start Your ConversationsDisclaimer: Some links on this page may be affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you. This helps support our mission to provide helpful resources for couples. All recommendations are based on quality and relevance.