Many of our significant relationships are based not on trust, respect and growth but on an unconscious compulsion to deny our own problems, flaws and fears. We see the consequences at home and at work, where we repeat the same mistakes and act out familiar patterns of behaviour with our partners, friends and colleagues in ways that leave us stressed and unhappy.

In 'Being with Others', psychotherapist and business psychologist Nelisha Wickremasinghe explores how it is impossible to build relationships based on openness, trust and respect when our brains and bodies are in threat.

Following on from her acclaimed book Beyond Threat she unravels why so many of us are often in threat, and how we can overcome these feelings to find freedom, authenticity and forgiveness in our relationships. In Being with Others we learn how:

* We are cursed by our ability to think and remember, and by the dictates of culture, family and own conflicted characters.
​* Unconsciously, we cast ‘spells’ – in the form of psychological defences – to try to rid ourselves of these curses.​
* Our most trusted spell is the belief that magical ‘Others’ – partners, children, celebrities, gurus or gods – can heal, protect and save us
​* Spells don’t work… and how we can free ourselves from our curses.

'Being with Others' shows us how to recognise our curses, cast off the spells and use four different Perception Practices to wake up to the scintillations of insight that can deepen our relationships.

It is an invitation to reclaim our imagination, intuition and bodies from the grip of the powerful emotions of our threat brain. It is a book for all of us who want to grow richer relationships with others and our own selves. ​