Tokens of Affection: Reclaiming Your Marriage After Postpartum Depression

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Routledge

Kleiman, K., with Wenzel, A. (2014). Tokens of affection: Reclaiming your marriage after postpartum depression. New York, NY: Routledge.

Postpartum depression is hard on a marriage. Clinicians who work with postpartum depression often find themselves face-to-face with marriages that are suffocating, as if the depression has sucked the life out of a relationship that was only prepared for the anticipated joy of pending childbirth. What happens to marriage? Why do couples become angry, isolated, and disconnected? Tokens of Affection looks closely at marriages that have withstood the passing storm of depression and are now seeking, or in need of, direction back to their previous levels of functioning and connectedness. The reader is introduced to a model of collaboration that refers to 8 specific features, which guide postpartum couples back from depression. These features, framed as “Tokens,” are based on marital therapy literature and serve as a reminder that these are not just communication skill-building techniques; they are gift-giving gestures on behalf of their relationship. A reparative resource, Tokens of Affection helps couples find renewed harmony, a solid relational ground, and reconnection.

Praise for Tokens of Affection

Postpartum Depression knocks most couples off their feet and Tokens of Affection serves as a solid ‘grab bar’ for regaining balance. Written with humor, sensitivity, and remarkable insight, Kleiman and Wenzel have created a practical and effective roadmap for couples seeking enhanced connection and stability, not only during the postpartum period but at ANY phase of their lives.

— Margaret Howard, PhD, Director, Postpartum Depression Day Hospital at Women & Infants Hospital; Professor of Psychiatry & Human Behavior (Clinical) and Medicine (Clinical), Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Depression puts stress on a relationship. But with postpartum depression, it’s a ‘double whammy.’ With the perfect blend of clinical experience and scientific knowledge, Karen Kleiman, with Amy Wenzel, has written an outstanding book that will teach you the skills you’ll need to stay focused on your relationship and successfully ride out this trying period of time.

— Jonathan S. Abramowitz, PhD, Professor and Associate Chair of Psychology; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

A welcome resource for marriages touched by postpartum depression,T okens of Affection provides important information, real-world examples, and practical skills for improving communication, compromise, and marital satisfaction. This is a must-read for couples looking to reconnect and rediscover the strengths in their relationship after postpartum depression.

— Pamela S. Wiegartz, PhD, Director, CBT Services and Training, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Assistant Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Author, The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook

This enlightening book describes the impact of postpartum depression on marriages, never before described so accurately in print. It’s been the missing link to help couples back on their feet, and I’m excited to say we now have it! Based on years of clinical practice and solid research, Kleiman and Wenzel’s practical, easy-to-read guide is a must-read for postpartum couples.

— Shoshana Bennett, PhD, Former President, Postpartum Support International; Clinical Psychologist; Author, Postpartum Depression For Dummies