Dr. Tina Tessina, Ph.D., L.M.F.T. is a licensed psychotherapist in Southern California. “Dr. Romance,” as she’s known, has 30 years counseling experience, both individuals and couples, and has published 13 books in 16 languages, including her latest release, Money, Sex and Kids: Stop Fighting About the Three Things That Can Ruin Your Marriage (Adams Media Jan 2008) and the forthcoming The Commuter Marriage: Keep Your Relationship Close While You’re Far Apart. (Adams Media, June  2008).
 
Carrie:  What inspired you to write Money, Sex, and Kids?
 
Tina:  In my work with couples, I see a lot of problems created by a habit of fighting, and I’ve developed a lot of strategies to change those old bad habits and give couples something new to do that works better.

Carrie:  What is the primary message you’d like your readers to take away from this book? 

Tina:  You can have a loving partnership, full of sweetness and effective planning and decision making.  It’s not hard to create.

Carrie:  Tell us about your writing process.

Tina:  I essentially re-create the counseling process I use with couples, including case histories, dialog and exercises just as I use them in successful counseling.

Carrie:  The process of writing a book is not easy, to say the least. What motivated you to keep going, especially in those times when it was far from convenient to write? 

Tina:  Well, this is my 12th book, so I’ve got the process down by now, and it’s help I really want to make available to couples.

Carrie:  Who are your favorite authors and who influenced your writing? Besides your own, of course, which authors and/or books do you recommend to readers? Why?

Tina:  I love Anne Lamott’s honesty and clarity.  I have been influenced by Carl Rogers, Robert Bly, Albert Ellis, Eric Berne, James Hillman, Thomas Szasz, Ken Wilbur, Marsha Sinetar, Virginia Satir and others.  I studied Gestalt therapy, Transactional Analysis Rational Emotive Therapy and many other modes.  The book which best captures my modality is Ken Wilbur’s Integral Therapy.  I also read a lot of research.

Carrie:  Can you offer a glimpse into your “real life” and share with us a bit of your personal life—what’s important to you (i.e., hobbies, passions, causes, family)?