TCS Creator & Reviewer
Jen Schlau, MLIS

I am a former academic librarian (Bachelor’s in Psychology, Master’s In Library & Information Science) with a long-standing interest in relationships. This website marries (pun intended) two great passions of mine: relationships and connecting people with information. 

Growing up, I saw the trajectory of three central marriages in my family of origin. One divorce and two Golden anniversaries with different dynamics and skills. What made for these dynamics and marital paths? How could I create a relationship that was happy and safe as well as stood the test of time? How could I do things differently for my own marriage and children that I wish my family had been able to do? How could I implement the things my family had done right? How could I reconcile all that I had seen and use the past to improve the future?

I have been able to build a healthy, solid relationship with my sweetheart (read: this does NOT mean we have not had our struggles). Some of these resources have absolutely been a part of that process.

Here you will find resources that can help you in your relationship: how to build a solid foundation, how to be and remain connected, and how to come out on the other side of the your relationship’s hard times stronger than ever. Some of these subtopics might seem better suited for an individual mental health syllabus, but as we all know, when our sweetheart is in pain, our relationship does not remain unaffected.

My site is the “couple’s” syllabus deliberately. While some of these books are written directly for married individuals or for individuals preparing for marriage, and therein is my greatest passion, many of these resources will be relevant to you in any type of long-term partnership. 

I’ve put this together with the dating, cohabitating, the engaged, those contemplating engagement, straight, the LGBTQ, the happy-but-you-could-be-happier, the close-but-you-could-be-closer, those recovering from infidelity, and those caught in a distressed pattern all in mind. If you are facing significant issues like trauma, infidelity, addiction, or something else, therapy is especially encouraged. If you are experiencing relational abuse, the vulnerability and intimacy asked by these resources is often not safe to display, and couple’s therapy is often not recommended. If you are in an abusive situation, the National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). 

I want to help you shelve your relationship mistakes.

If you want to “pass the class”, you have to do the reading and practice. There is no shortcut! But the gain for doing the work is immense.

Welcome to the Couple’s Syllabus.

Disclaimer: This site is informational only and its resources are not substitutions for professional therapy. If you need professional help, see the Find a Therapist page to locate a qualified mental health professional.