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Judith Anne Desjardins, LCSW, BCD, MSWAC is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Board Certified Diplomat in Clinical Social Work, and a Master Social Work Addictions Counselor. She received her Bachelor of Arts with Honor from the University of Wyoming and her Master of Social Work degree from Arizona State University. She is listed in Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare, and Who’s Who in American Women.
Being raised in a military family and traveling extensively gave her an appreciation for all cultures and all the world’s religions. As an educator, she has taught nationally and in Canada, and has maintained a thirty-three year holistic private psychotherapy practice. She has specialty training in Jin Shin Do Acupressure, Jungian and Gestalt therapy, and has worked in various clinical settings: Oncology social work, in-patient psychiatry, homeless shelter, out-patient substance abuse.
Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite
Judith Desjardins begins her book by sharing a dream or perhaps a nightmare. She was in her 50s and felt her life was stagnant. After an honest talk with herself, she began to reform. The use of personal experiences makes this a must read self help book. She shares her doubts before her marriage. She ignored them and the marriage ended in divorce.
The first section of the book is titled: Preparing Yourself To Be The Best Possible Mate. There is a great need to understand yourself and where you come from before considering marriage. The second section discusses the developmental process. The third section was one of my favorites: Selecting The Best Mate. In this section, the author asks readers to look at their reasons for wanting love and marriage and to make a wish list. She also encourages readers to look at past relationships.
I have mixed feelings about parts of this book. I know that marriage is one of the most important steps a person can take. When examining my own marriage, I see things a bit differently. I was 18, he was 19…I suppose you would say, mere babies. We knew we loved each other. That was what counted. Were we immature? Yes, we were young. Looking back over the years, I’ve never regretted a day of our lives together. Soon we will be married 37 years. I did not analyze who I was, where I came from, etc. I just knew I loved him and wanted to spend my life with him. I suppose he felt the same. He still treats me like a princess and I love him more every day. I know this is not the norm. I’ve see marriages fall apart. So I do recognize the need to know each other well. The world has changed a lot in the last 37 years. I knew divorce would not be an option. However, today marriage is disposable.
All in all, Ms. Desjardins offers readers an excellent book. It is well organized, the topics are pertinent. I would recommend this book to be read before engagement.
