The Nice Girl Syndrome – Stop Being Manipulated and Abused––and Start Standing Up for Yourself

"Engel, a psychotherapist and domestic violence expert, has sharp words for the 'nice girls' of the world who care more about being perceived as sweet and pleasant than strong and self-protective. Drop the phoniness and passivity, she exhorts, arguing that while society superficially rewards nice girls, they suffer deeply in their intimate and work relationships by losing personal power and parading inauthentic selves. Avoiding conflict and playing naïve may seem to offer payoffs, Engel notes, but the payoffs aren't as big as the price women pay for not holding their ground--'They may get taken care of but they aren't respected. They may get special attention but from the wrong kind of people.' Readers will find Engel's elucidation of the four causes of 'Nice Girl Syndrome' and the 'Seven Types of Nice Girls' (e.g., Doormat, Pretender, Prude, Enlightened One) deeply funny and familiar. . . . This book will challenge, entertain, and empower its readers."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

For The Emotionally Abusive Relationship

"A good, solid treatment of an insidious but all-too-common type of relationship in which the weapons are words and moods rather than the fist, but which do just as much damage. Most importantly, Ms. Engel doesn't just describe--she shows us the way out."
--Susan Forward, Ph.D., author of Emotional Blackmail and Toxic Parents

For Loving Him without Losing You

"A powerful and practical guide to relationships that every woman should read."
--Barbara De Angelis, Ph.D., author of Are You the One for Me? and Secrets about Men Every Woman Should Know