Side by Side: The Revolutionary Mother-Daughter Program for Conflict-Free Communication

Moms and daughters.

They can go from best friends to mortal enemies with breakneck speed. From boyfriends to curfews and from outfits to eating habits, mothers and daughters often end up in conflict about everything. Now with Side by Side, mothers finally have a proven program to help navigate their relationship with their daughters of any age.

Dr. Charles Sophy has dedicated his career to the physical and mental health of children and families from all walks of life. Through hundreds of consultations, he found the most promising and most problematic family dynamic is that between mother and daughter.

Side by Side introduces the Four Truths of every mother-daughter relationship and a revolutionary communication approach called the Chair Strategy. This mom-driven strategy is designed to harness her power to resolve even the most volatile situations with love, understanding, and respect. It provides a concrete visual of the way mothers and daughters communicate, revealing that at all times, moms and daughters approach each other in one of three positions:

• back-to-back—when mom and daughter are at odds, neither looking at one another or listening to what the other is saying
• face-to-face—when they are discussing an issue openly, honestly, and with respect, regardless of whether they agree or not
• side-by-side—when both are looking in the same direction, sharing the same perspective

Dr. Sophy reveals how to develop the essential skill for identifying your current position and then moving you and your daughter toward the best position for achieving a productive outcome.

Being a mom is hard work, and this practical and accessible explanation of the most important role you will ever play steers you through even the roughest waters, including the hot-button issues of sex, money, and divorce. With exercises, guided conversations, journaling, and real-world stories, this book takes the mother-daughter relationship, regardless of its current state, and leads it toward a new level of understanding, love, and true connection. Side by Side is the pivotal first step to having a strong and rewarding relationship with your daughter for years to come.

Dr. Charles Sophy is a psychiatrist who has a private practice and serves as medical director for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. He has appeared on such programs as Today, Good Morning America, CNN's Larry King Live, and The Rachel Ray Show.