When Friendship Hurts

Having a lifelong friendship is wonderful, but occasionally some friends do more harm than good. Have you ever been hurt by a friend – or betrayed in some way? The disappointment and pain associated with such experiences can cause chaos with your emotional wellbeing. It can even affect your working life. But how do you deal with a destructive friendship? In When Friendship Hurts Dr Jan Yager, a sociologist and friendship coach, provides invaluable insights and advice to identify and overcome negative friendships. Based on extensive original research from over 25 years of study on friendship, Dr Yager covers topics such as:  

• dealing with betrayal  
• deciding if a friendship is worth saving  
• the best way to rid yourself of a noxious friend  
• understanding the 21 types of potentially negative friends and how to deal with them  
• negotiating friendships at work  
• cultivating positive friendships.

Originally published in the USA, When Friendship Hurts has become a successful book throughout the world with translations in 15 languages. This new edition features numerous real-life stories from Australia and New Zealand.

 
‘This book gives the life-changing power of friendship the recognition it deserves and explains how to harness that power for joy rather than despair … The personal stories in When Friendship Hurts … helps us to rebuild our capacity to trust again.’ Julie McCrossin, broadcaster and journalist.

 
‘… Jan Yager delivers a clear, practical and powerful roadmap you can use to navigate your way towards fulfilling, loving and lasting, friendships in every area of your life.’ Lorna Patten, Director of Open Up Communication and author of Opened Up.

‘This is an extraordinarily timely book…. Beautifully written and accessible in style … When Friendship Hurts is a unique exploration of the causes and consequences of friendship breakdown … I strongly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the maintenance of healthy, rewarding relationships with the people we can least do without – our friends.’ Julie Fitness, PhD, Associate Professor in Social Psychology, Macquarie University.