A relationship worth tending

Beyond
Fairy Tales

A Couple’s Guide to Finding Clarity, Doing the Work, and Building a Lasting Relationship

Real love asks more of us than a happily-ever-after. Discover practical ways to understand each other, move through the hard moments, and build a deeper connection.

Get the Book Explore the Workbook

Dr. Mark Gregory Karris, LMFTCouples therapist · Author · San Diego

Beyond Fairy Tales by Dr. Mark Gregory Karris — book cover

FIND CLARITY. DO THE WORK. GROW TOGETHER.

More understanding.More connection.Room for the real you.

Inside the book

Build a love
that lasts.

Whether you are finding your way back to each other or strengthening an already good relationship, there is room to grow.

Explore the patterns that pull you apart—and the everyday choices that can bring you closer.

Less fairy tale.
More real connection.

Embrace real, lasting love
Move beyond idealized expectations and make room for a more honest, compassionate relationship.
Heal wounds. Rebuild trust.
Understand old hurts and explore what it takes to feel safer with each other again.
Navigate the hard moments
Recognize the cycles that keep you stuck and discover new ways to respond.
Communicate with care
Listen beneath the words, share what matters, and deepen your understanding of one another.
Deepen your intimacy
Nurture emotional and sexual connection with greater curiosity, openness, and compassion.

Beyond Fairy Tales companion workbook, with handouts, worksheets, and an attachment quiz

From insight to everyday practice

Bring the work
into your relationship.

The companion workbook offers handouts, worksheets, and reflection exercises to help you slow down, understand your patterns, and put the book’s ideas into practice.

Open the Workbook

COMPANION HANDOUTS & WORKSHEETS · PDF

Praise for Beyond Fairy Tales

What fellow therapists
and authors are saying

Perspectives from therapists, authors, and educators on the work of building a lasting relationship.

“Karris offers an engaging, resource-rich book to bring life to stale or shaky relationships. In a practical, at-times humorous, and always-down-to earth style, he creates a roadmap for a rewarding journey towards love. You are certain to enrich yourself as a person and as a partner by reading this book!”

—Lorrie Brubacher

M.Ed., Director of the Carolina Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy, author of Stepping into Emotionally Focused Therapy: Key Ingredients of Change, 2nd ed. (2025)

“I want to offer my enthusiastic support for Beyond Fairytales. I find the straightforward language, fresh ideas and practical solutions to be ones from which any couple can benefit.”

—David Mars

Ph.D., Director of the Center for Transformative Therapy, Developer of Transformative Couples Therapy®

“Wondering what good couples therapy looks like? This book beautifully illuminates the process and possibilities…Filled with sage, practical advice, and understanding, this book is a gift to couples everywhere.”

—Michelle Becker

Author of Compassion for Couples: Building the Skills of Loving Connection

“In this comprehensive, well-written, and inspiring guide to revitalizing connection between partners in an intimate relationship, Mark covers everything from romance to the operating manual for different attachment styles to personal well-being. I highly recommend this book for couples who are suffering and therapists who are helping them.”

—Polly Young-Eisendrath

Ph.D., Author of “Love Between Equals” and “Dialogue Therapy for Couples and Real Dialogue for Opposing Sides”

“There are many books about relationships with practical pointers and some based on solid science, but very few that truly have both. This book does both and is a huge gift to our culture, which is often quite disoriented about what actually makes relationships work. “Beyond Fairy Tales…” is a difference-maker, and I am excited to see its impact on readers!”

—Ryan Rana

President and Founder of the Arkansas EFT Center, Co-host of the Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy podcast and successinvulnerability.com

“Beyond Fairy Tales provides readers with a quenching gulp from the deep wisdom well of attachment theory. Mark expertly guides partners through difficult conversations and delivers the practical and innovative tools necessary to take their relationship to the next level.”

—George Faller

LMFT, EFT trainer, president of the New York Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy (NYCEFT), and coauthor of Emotionally Focused Family Therapy

“Karris’ humility and pragmatism, honed by years of experience as a couples’ therapist guides the reader in taking their relationship from distress to recovery. This is a gem of a book that will become a tender companion for anyone seeking to nurture their most precious bonds.”

—Clare Rosoman

“Beyond Fairy Tales is wonderful! In his clear and humorous way, Dr. Kerris presents some of the most valuable insights and tools from the world of couple therapy and research. The book is easy to read, practical, and will be immensely useful to anyone wanting to improve their relationship!”

—Scott R Woolley

PhD, distinguished professor at Alliant International University, EFT trainer, and founding director of the San Diego Center for EFT and TRIEFT Alliant

“Beyond Fairy Tales delivers! It is a compassionately tailored guidebook for everyday couples who are in need of refreshment and change in their relationship.”

—Anabelle Bugatti 'Dr. Belle'

PhD, LMFT, Author of Relentless Empathy in the Therapeutic Relationship, President of Southern NV EFT

“Mark creates an approachable framework for harnessing and transforming emotional experience into forces for connection and relational satisfaction for any couple willing to do the work.”

—Michael Barnett

D.Psych., EFT Trainer, Director of the Brisbane Centre for Emotionally Focused Therapy, Author of Repairing Attachment Injuries in Close Relationships: An Emotionally Focused Guide to Moving Beyond Betrayal (2025), Author of The Emotionally Focused Therapy Workbook for Addiction: How to Heal the Loneliness and Shame That Trigger Addictive Behaviors

“Beyond Fairy Tales is a playful and invigorating exploration for couples, offering a powerful resource to strengthen relationships. Karris provides fresh insights, empathetic compassion for the challenges couples face, and practical strategies for growing stronger together.”