Book excerpt: Steven Wolhandler, JD, MA, LPC knows how abusive and manipulative people prey on the emotions of good people - and how good people can protect themselves. He offers a radically different view of these Emotional Predators and provides practical effective solutions. For Emotional Predators, life is a strategy game to dominate and control, and you are either a player to be defeated or a game piece to be used. Without empathy or remorse, they'll ruin your life, and traditional approaches will make things worse. You'll learn 5 essential steps for protecting yourself, valuable guidance for safe relationships and over 30 specific defensive tactics for: * Distinguishing romance from intimacy* Restoring your self-esteem* Removing your emotional triggers* Using gratitude and humor* Playing their games better than they do - without becoming like them* Screening professionals to be sure they can help* Regaining control in family court* Breaking an addiction to an Emotional Predator * Re-balancing power in your favor* Adjusting beliefs that keep you trapped* Responding strategically, instead of reacting emotionally