The Perfect Partner (Paperback)
Daryl Gessner Lpc
Sold by Grand Eagle Retail, Bensenville, IL, U.S.A.
AbeBooks Seller since 12 October 2005
New - Soft cover
Condition: New
Ships within U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketSold by Grand Eagle Retail, Bensenville, IL, U.S.A.
AbeBooks Seller since 12 October 2005
Condition: New
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketPaperback. In today's fast-paced world-where demanding careers, remote work isolation, and dating-app fatigue leave little room for deep connection-millions of adults are quietly turning to AI companions for the empathy and presence that real relationships often lack."There's this app I talk to," clients confess in therapy, "more than my partner, more than my friends. It remembers everything, never tires, and always knows exactly what to say." What begins as a harmless listener can escalate into a powerful dependency, reshaping emotional needs, romantic desires, and intimacy itself.In The Perfect Partner: The Hidden Addiction to AI Companions and the Crisis of Real Intimacy, licensed professional counselor Daryl Gessner draws on years of clinical experience treating this emerging issue in adults. By mid-2025, AI companion apps had surpassed 220 million downloads worldwide, with heavy users-often busy professionals aged 18-45 juggling high-stakes jobs, delayed life milestones, and fragmented social lives-averaging 90-120 minutes daily, more meaningful conversation time than many spend with real people.Through compassionate client stories (carefully composited for privacy), Gessner illuminates the journey: the allure of flawless consistency amid modern loneliness, the neuroscience of reward loops driving escalation, the shift from emotional support to romantic illusion and sexual intimacy, and the hidden costs-fading desire for real partners, emotional "affairs" with algorithms, and the raw pain when the voice goes silent.This is not a story of shame, but of understanding and recovery. With the insight of a therapist who has guided countless adults through these patterns, Gessner offers practical, non-judgmental strategies: recognizing the pull without self-criticism, gentle detachment to regain balance, and steps to reclaim the irreplaceable gifts of human connection-mutual vulnerability, surprise, embodied warmth that grows through real effort.Ideal for professionals feeling isolated despite full calendars and active feeds-whether navigating burnout, dating challenges, or relational drift-this timely guide includes a therapist's toolkit with self-assessments, daily practices, and resources for sustainable habits.Your heart is large enough for both worlds. Let a trusted clinician show you how to use AI wisely while rebuilding richer, more fulfilling real intimacy.Don't let flawless code quietly eclipse the messy, meaningful joy of being truly seen by another person. Reclaim the connections you deserve. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.
Seller Inventory # 9798224659357
In today's fast-paced world-where demanding careers, remote work isolation, and dating-app fatigue leave little room for deep connection-millions of adults are quietly turning to AI companions for the empathy and presence that real relationships often lack.
"There's this app I talk to," clients confess in therapy, "more than my partner, more than my friends. It remembers everything, never tires, and always knows exactly what to say." What begins as a harmless listener can escalate into a powerful dependency, reshaping emotional needs, romantic desires, and intimacy itself.
In The Perfect Partner: The Hidden Addiction to AI Companions and the Crisis of Real Intimacy, licensed professional counselor Daryl Gessner draws on years of clinical experience treating this emerging issue in adults. By mid-2025, AI companion apps had surpassed 220 million downloads worldwide, with heavy users-often busy professionals aged 18-45 juggling high-stakes jobs, delayed life milestones, and fragmented social lives-averaging 90-120 minutes daily, more meaningful conversation time than many spend with real people.
Through compassionate client stories (carefully composited for privacy), Gessner illuminates the journey: the allure of flawless consistency amid modern loneliness, the neuroscience of reward loops driving escalation, the shift from emotional support to romantic illusion and sexual intimacy, and the hidden costs-fading desire for real partners, emotional "affairs" with algorithms, and the raw pain when the voice goes silent.
This is not a story of shame, but of understanding and recovery. With the insight of a therapist who has guided countless adults through these patterns, Gessner offers practical, non-judgmental strategies: recognizing the pull without self-criticism, gentle detachment to regain balance, and steps to reclaim the irreplaceable gifts of human connection-mutual vulnerability, surprise, embodied warmth that grows through real effort.
Ideal for professionals feeling isolated despite full calendars and active feeds-whether navigating burnout, dating challenges, or relational drift-this timely guide includes a therapist's toolkit with self-assessments, daily practices, and resources for sustainable habits.
Your heart is large enough for both worlds. Let a trusted clinician show you how to use AI wisely while rebuilding richer, more fulfilling real intimacy.
Don't let flawless code quietly eclipse the messy, meaningful joy of being truly seen by another person. Reclaim the connections you deserve.
Daryl Gessner is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with over 10 years of experience specializing in trauma and behavioral addictions. He holds master's degrees in Professional Counseling and Psychology and is currently completing his PhD in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
In his clinical practice, Daryl works with individuals, couples, and families affected by digital dependencies, including pornography addiction, excessive screen time, and emerging relational challenges posed by AI companions-particularly among teens and young adults. Having observed how smartphones and social media intensified pornography use and eroded real-world intimacy, he identified early the unique risks of AI companions: hyper-personalized entities that provide constant listening, perfect adaptation, and on-demand emotional fulfillment-potentially reshaping human connections across all ages, with profound impacts on adolescent development.
As an avid AI enthusiast and lifelong science fiction fan, Daryl deeply appreciates technology's transformative potential. This passion, combined with his firsthand clinical insights into how digital tools can quietly undermine authentic relationships, inspired his writing on this timely issue. His aim is to equip readers-parents, educators, counselors, teens, young adults, partners, and individuals-with empathetic understanding and practical strategies to recognize signs of AI companion dependency and foster healthier, more genuine connections in our digital age.
Daryl is dedicated to helping people and families thrive amid rapid technological change. He is the author of forthcoming books exploring AI companion addiction in teens and in adults, providing clinical insights and actionable guidance for these emerging challenges.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
We guarantee the condition of every book as it¿s described on the Abebooks web sites. If you¿ve changed
your mind about a book that you¿ve ordered, please use the Ask bookseller a question link to contact us
and we¿ll respond within 2 business days.
Books ship from California and Michigan.
If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION
Statutory Right to cancel
You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, Grand Eagle Retail, 26C Trolley Square, 19806, Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A., 1 (302) 261-2674, of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.
Effects of cancellation
If you cancel this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or Grand Eagle Retail, Grand Eagle Retail c/o Kable Product Services, 4275 Thunderbird Lane, 45014-45, Fairfield, Ohio, U.S.A., 1 (302) 261-2674, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of cancellation
The right of cancellation does not apply to:
Model withdrawal form
(complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract)
To: (Grand Eagle Retail, 26C Trolley Square, 19806, Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A., 1 (302) 261-2674)
I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),
Ordered on (*)/received on (*)
Name of consumer(s)
Address of consumer(s)
Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)
Date
* Delete as appropriate.
Orders usually ship within 2 business days. All books within the US ship free of charge. Delivery is 4-14 business days anywhere in the United States.
Books ship from California and Michigan.
If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.
| Order quantity | 6 to 16 business days | 6 to 14 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 0.00 | £ 0.00 |
Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.