The Couples Therapist Couch

All couples get stuck in emotional interactions and patterns that lead to them feeling hurt and wanting to be loved at the same time. It can feel very confusing when the person who we feel is hurting us is also the one who we want to love us. Figs O'Sullivan talks about getting beyond the content of these couples interactions to guide couples to be more understanding and feel more connected. Figs is a Couples Therapist in San Francisco and the creator of the relationship quiz, Empathi. He has studied various couples therapy modalities, but is particularly dedicated to Emotionally Focused Therapy. The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday about the practice of couples therapy. Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Check out Figs's practice website at therapywithfigs.com Check out the relationship quiz Figs created at Emaphi.com

When we think about problems in our relationships we often want to place blame on our partner and attack their character. When this happens it makes people feel stuck and helpless to do anything about the situation. In the conversation with Bill O'Hanlon, he talks about guiding couples to express themselves by using specific examples and come up with specific solutions that empower them to break through the areas where they feel stuck. Bill O'Hanlon is the founder of Solution-Oriented Therapy and the author or co-author of 36 books. He has given over 3500 talks in 27 countries and his work has been featured in many media outlets including an appearance on Oprah. The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday about the practice of couples therapy. Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Resources Visit Bill's website at billohanlon.com Just Some of Bill's Books For Couples: Stop Blaming, Start Loving, AKA: Love is a Verb For Therapists: Rewriting Love Stories To Use in Therapy: Couples Therapy Homework Planner

There are specific things for therapists to think about when working with a couple who has been impacted by autism. It could be a child of the couple or one of the partners who is on the spectrum, but whatever the case, there is a lot to consider. This conversation with Janeen Herskovitz sheds light on many of those concepts for therapists to keep in mind. Janeen is a Mental Health Counselor in private practice in North Florida. She loves helping autism spectrum families live happier more peaceful lives. The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday about the practice of couples therapy. Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Resources Visit Janeen's podcast website at autismblueprint.com Visit Janeen's practice website at puzzlepeacecounseling.com

As therapists, we have so much to offer people, but we are often afraid. Whether it is a case of imposter syndrome or just getting stuck in the day to day, it can be easy to stay in our comfort zone. In this bonus business episode with Ernesto Segismundo, he talks about how to put ourselves in new situations in order to see things from a different perspective and get fresh ideas. Ernesto is always challenging therapists to create content on social media, particularly using video. He helps therapists find their voices and share their messages with the world. He has a facebook group for therapists who want to learn more about using video called FYLMIT.com--Video Marketing for Therapists. The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday and a bonus business episode released the first Thursday of each month. Please rate and subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Resources Visit Ernesto's website FYLMIT.com Visit Ernesto's group practice site at cavfamilytherapy.com Click here to join the FYLMIT.com Facebook Group

In the field of Couples Therapy there has been very little research on gay couples. Fortunately, more and more is being done all of the time. It is important for Couples Therapists to be educated on this research and also understand how they can communicate in a way that is inclusive. This episode was with Alapaki Yee and Salvatore Garanzini, the founders of the Gay Couples Institute with locations in San Francisco, San Diego, and New York. They created the institute because they disagreed with many of the things their gay and lesbian friends were being told in their own relationship therapy that were not based on any research. They both have advanced training in the Gottman method and Salvatore is a Certified Gottman Therapist. They continue to do research and are at the forefront of what is working in couples therapy. Please, please, please read the article below about their work!!! The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday. Please rate and subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Resources Visit The Gay Couples Institute website at gaycouplesinstitute.org Article: Gottman Method Couples Therapy Established as Evidence-Based Treatment for Same-Sex Couples

This is the first solo episode on the Couples Therapist Couch. Shane Birkel talks about how love changes over time and normalizes how different it might feel at different phases of the relationship. In order to keep love alive with our partners, it takes a lot of work. As the New Year approaches it is important for all of us to set relationship goals along with all of the other areas of our lives. Thank you all for listening in 2017. There are already lots of great episodes scheduled for 2018. I appreciate all of you! Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group.

Most Couples Therapists understand the importance of bringing sex into the conversation in couples therapy. Unfortunately, most feel unprepared to know what questions to ask, how to make clients feel comfortable, and what to do with the information once it is part of the conversation. In this episode, Sex Therapist, Martha Kauppi and I talk all about how to do that. She has identified 6 questions that she says should be a part of the assessment process for every couple we see. She clearly breaks down important issues that we should be specifically asking about and what to do with that information. Martha Kauppi has a lifelong career in sexual health, counseling, and creative education. She has been a midwife, an artist, and is currently a certified sex therapist. She is the founder of The Institute for Relational Intimacy which is committed to competence working with a full array of sex issues, including sexual health concerns, alternative sexualities, problematic sexual behavior, and LGBTQAI+ related concerns. The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday about the practice of couples therapy. Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Resources For more information visit Martha's website at instituteforrelationalintimacy.com Sign up here for the free mini workshop. The next 16 week course starts on February 5. Go to the website for more information.

Hedy Schleifer has developed an deep and rich model of working with couples based on her decades of experience as a couples therapist as well as using her own relationship as a "living laboratory." Encounter-centered Couples Therapy is an experience for one couple to work with the therapist for two full days and connect with each other in a way they have never imagined. This experience leads to transformational change for the couples and there is more and more research to show that the synaptic process of the brain can be changed through something called memory reconsolidation. The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday about the practice of couples therapy. Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Resources For more information visit Hedy's website at hedyyumi.com. She has tons of resources and educational materials on her website so definitely check it out! Here are the events Hedy has coming up.

This is the third Bonus Business episode in a series that is release the first Thursday of each month. Being in Private Practice can be lonely and therapists tend to be introverts to begin with. In this episode Shane talks with Amber Hawley about how therapists can build their business community. Therapists need to do a better job of making their businesses a priority and having a business bestie (or besties) can help. Amber Hawley is the co-host, along with Maelisa Hall, of the podcast, My Biz Bestie. She is also the owner of a group practice, licensed marriage and family therapist, business coach, ENFT, mom of three kids and avid coffee drinker. My Biz Bestie is a podcast focused on sharing ways of connecting with other female entrepreneurs, making the most of networking, discussing helpful biz resources and having fun while being in business. The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday about the practice of couples therapy and a bonus episode the first Thursday of each month about the business of private practice. Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group Resources Visit Amber's personal website at www.amberhawley.com Visit Amber's practice website at www.fremontcounselingservices.com Check out the podcast website for MyBizBestie Check out the site for online resources for couples, couplesfix Maelisa Hall's site for paperwork support for mental health professionals QAprep Books Get Rich Lucky Bitch by Denise Duffield-Thomas

In order to guide couples to greater intimacy it can be helpful to have a framework that is backed up by decades of research. Laura Heck talks with Shane in this episode about the fact that as a therapist, there is no substitute for experience, but having exercises and interventions can be life changing for couples when used properly. Laura Heck is an LMFT and Certified Gottman Therapist in private practice in Salt Lake City, UT. She is co-founder of forBetter, an action driven online coaching tool for couples that teaches the science of successful relationships through straight talking and exercises. She co-hosts Marriage Therapy Radio where you can be a fly on the wall while two marriage therapists hash out some of the most common issues couples encounter. She is the co-developer and master trainer for the Gottman Seven Principles Program and consults as a relationship expert for corporations and media outlets. The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday about the practice of couples therapy. Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group Resources Visit Laura Heck's practice website at www.laurahecktherapy.com Check out the online coaching tool for couples at www.forbetter.us Check out Laura's podcast, Marriage Therapy Radio HIPPA compliant video conferencing mentioned during the show: wecounsel.com