Conversations with Dr. Jennifer

Couples who change in a real way are sometimes the ones willing to face the genuine possibility of ending their marriage. Not as a threat or a tactic, but as an honest reckoning with what they stand to lose and who they really are. After all, you can't give a meaningful yes to something if there's not a viable or real no. In this episode, Dr. Finlayson-Fife uses listener questions to guide a discussion about the decision whether to stay in or leave a marriage. She talks about what it looks like to be in a marriage without having truly chosen it, why ambivalence is never a neutral place, how to know when divorce is the right answer, what it means to put your marriage on the line as an act of honesty rather than control, and why desire can't exist where fear or obligation is running the show. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Intimate Exposures Workshop in Utah Couples' Workshop in Utah (tickets coming soon!) Starting Strong Workshop in Utah

Despite their reactions to our attempts to discuss it, our children are looking to us to help them make sense of their sexuality. And while talking to kids about sex can feel deeply uncomfortable — for reasons that are actually quite natural — avoiding these conversations comes at a cost. In this episode, Dr. Finlayson-Fife joins Holly J. Moore of the Made for Moore podcast to discuss how parents can approach conversations about sex and sexuality with their children in a way that is honest, ongoing, and shame-free. They explore why discomfort doesn't have to be a barrier, how to begin these conversations early and keep them going, and how offering values around sexuality — rather than fear or shame — empowers children to make informed, confident, and integrity-driven choices as they grow. Want to learn more? Enroll in Dr. Finlayson-Fife's How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex course!

A couple explores how different Enneagram styles shape their reactions to stress and disconnection. They map patterns where one moves toward action and closeness while the other pulls away for emotional safety. Practical moments include modeled apologies, owning anxiety as personal, and making space for honest sharing to reduce defensiveness.

You married a whole person. The spontaneity, the creativity, the aliveness — and yes, the forgotten appointments and the missed recitals too. But learning to love a whole person — both their virtues and their vices — is the real work of marriage. When neurodivergence is part of the picture, it's easy to get lost in what your partner isn't doing, or to lean on a diagnosis to justify your impact on the other. But a real partnership requires taking full responsibility for the gifts and burdens of the mind and body you were born with. In this episode, Dr. Finlayson-Fife joins Kamden Hainsworth of the Busy Brained Saint podcast to talk about what it looks like for both partners in a neurodiverse marriage to show up as whole people — owning what is theirs, releasing what isn't, and finding more freedom than they expected on the other side. Listen to learn more about: What it means to take full responsibility for the gifts and burdens of the mind and body you were born with — for both partners How a diagnosis can build genuine compassion — or quietly become a way to avoid growth The one-up/one-down dynamic that takes over neurodiverse marriages — and how both partners sustain it Why releasing the need to change or manage your spouse is what actually opens the door to real intimacy How truth — not false hope — is what gives couples the clarity to choose each other well ANNOUNCEMENTS Join us for a FREE Q&A about Neurodiversity in relationships, click HERE for details!  Join us for Date Night in Dallas, ticket information HERE (details for Austin coming soon!)

The JFF Book Club starts 2/19, you can join HERE for six interactive discussions with Dr. Jennifer! Falling in love is easy. Staying in love requires our maturation. A few years (or decades) into marriage, it's tempting to wonder if we just married the wrong person—the passion has faded, the differences feel more irritating, and that deep sense of connection doesn't feel as natural as it once did. And while it is tempting to think that something is going wrong, really, marriage is just inviting us to stop chasing what was and to start creating something deeper. In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife joins the Date Your Spouse team to talk about what couples can do to bring a sense of aliveness to their marriage. She challenges the idea that going along to keep the peace is an act of love, explains why duty-based sex quietly destroys desire, and offers a surprisingly simple practice any couple can try TONIGHT to create more intimacy and connection. If you're looking to create more passion and connection in your relationship, enroll in Dr. Jennifer's new Sex Worth Wanting course!

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife, an LDS relationship and sexuality coach with a Ph.D., and author of That We Might Have Joy, explores sexual integration and why suppressing desire fragments us. She tells vivid stories, contrasts repression with eros energy, and explains how attraction, self-intimacy, and touch shape deeper connection and marital freedom.

They unpack why resolutions usually fail and how identity and borrowed stories block lasting change. They explore how discomfort and dysregulation signal growth and why stepwise exposure helps. They discuss the mind-body link, moral triggers for transformation, and distinguishing healthy from toxic shame. They offer strategies for honest conversations, holding boundaries, and forgiving yourself to begin again.

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife, an LDS relationship and sexuality coach with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, dives into the pitfalls of being too nice. She distinguishes between compliance and genuine goodness, highlighting how prioritizing others' comfort can harm our relationships. Jennifer explores the impact of enmeshment in parenting and the importance of reclaiming our agency through understanding resentment. Plus, she shares insights on balancing ambition with motherhood and the power of authenticity in marriage.

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife, a licensed counselor and educator in sexuality, shares invaluable insights with Dr. Justin Coulson. They delve into how parenting can dampen intimacy, discussing ways couples can rebalance roles to enhance desire. Jennifer emphasizes the importance of rejuvenating couple time, even in small doses, to foster connection. She also addresses the delicate issue of children witnessing intimacy and provides age-appropriate responses to ease their confusion. Jennifer passionately advocates for recognizing the importance of sexuality in marriage.

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife, a relationship and sexuality educator with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, joins Dr. Justin Coulson for an insightful discussion. They delve into how inherited gender roles impact intimacy and the detrimental effect of viewing sex as a duty. Jennifer highlights the differences in male and female desire, emphasizing the need for mindful engagement to enhance pleasure. They also explore how unequal domestic responsibilities can lead to sexual dissatisfaction and resentment, urging a shift towards genuine connection in relationships.