Reimagining Love with Dr. Alexandra Solomon

Mark Groves and Kylie McBeath join Reimagining Love to share the story of their relationship—the story that inspired their book, Liberated Love: Release Codependent Patterns and Create the Love You Desire. In this conversation, they get vulnerable about how they moved from breaking up to fostering breakthroughs; a journey they nurtured through what they call 'a sacred pause.' In the sacred pause, they identified the patterns that blocked their ability to find authentic love so that they could build a new relationship rooted in safety and interdependence. Resources worth mentioning from the episode: Liberated Love: Release Codependent Patterns and Create the Love You Desire by Mark Groves and Kylie McBeath: https://bookshop.org/p/books/liberated-love-release-codependent-patterns-and-create-the-love-you-desire-kylie-mcbeath/40bfe21a1c3c84ad?ean=9781250908957&next=t& After purchasing Liberated Love, access the PDF Workbook and free Meditation: https://markgroves.com/book Reimagining Love episode, "My Partner Wants to Take a Break. What's Next?" https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-partner-wants-to-take-a-break-whats-next/id1588419386?i=1000756951793 Continue the conversation with Dr. Alexandra Solomon: Ask a question! Submit your relationship challenge: https://form.jotform.com/212295995939274 Access Resources, like quizzes and courses: https://www.dralexandrasolomon.com/resources Order Dr. Alexandra’s book, Love Every Day: https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-every-day-365-relational-self-awareness-practices-to-help-your-relationship-heal-grow-and-thrive-alexandra-solomon/19970421?ean=9781683736530 Cultivate connection by subscribing to Dr. Alexandra’s Loving Bravely newsletter: https://newsletter.dralexandrasolomon.com/ Learn more on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.alexandra.solomon/ Learn more about the Options Transition to Independence Program which offers education, vocational, independent living, and emotional support for young adults with complex learning needs. https://www.experienceoptions.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A deep dive into what makes relationship breaks so painful and why culture offers few roadmaps. Research on ambiguous separations and the risks of breakup-reunion cycles gets highlighted. Practical seven-step best practices are outlined for structuring a purposeful separation, including time limits, clear agreements, therapy, and self-reflection.

Dr. Alexandra Solomon, clinical psychologist and author focused on relationships and intimacy. She explains how one partner getting sober reshapes a relationship. She urges slowing down, using relational self-awareness, and practical steps to rebuild sober sexual connection. She also suggests love practices like nightly appreciations and when to try couple therapy.

Alicia Muñoz, certified couples therapist and author of Stop Overthinking Your Relationship, shares tools for slowing rumination and repairing connection. She describes types of overthinking, the SLOW practice to notice and welcome feelings, and how rumination shapes the relational field. Short, practical conversations about presence, accountability, and choosing growth over blame.

A solo deep dive into rebounds and the cultural myths that shame quick dating. She outlines why time alone is not enough and reframes readiness as time plus intentional processing. Hear four post-breakup paths, surprising research on rebound benefits with caveats, and a 9-task framework to date with relational self-awareness while holding grief and openness.

Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, licensed psychologist and founder of Therapy for Black Girls, talks about making mental health accessible for Black women. They discuss finding a good therapist, why culturally relevant spaces matter, and healing after breakups. They also address managing FOMO as a single parent and lessons from pandemic-era clinical work.

Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, clinical psychologist and author who studies couples and in‑law dynamics, joins to unpack the wife‑husband‑mother‑in‑law triangle. Short takes on why conflicts flare, the Six mother‑in‑law types and Three daughter‑in‑law styles, the VAULT method for values‑based boundaries, and clear steps partners can take to protect their relationship amid family pressures.

Raina Cohen, award-winning producer and author of The Other Significant Others, explores centering friendship in adult life. She recounts living with friends, defines platonic partnerships, and questions assumptions like marriage and homeownership. Conversations cover why deep friendships are misread as romantic, how social shifts enable chosen family, and practical ways to treat friendships as serious relationships.

Amanda McCracken, journalist and author who studies romantic longing, shares her journey through intense infatuation. She explores limerence’s highs and lows and how hookup culture, social media, and media ideals amplify it. She also discusses neurodivergence and early wounds as risk factors and describes therapeutic turning points and practical strategies for moving toward healthier connection.

Dr. Alexandra Solomon, a licensed clinical psychologist and author who teaches relational self-awareness, joins a lively conversation about patterns in love. They explore why old habits feel so sticky. They discuss learning to receive kindness, tolerating discomfort as change, and navigating big shifts like decisions about kids. Practical resources and next steps are highlighted.