Dear Dr. Tracy

Latest Episodes:

‘I Just Want My Mom and My Wife to Be Happy’: The Real Conflict Beneath That Wish Oct 05, 2025

Show notes

In this From the Couch mini-session, Clinical Psychologist and Relationship Expert Dr. Tracy explores one of the most common conflicts couples face: when a husband says, “I just want my mom and my wife to get along.”
Dr. Tracy unpacks why this well-intentioned desire often backfires, leading to tension, invalidation, and emotional disconnection in the marriage. Drawing from her nearly 20 years of experience and the insights from her upcoming book, You, Your Husband, and His Mother, she explains how couples can hold two truths at once—valuing family while honoring healthy boundaries.

If you’ve ever felt caught between wanting family harmony and protecting your marriage, this short episode offers the clarity and compassion you need to find balance.

📘 Pre-order Dr. Tracy’s upcoming book, You, Your Husband, and His Mother, for a step-by-step guide to navigating in-law relationships using her 5-step VAULT Method.

RESOURCES:

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Discover your relationship negative cycle with my free quiz: ⁠⁠Take it here⁠⁠

Ready to deepen your connection? ⁠⁠Download my 100 Questions⁠⁠

Build better connection and feel close starting today. Join the ⁠⁠30 Days to Us Challenge⁠⁠

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The Top 5 Challenges Women Face With Their Mother-in-Law Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

In this special solo episode of Dear Dr. Tracy, Clinical Psychologist and Relationship Expert Dr. Tracy Dalgleish kicks off a new series leading up to the launch of her highly anticipated book, You, Your Husband, and His Mother.
Drawing from nearly 20 years of working with couples, Dr. Tracy explores the five most common struggles women face with their mother-in-law, including criticism, boundary violations, guilt trips and manipulaton, competition, and rule-breaking with kids.
✨ PREORDER EXCLUSIVE!! ✨
Preorder You, Your Husband, and His Mother today and receive:
A live coaching session with Dr. Tracy where you can ask your questions directly plus a bonus question guide with powerful prompts to help you start making changes right away.
Your relationship with your in-laws doesn’t have to divide your marriage. Learn how to set boundaries, break old patterns, and build a stronger bond with your partner while creating the relationships you want with extended family members.

RESOURCES:

Preorder my new book! You, Your Husband, and His Mother

Want your questions answered on the show? ⁠⁠Submit them here!⁠⁠

Discover your relationship negative cycle with my free quiz: ⁠⁠Take it here⁠⁠

Ready to deepen your connection? ⁠⁠Download my 100 Questions⁠⁠

Build better connection and feel close starting today. Join the ⁠⁠30 Days to Us Challenge⁠⁠

LINKS:

Better Help: Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/TRACY

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Boundaries and Repair: how to protect your emotional well-being and come back together after conflict in family dynamics Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever wondered if it’s okay to set boundaries with family, or how to repair your marriage after a fight about in-laws?
In this episode of Dear Dr. Tracy, Clinical Psychologist and Relationship Expert Dr. Tracy Dalgleish dives into two powerful listener questions that so many couples and families struggle with.
First, Dr. Tracy explores the question: “Is it okay to intentionally avoid a sibling who constantly makes hurtful comments?” If you’ve ever dealt with toxic siblings, family tension, or sibling rivalry as adults, you’ll learn the difference between avoidance and boundaries, how to protect your emotional health at family gatherings, and how to communicate your limits without guilt.
Then, she answers: “How do I repair my marriage after a fight about my mother-in-law wanting to live with us temporarily?” Dr. Tracy walks through a step-by-step process for marriage repair after conflict, including nervous system regulation, setting healthy in-law boundaries, and finding a way to work as a united team with your partner. If you’ve ever argued about your mother-in-law moving in, intrusive in-laws, or family living arrangements, this segment will give you the tools to navigate conflict, reconnect, and rebuild trust in your marriage.
Key topics in this episode:
Setting boundaries with siblings who cross the line
The difference between avoidance and boundaries
How to stay emotionally safe during family gatherings
Repairing your marriage after an argument about in-laws
Navigating mother-in-law conflicts and living arrangement disputes
Building a united front with your partner
Practical communication strategies for family conflict
If you’ve ever searched for “how to set boundaries with in-laws,” “toxic sibling relationships,” or “repair after marriage fights,” this episode will give you clarity, compassion, and practical steps forward.

Jefferson Fisher's The Next Conversation book: Amazon Link

Preorder my new book! You, Your Husband, and His Mother

Want your questions answered on the show? ⁠⁠Submit them here!⁠⁠

Discover your relationship negative cycle with my free quiz: ⁠⁠Take it here⁠⁠

Ready to deepen your connection? ⁠⁠Download my 100 Questions⁠⁠

Build better connection and feel close starting today. Join the ⁠⁠30 Days to Us Challenge⁠⁠

LINKS:

Better Help: Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/TRACY

K12 Powered Schools: Learn more at k12.com/TRACY

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Branch Basics:⁠ Use code TRACY15 to save 15% off your Premium Starter Kit

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AirDoctorPro: Save $300 with code TRACY at https://airdoctorpro.com

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Relationship After Baby: Why It Feels Hard—and How to Reconnect Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

Most expecting parents prepare everything for baby—birth plan, hospital bag, freezer meals, nursery, car seat—but rarely prepare their relationship.
Clinical psychologist and couples therapist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish explores the realities of the postpartum relationship—from mental load and sleep deprivation to resentment, disconnection, and shifts in intimacy after birth. She’s joined by Dr. Cassidy Freitas, LMFT (San Diego–based, mom of three, host of Holding Space), who specializes in supporting millennial parents through pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting.

This conversation normalizes that hard ≠ bad and that relationships move through seasons. When it’s hard, it’s a signal to get support, strengthen co-parenting, and rebuild connection—not a verdict on the marriage.

What they cover (no fluff):

Why “a baby brings us closer” is a myth for many couples
Postpartum mental health: postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression (including partner/dad depression)
Communication skills and repair after conflict when you’re exhausted
Values-based parenting and co-parenting teamwork
Generous interpretation and soft start-ups to reduce blame
Intimacy after baby and micro-connection rituals that fit real life
Boundaries with in-laws/grandparents and navigating extended family

Need structured help? For on-demand tools to share the mental load, improve communication, and feel like a team, explore Be Connected.

Dr. Cassidy’s private practice website
Follow Dr. Cassidy on Instagram
Listen to Holding Space

RESOURCES:

Preorder my new book! You, Your Husband, and His Mother

Want your questions answered on the show? ⁠⁠Submit them here!⁠⁠

Discover your relationship negative cycle with my free quiz: ⁠⁠Take it here⁠⁠

Ready to deepen your connection? ⁠⁠Download my 100 Questions⁠⁠

Build better connection and feel close starting today. Join the ⁠⁠30 Days to Us Challenge⁠⁠

LINKS:

Better Help: Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/TRACY

K12 Powered Schools: Learn more at k12.com/TRACY

Quince Bedding: Free Shipping at quince.com/TRACY

Branch Basics:⁠ Use code TRACY15 to save 15% off your Premium Starter Kit

⁠Vionic Shoes⁠: Use code TRACY for 15% off at https://www.vionicshoes.com

Mint Mobile: Just $15 a month with mintmobile.com/TRACY

AirDoctorPro: Save $300 with code TRACY at https://airdoctorpro.com

GoPure Beauty: Save 25% at ⁠https://gopurebeauty.com/tracy⁠ code TRACY

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Big Kids, Bigger Feelings: Parenting Through the Ages 5–12 Shift with Alyssa Campbell Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Tracy sits down with Alyssa Blask Campbell, author of Tiny Humans, Big Emotions and the new Big Kids, Bigger Feelings, to explore the challenges of parenting kids ages 5–12.

They discuss why age seven often feels like a turning point, how identity and independence begin to emerge, and what parents can do to stay connected while giving their kids space to grow.

Together they unpack sibling conflict, defiance, lying, and bedtime battles—and why attunement and curiosity are more effective than punishment or control. Alyssa also introduces the Collaborative Emotion Processing method, a framework for building emotional intelligence in both kids and parents.

What you’ll learn

Why age seven brings bigger emotions and pushback
How to support independence while staying connected
Practical tools for handling lying and sibling conflict
How to tune into your child’s unique nervous system

This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/TRACY and get on your way to being your best self.

Explore more with Alyssa:

Snag the books: ⁠Tiny Humans, Big Emotions⁠ and ⁠Big Kids, Bigger Feelings ⁠
⁠Visit Seed and Sew on the web⁠
Follow ⁠@seed.and.sew ⁠on Instagram

RESOURCES:

Preorder my new book! You, Your Husband, and His Mother

Want your questions answered on the show? ⁠⁠Submit them here!⁠⁠

Discover your relationship negative cycle with my free quiz: ⁠⁠Take it here⁠⁠

Ready to deepen your connection? ⁠⁠Download my 100 Questions⁠⁠

Build better connection and feel close starting today. Join the ⁠⁠30 Days to Us Challenge⁠⁠

LINKS:

Better Help: Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/TRACY

K12 Powered Schools: Learn more at k12.com/TRACY

Quince Bedding: Free Shipping at quince.com/TRACY

Branch Basics:⁠ Use code TRACY15 to save 15% off your Premium Starter Kit

⁠Vionic Shoes⁠: Use code TRACY for 15% off at https://www.vionicshoes.com

Mint Mobile: Just $15 a month with mintmobile.com/TRACY

AirDoctorPro: Save $300 with code TRACY at https://airdoctorpro.com

GoPure Beauty: Save 25% at ⁠https://gopurebeauty.com/tracy⁠ code TRACY

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When Words Hurt: How Inner Critics and Tone Trigger Disconnection Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Dear Dr. Tracy, clinical psychologist and relationship expert Dr. Tracy Dalgleish explores why partners often feel like they “say the wrong thing” or come across as too critical. Drawing on a listener’s story, she highlights how inner criticism, rejection sensitivity, and Enneagram One tendencies can fuel negative interaction cycles.

Dr. Tracy offers practical strategies—such as pausing before speaking, softening startups, naming the cycle, and practicing the Most Generous Interpretation—to help couples move from disconnection to repair. Emphasizing self-awareness, empathy, and emotional safety, she shows how couples can shift out of criticism and defensiveness into healthier communication, deeper connection, and stronger relationships.

This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/TRACY and get on your way to being your best self.

RESOURCES:

Preorder my new book! You, Your Husband, and His Mother

Want your questions answered on the show? ⁠⁠Submit them here!⁠⁠

Discover your relationship negative cycle with my free quiz: ⁠⁠Take it here⁠⁠

Ready to deepen your connection? ⁠⁠Download my 100 Questions⁠⁠

Build better connection and feel close starting today. Join the ⁠⁠30 Days to Us Challenge⁠⁠

LINKS:

Better Help: Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/TRACY

K12 Powered Schools: Learn more at k12.com/TRACY

Quince Bedding: Free Shipping at quince.com/TRACY

Branch Basics:⁠ Use code TRACY15 to save 15% off your Premium Starter Kit

⁠Vionic Shoes⁠: Use code TRACY for 15% off at https://www.vionicshoes.com
Mint Mobile: Just $15 a month with mintmobile.com/TRACY

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Part 2: When Love isn't Enough: Rebuilding Trust Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Dear Dr. Tracy, clinical psychologist and relationship expert Dr. Tracy Dalgleish is joined by her husband Greg for part two of their deep dive on trust in relationships. Building on last week’s conversation about the difference between love and trust, attachment styles, and how trust is broken, this episode focuses on five powerful ways to rebuild trust after betrayal or disconnection.

Listeners will learn why small daily actions matter, how to repair after ruptures, and why vulnerability and transparency are key to intimacy. Dr. Tracy also unpacks the role of self-trust and shares practical scripts couples can use in moments of insecurity or defensiveness. Through real-life therapy insights and community Q&A, this conversation tackles infidelity, emotional withdrawal, resentment, and even the feeling of getting “the ick” in long-term relationships.

Whether you’re wondering “Can I trust my partner again?” or struggling with consistency, accountability, or broken promises, this episode provides actionable strategies to strengthen emotional intimacy and rebuild connection.

RESOURCES:

Preorder my new book! You, Your Husband, and His Mother

Want your questions answered on the show? ⁠⁠Submit them here!⁠⁠

Discover your relationship negative cycle with my free quiz: ⁠⁠Take it here⁠⁠

Ready to deepen your connection? ⁠⁠Download my 100 Questions⁠⁠

Build better connection and feel close starting today. Join the ⁠⁠30 Days to Us Challenge⁠⁠

LINKS:

Better Help: Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/TRACY

K12 Powered Schools: Learn more at k12.com/TRACY

Quince Bedding: Free Shipping at quince.com/TRACY

Branch Basics:⁠ Use code TRACY15 to save 15% off your Premium Starter Kit

⁠Vionic Shoes⁠: Use code TRACY for 15% off at https://www.vionicshoes.com

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Love Isn’t Enough: Why Trust Makes or Breaks Your Relationship Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Dear Dr. Tracy, Clinical Psychologist and Relationship Expert Dr. Tracy Dalgleish sits down with her husband, Greg, to tackle one of the most common questions in relationships: “I love my partner, but why don’t I trust them?”
Together, they unpack the difference between love and trust—and why love alone doesn’t guarantee a secure relationship. Drawing from real client stories, parenting examples, and their own marriage, they explore how trust is built in micro-moments, why small cracks (like inconsistency, broken promises, or emotional withdrawal) can erode trust, and how attachment styles shape the way couples experience security.
Listeners will learn about:
The key differences between love vs. trust in relationships.
How attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant, and fearful-avoidant) affect intimacy and connection.
The subtle ways trust can be ruptured through micro-betrayals, emotional shutdowns, or lack of repair.
Why trust is not just about fidelity, but about reliability, safety, and honoring vulnerability.
Reflection questions to help you assess the balance of love and trust in your own relationship.
This episode lays the groundwork for part two, where Dr. Tracy and Greg dive into how to rebuild trust after it’s been broken and answer listener questions.
Whether you’re married, dating, or simply curious about the psychology of relationships, this episode offers relationship advice, marriage insights, and practical takeaways to help couples build stronger, more connected partnerships.

RESOURCES:

Preorder my new book! You, Your Husband, and His Mother

Want your questions answered on the show? ⁠⁠Submit them here!⁠⁠

Create a stronger relationship with Dr. Tracy's online program: Be Connected

Ready to deepen your connection? ⁠⁠Download my 100 Questions⁠⁠

Build better connection and feel close starting today. Join the ⁠⁠30 Days to Us Challenge⁠⁠

LINKS:

Better Help: Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/TRACY

K12 Powered Schools: Learn more at k12.com/TRACY

Quince Bedding: Free Shipping at quince.com/TRACY

⁠Vionic Shoes⁠: Use code TRACY for 15% off at https://www.vionicshoes.com

Mint Mobile: Just $15 a month with mintmobile.com/TRACY

AirDoctorPro: Save $300 with code TRACY at https://airdoctorpro.com

GoPure Beauty: Save 25% at ⁠https://gopurebeauty.com/tracy⁠ code TRACY

⁠Lumen⁠: Save 15% at ⁠https://lumen.me/DEARTRACY⁠

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How to Handle Your Partner’s Disappointment Without Losing Yourself Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Dear Dr. Tracy, Dr. Tracy and Greg explore a listener’s struggle with saying no to her husband’s request—especially when his disappointment feels “loud and heavy.” During a tense family vacation at his parents’ cottage, she wanted to leave early, but agreed to stay longer to avoid upsetting him—only to end up in tears.
They unpack:
Why so many people put their own needs aside to keep the peace
How fear of disappointing a partner can quietly erode connection
The difference between compromise and self-abandonment
How to tolerate a partner’s disappointment without spiraling into guilt
Practical ways to have hard conversations while staying connected
This episode is for anyone who has ever said “yes” when every part of them wanted to say “no,” offering tools to protect personal well-being, communicate with clarity, and strengthen the relationship.

RESOURCES:

Preorder my new book! You, Your Husband, and His Mother

Want your questions answered on the show? ⁠⁠Submit them here!⁠⁠

Discover your relationship negative cycle with my free quiz: ⁠⁠Take it here⁠⁠

Ready to deepen your connection? ⁠⁠Download my 100 Questions⁠⁠

Build better connection and feel close starting today. Join the ⁠⁠30 Days to Us Challenge⁠⁠

LINKS:

Better Help: Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/TRACY

K12 Powered Schools: Learn more at k12.com/TRACY

Quince Bedding: Free Shipping at quince.com/TRACY

Branch Basics:⁠ Use code TRACY15 to save 15% off your Premium Starter Kit

⁠Vionic Shoes⁠: Use code TRACY for 15% off at https://www.vionicshoes.com

Mint Mobile: Just $15 a month with mintmobile.com/TRACY

AirDoctorPro: Save $300 with code TRACY at https://airdoctorpro.com

GoPure Beauty: Save 25% at ⁠https://gopurebeauty.com/tracy⁠ code TRACY

⁠Lumen⁠: Save 15% at ⁠https://lumen.me/DEARTRACY⁠

⁠⁠AquaTru⁠⁠ - water filter: Use promo code for TRACY for 20% off at https://aquatru.com/

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ICYMI: Defensiveness vs Assertiveness Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Dr. Tracy sits with her husband, Greg, to unpack the often-misconceived topic of assertive vs defensive communication styles.

They answer real questions from the community about what it looks like to champion self-respect and a deeper understanding of your partner by lending practical steps to change the defensive patterns in our relationships and implementing assertive and authentic responses.

In this episode, they discuss:

Important examples of defensive and assertive responses
How modelled communication styles from your personal history effects your present communication styles
The effect that the words we use have on our inner narratives
The ways that adequacy, shame, and self-worth play a part in our responses
How self-respect is a key player in understanding defensiveness
The key differences between the female and male experience in our responses
How assertiveness creates space for your thoughts, feelings, needs, and your partner’s understanding

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp and HoneyLove.

RESOURCES:

Preorder my new book! You, Your Husband, and His Mother

Want your questions answered on the show? ⁠⁠Submit them here!⁠⁠

Discover your relationship negative cycle with my free quiz: ⁠⁠Take it here⁠⁠

Ready to deepen your connection? ⁠⁠Download my 100 Questions⁠⁠

Build better connection and feel close starting today. Join the ⁠⁠30 Days to Us Challenge⁠⁠

LINKS:

Better Help: Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/TRACY

HoneyLove: Save 10% at honeylove.com/TRACY

K12 Powered Schools: Learn more at k12.com/TRACY

Quince Bedding: Luxury bedding. Free Shipping at quince.com/TRACY