The Couples Therapist Couch

Latest Episodes:

033: EFT and Attachment with Anabelle Bugatti Mar 06, 2018

Show notes

People often have a hard time feeling heard and understood, especially in their relationships. In this episode of The Couples Therapist Couch, Anabelle Bugatti talks about attachment and how that influences how we are in relationships.

Anabelle works with couples using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and discusses important considerations for using EFT with couples and how this framework is one of the best ways to get results in couples therapy.

Anabelle Bugatti is an LMFT and certified EFT Couples Therapist. She has a practice near Las Vegas, Nevada. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Marriage and Family 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.

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Check out Anabelle's practice website at lasvegasmarriagecounseling.com

Check out her videos for therapists and couples at wehearttherapy.com

032: How Parenthood Impacts Relationships with Elly Taylor Feb 27, 2018

Show notes

In our society, we do a terrible job of preparing new parents for what is to come in their relationship with each other. 92% of parents report increased disagreements after the baby is born. Adding to the huge amount of stress experienced in the transition to parenthood is the perception that we are not good enough or that we are doing something wrong.

Elly Taylor has made it her mission to help couples better prepare for the journey of becoming their new version of "us". She has broken it down into 8 steps for families to understand in order to be able to thrive.

Elly Taylor is an Australian relationship counsellor, independent parenthood researcher and author of the award winning book Becoming Us. Elly is the founder of Becoming Us, an organisation created to teach helping professionals her research and evidence-based approach to the transition into parenthood and to support mothers, fathers, partners and families to thrive.

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Check out Elly's website at ellytaylor.com

Buy Elly's book: Becoming Us: 8 Steps to Grow a Family that Thrives

031: Premarital Counseling with Mayi Dixon Feb 20, 2018

Show notes

As couples therapists we know how important a good foundation is. Educating couples about relationship skills right from the beginning can set them up for a lifetime of fulfillment. Unfortunately, we are not taught nearly enough about what it takes to have a happy, healthy relationship in our society.

Mayi Dixon helps couples with this by offering premarital counseling in her private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. She works with these couples to learn how to have a fulfilling relationship and gain understanding right from the beginning.

Mayi has worked in the mental health field for over 10 years. Mayi specializes in Marriage and Family Therapy and Play Therapy. She works a lot with adults recovering from infidelity, attachment, adult parent child relationships, and healing from sexual trauma with an emphasis on attachment. Currently, Mayi host her own relationship show on Blog Talk Radio entitled the "Heart and Soul of Relationships". Mayi works as an Adjunct Professor at Mercer University and is a doctoral student at Mercer University studying Counselor Education and Supervision.

Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes!

Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group.

Check out Mayi's website at premaritalbliss.com

Follow Mayi on instagram at http://www.instagram.com/innovcounseling

Follow Mayi on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/innovcounseling

030: Helping Couples Cope After Infidelity with Terri DiMatteo Feb 13, 2018

Show notes

Everyone knows someone who has been impacted by infidelity. It is such a prevalent reality in our society, yet there is still so much taboo and limited understanding in the way that we talk about it. There tends to be a lot of shame and judgement involved which can make it even more difficult for couples to work through it.

In this interview with Terri DiMatteo we talk about how to help couples affected by infidelity and betrayal. We go into detail about how to guide couples to have a different perspective and learn to trust and depend on each other again.

Terri DiMatteo is a Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey and the founder of Open Door Therapy. She spent many years as an Early Childhood Specialist where she learned about the work of John Bowlby and Attachment Theory. She brings that understanding into her work with couples. She specializes in helping couples cope with infidelity.

Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes!

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Check out Terri's practice website at opendoortherapy.net

Check out Terri's blog loveBONDS

Here is a link to her podcast on iTunes. It is called Love Bonds

029: Love Your Paperwork with Maelisa Hall Feb 08, 2018

Show notes

*Bonus business episode. We all have trauma from being in school and getting a big red X on a paper. When people mention the word paperwork it can definitely trigger an anxiety response in a lot of people.

Maelisa Hall, with her business QA Prep is not only making paperwork more fun, but also making it meaningful to enhance the work we do with clients.

Maelisa is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who has created educational programs to help therapists make paperwork a valuable part of the work that they do in therapy. She is also the co-founder of My Biz Bestie with Amber Hawley.

Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes!

Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group.

Check out QA Prep at qaprep.com

Get your free private practice paperwork Crash Course

Check out My Biz Bestie

028: Exploring EFT with Jim Thomas Feb 06, 2018

Show notes

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) is one of the most well regarded models being used by couples therapists today. In this episode Jim Thomas offers a glimpse into some of the aspects of EFT that make it so powerful when used well with couples.

Jim Thomas has received supervision from the founder of EFT, Sue Johnson and is an ICEEFT Certified EFT Trainer and a member of the ICEEFT Strategic Planning Committee dedicated to spreading the word about EFT. He still does a lot of work with couples, much of which is in intensive therapy sessions. Jim also does a lot of workshops and trainings for therapists. Jim is facilitating an EFT externship on May 30-June 2 in Denver.

Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes!

Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group.

Check out Jim's practice website at www.jimthomas.care

Find out more about the EFT Externship Jim is leading.

027: Harriet Lerner on Apologizing Jan 30, 2018

Show notes

A meaningful apology can transform a relationship. A lackluster apology can just as easily lead to major problems in people's ability to connect.

For the past 2 decades, Dr. Harriet Lerner has studied the art of the apology and recently just published her latest book called Why Won't You Apologize?

Harriet Lerner is one of the nation's most loved and respected relationship experts, renowned for her scholarly work on the psychology of women and family dynamics. She has written 12 books including the New York Times bestselling The Dance of Anger, which has sold several million copies.

Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes!

Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group.

Watch Harriet's TED talk on apologizing: TED Talk

Find out more about Harriet's book, Why Won't You Apologize?

Visit Harriet's website at https://www.harrietlerner.com/

026: Less Conflict, More Connection with Figs O'Sullivan Jan 23, 2018

Show notes

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.

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

025: Love is a Verb with Bill O'Hanlon Jan 16, 2018

Show notes

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.

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

024: Couples and Autism with Janeen Herskovitz Jan 09, 2018

Show notes

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.

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