The Couples Therapist Couch

Latest Episodes:

263: Communication in Couples Therapy with Shane Birkel Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit https://helloalma.com/dg/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=privatepractice to learn more

Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/

Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new

Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295562197518469/

In this solo episode, Shane talks communication in couples therapy. Hear how to help your clients get back to basics with communication, the correct ways to be a speaker and listener, why communication often breaks down for couples, why we naturally get defensive, and the importance of getting consent from your partner.

262: Helping Couples during Their Transition to Parenthood with Kelly Bourque Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit https://helloalma.com/dg/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=privatepractice to learn more

Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/

Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new

Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295562197518469/

In this episode, Shane talks with Kelly Bourque about helping couples during their transition to parenthood. Kelly is an Emotionally Focused Therapy Supervisor (EFT) & Relational Health Advocate. Hear what you should talk about with couples before they have a baby, the need for pre-baby counseling, what happens when couples put their entire focus on the baby, how to help couples navigate the immense stress of having a baby, and the importance of parents being a team.

To learn more about Kelly Bourque, visit:

RedTherapyGroup.com

261: Healing Our Core Issues (HOCI) in Couples Therapy with Shane Birkel Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit https://helloalma.com/dg/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=privatepractice to learn more

Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/

Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new

Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295562197518469/

In this solo episode, Shane talks Healing Our Core Issues (HOCI) in couples therapy. Hear what Shane learned from the training he went to led by Jan Bergstrom & Dr. Rick Butts, why the HOCI model is helpful, the 6 core birthrights every human being has, how to start working with a new couple, and why it's healthy to be concerned you messed up as a parent.

260: Wise Effort with Dr. Diana Hill Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit https://helloalma.com/dg/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=privatepractice to learn more

Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/

Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new

Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295562197518469/

In this episode, Shane talks with Dr. Diana Hill about Wise Effort. Diana is a clinical psychologist, international trainer, and sought-out speaker on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and compassion. Hear how to practice Wise Effort, how to help your clients create a stronger connection with their partner, the most common types of regret, why people lose connection with the things they want, and why you should find a tree.

To learn more about Dr. Diana Hill, her book Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most, and her programs, visit:

WiseEffort.com

259: Infidelity with Dr. Ellyn Bader Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit HelloAlma.com/ATPP to learn more

Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/

Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new

Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295562197518469/

In this episode, Shane talks with Dr. Ellyn Bader about infidelity. Ellyn is an Author, Creator of The Developmental Model, Co-Founder of The Couples Institute, and one of the early founders of couples therapy itself. Hear how she created the concept of couples therapy, how the development of a couple's relationship mirrors the development of a child, the top reasons people have an affair, how to start working with a couple that went through an infidelity, and what to do when a couple is stuck at any stage of infidelity work.

To learn more about Dr. Ellyn Bader and her trainings, visit:

CouplesInstitute.com

You can also listen to Ellyn on Episode 49 & Episode 153 of The Couples Therapist Couch

258: Working with Men in Couples Therapy with Shane Birkel Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit HelloAlma.com/ATPP to learn more

Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/

Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new

Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295562197518469/

In this solo episode, Shane talks working with men in couples therapy. Hear the perks of 1-day intensives, the common differences between men & women when it comes to couples therapy, how to help men truly listen in their relationship, how to identify moments to slow down and do some deeper work, and when it's okay to not say anything as a couples therapist.

257: Emotional Repair with Andrea Dindinger Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit HelloAlma.com/ATPP to learn more

Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/

Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new

Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295562197518469/

In this episode, Shane talks with Andrea Dindinger about emotional repair. Andrea is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the Creator of Relationship Reboot: The Ultimate Couple's Training to Reignite Your Relationship and Transform How You Communicate. Hear how to help couples repair emotional disconnect, how to come up with an emotional repair plan, the importance of taking ownership & accountability in a relationship, when to bookmark conversations for a better time, and the benefits of talking through everything in your head with your partner.

To learn more about Andrea Dindinger and her courses, visit:

TherapyWithAndrea.Love

256: Brain Science & Attachment with Dr. Dan Siegel Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit HelloAlma.com/ATPP to learn more

Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/

Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new

Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295562197518469/

In this episode, Shane talks with Dr. Dan Siegel about brain science & attachment. Dan is the Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute, and Author of numerous books & articles on mindfulness & neurobiology. Hear how interpersonal neurobiology applies to couples therapy, why our brain plays such a big part in our relationships, how much attachment influences the present, the benefits of mindfulness, and how to work on the emotional health of your clients.

To learn more about Dr. Dan Siegel, his courses, and his books, visit:

DrDanSiegel.com

MindsightInstitute.com

255: Resentment in Relationships with Shane Birkel Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit HelloAlma.com/ATPP to learn more

Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/

Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new

Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295562197518469/

In this solo episode, Shane talks resentment in relationships. Hear how to help couples let go of resentment, how to make healthy decisions based on compassion for your partner, what couples should do after they get past the honeymoon period, how to grieve a sacrifice you've made in your relationship, and how to help clients come up with compromises.

254: Boundaries & Neurobiology with Juliane Taylor Shore Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit HelloAlma.com/ATPP to learn more

Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/

Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new

Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295562197518469/

In this episode, Shane talks with Juliane Taylor Shore about boundaries & neurobiology. Juliane is an Educator, Therapist, and Writer inspiring people to shift their relationships with self, others, and the world. She's the Author of "Setting Boundaries That Stick: How Neurobiology Can Help You Rewire Your Brain to Feel Safe, Connected, and Empowered." Hear how our salience network works, how our emotions & history influence our actions, how to witness yourself doing therapy, why you're a gift to the clients you work with, and how we can work with our brains to learn how to witness our minds.

To learn more about Juliane Taylor Shore, her book, and her workshops, visit:

JulianeTaylorShore.com

JulianeTaylorShore.com/Book

You can also listen to Juliane on Episode 199 of The Couples Therapist Couch

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