94: How Netflix Can Improve Your Relationship

May 10, 2017

Suzanne Degges-White, a professor and licensed counselor with a focus on relationships, dives into how Netflix can be a surprising ally in romance. She emphasizes the value of developing unique rituals and a shared relationship identity while respecting individual identities. Laughter is highlighted as a powerful tool for connection. Their discussion reveals that binge-watching can not only bring couples closer but also strengthen communication and emotional bonds, cultivating a healthier relationship dynamic.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Creating and Sustaining Unique Identities in Relationships

01:44 • 3min

Building a Unique Identity in Relationships

04:42 • 4min

Nurturing Couple's Identity

08:29 • 20min

Creating Unique Rituals for Relationship Strength

28:47 • 3min

The Power of Laughter in Relationships

31:59 • 7min

Suzanne Degges-White, PhD, is professor and chair of the Department of Counseling, Adult and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University. She earned her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is a licensed counselor and has over 15 years of experience working with children, adolescents and adults, including couples and families.

Her research interests include the development of identity and intimate relationships including family relationships, romantic relationships and friendships. She has authored several books addressing relationships including Friends Forever: How Girls and Women Forge Lasting Relationships; Toxic Friendships: Knowing the Rules and Dealing with the Friends who Break Them; Mothers and Daughters: Living, Loving, and Learning over a Lifetime; and Sisters and Brothers for Life: Making Sense of Sibling Relationships in Adulthood. She also is a featured blogger for Psychology Today.

In this episode we discuss relationship topics that include:

Why it's important to develop rituals as a couple.
How to develop a unique relationship identity and why it's important.
How binging on Netflix can actually be a good thing for your relationship.
Learning to preserve your relationship's identity and that of your own.
And much more!