The Couples Therapist Couch 249: Parents of Teenagers with Marie Vakakis
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Jun 30, 2025 Marie Vakakis, a therapist and relationship educator, shares insights on parenting teenagers. She discusses the balance between family and couples therapy, emphasizing the importance of clear communication within families. Marie highlights the emotional complexities of navigating different parenting styles and the need for consistent dialogue. She also encourages parents to express vulnerability and model emotional communication. Her advice aims to foster healthier relationships between parents and their teens through effective communication strategies.
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Therapist's Path to Couples Work
- Marie Vakakis started with teenagers but realized she needed skills in couples work to help families effectively.
- She learned couples therapy on the go, including Gottman training and listening to coaching podcasts like Shane Burkle's.
Opposing Parenting Extremes
- Parents often overcompensate in opposing ways, creating a dynamic of extremes in parenting style.
- This push-pull can lead to the child becoming the identified patient requiring therapy.
School Choice Reveals Values
- A couple fiercely debated private vs public schooling for their children.
- Upon exploring values, they found common goals and reached a compromise beyond the surface conflict.