The Dr. Psych Mom Show with clinical psychologist Dr. Samantha Rodman Whiten

Subscribe: https://anchor.fm/drpsychmomshow/subscribe for all my bonus episodes!  Most recent one was about personality traits that accord with sexless marriages. For more discussion about these topics, join my secret Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/becomesupporter/DrPsychMom For therapy, contact us at www.bestlifebehavioralhealth.com Many people marry individuals that they know on some level just aren't as smart as they are.  Yes, there are all kinds of intelligence, but if you have thought during dating that you can out-think your partner, I have seen that this dynamic often transmutes into something pretty dysfunctional over time.  And both partners get frustrated, not just the "smarter" one!  Listen to this episode to hear what "processing speed" is for those of us who like to learn random stuff, what other traits are related to this, and how compatibility is king.

The narcissist-borderline dynamic is common in couples counseling and underlies many super high conflict relationships. Here we cover what Borderline Personality is (extreme preoccupied attachment is one helpful lens), how it interacts with Narcissist Personality Disorder and why these two types are drawn to one another, and what to do if this episode leads to a lightbulb recognition moment about your own dynamic. Subscribe!  https://anchor.fm/drpsychmomshow/subscribe Therapy! www.bestlifebehavioralhealth.com Follow!  www.facebook.com/drpsychmom Link: https://www.drpsychmom.com/2020/06/06/what-does-a-healthy-relationship-look-like-for-someone-with-borderline-personality-disorder/ Books: I Hate You Don't Leave Me: https://amzn.to/3OaPKl5 Stop Walking on Eggshells by Mason Kreger Emotional Blackmail by Susan Forward Emotional Vampires by Albert J. Bernstein Disarming the Narcissist by Wendy T. Behary

Subscribe: https://anchor.fm/drpsychmomshow/subscribe for all my bonus episodes!  Next upcoming one about personality traits that accord with sexless marriages from what I see in my office. For more discussion about these topics, join my secret Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/becomesupporter/DrPsychMom For therapy, contact us at www.bestlifebehavioralhealth.com O Cruel World!  You do all the confident guy stuff you read about that's supposed to make your wife feel desire and dread about losing you, and instead.... the more like James Bond you act, the LESS she acts like a Bond girl.  Why and how can you better understand this sadly common situation?  I also cover: moderating variables that impact which men experience this counterintuitive phenomenon and how to, as always, better understand your wife!

By special subscriber request!  Note this is a lot shorter than the one on Mother's Day! lol You're welcome, guys! Subscribe: https://anchor.fm/drpsychmomshow/subscribe for all my bonus episodes!  Most recent one was about personality traits that accord with sexless marriages. For more discussion about these topics, join my secret Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/becomesupporter/DrPsychMom For therapy, contact us at www.bestlifebehavioralhealth.com

Subscribe: https://anchor.fm/drpsychmomshow/subscribe for all my bonus episodes, including the most recent one on why people hate certain traits! And for discussion about these topics, join my secret Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/becomesupporter/DrPsychMom For therapy, try: bestlifebehavioralhealth.com Many men can't understand why their wife just doesn't exercise!  Isn't it easy and fun?  No, not for many people and we discuss how to actually understand what stops many women from exercising in addition to how to be more empathic about this and other women-related topics.  Also: what do you do if you just are disgusted by the fact that your wife won't exercise? Link: https://www.drpsychmom.com/2015/08/05/my-wife-is-fat/

Subscribe: The most recent paid episode was on why we hate traits/people and the way to understand your particular dislikes in a new way: https://anchor.fm/drpsychmomshow/subscribe Join: https://www.facebook.com/becomesupporter/DrPsychMom Therapy: www.bestlifebehavioralhealth.com Many of my clients are pretty smart and haven't clicked with other therapists because they feel they can outthink the therapist.  While there is certainly something to be said for fit, and you do accomplish MORE with a therapist you click with, your reasons for not having accomplished much in prior counseling also have to do with you: https://www.drpsychmom.com/2021/02/28/5-reasons-that-your-previous-therapy-didnt-help-that-much/ In the case that you feel too smart for therapy/therapists, I give you some other variables that may be at play and leave you with plenty to introspect about. Related: https://www.drpsychmom.com/2020/07/02/eight-issues-that-impact-adults-who-used-to-be-gifted-children/

Subscribe: The most recent paid episode was on why we hate traits/people and the way to understand your particular dislikes in a new way: https://anchor.fm/drpsychmomshow/subscribe Join: https://www.facebook.com/becomesupporter/DrPsychMom Therapy: www.bestlifebehavioralhealth.com I work with a lot of wealthy individuals, some self-made, and the one similar theme that continues to emerge is that things have felt WORSE, not BETTER, with increasing money.  Aside from reflecting on the classic adage "mo' money, mo' problems," how can we better understand why marriages often (and counterintuitively) seem to buckle under the pressure of more income? Link: https://www.drpsychmom.com/2020/06/19/the-man-who-tries-to-take-everything-off-his-wifes-plate-but-shes-still-unhappy/

Explore the complexities of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) and how it differs from OCD. Discover how OCPD manifests in relationships with rigidity and perfectionism. Learn about the origins of this disorder, including genetic and parenting factors. Get practical advice on coping strategies, setting effective boundaries, and the potential for change through therapy. Insightful recommendations for both individuals with OCPD and those who love them make this discussion truly illuminating.

So many men fight with their wives and then want sex. Women won't usually have sex if they feel attacked in daily life, because women have to feel secure and safe to respond sexually. Most women can't even orgasm if they are stressed out, because their sympathetic nervous system is activated. This episodes covers why you fight, how passive aggression can be fighting, how to figure out who you really are as a man (hopefully it's not a guy who has to have An Important Opinion about every little damn thing) and how to communicate with kindness and flexibility, which sets your wife up to be her best non-fighting self! Subscribe!  The most recent paid episode was on men who feel everyone thinks their wife is out of their league. https://anchor.fm/drpsychmomshow/subscribe Join my secret Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/becomesupporter/DrPsychMom Therapy: www.bestlifebehavioralhealth.com Links: The 5 Step Plan To Successfully Disagree With Your Wife Without Causing WWIII: https://www.drpsychmom.com/2020/04/18/the-5-step-plan-to-successfully-disagree-with-your-wife-without-causing-wwiii/ The Big Picture Reframe: Is Your Relationship More Important Than This Argument?: drpsychmom.com/2019/07/06/the-big-picture-reframe-is-your-relationship-more-important-than-this-argument/

Have you heard "Why would you want me to do something I don't want to do?" Or been faced with a rigid partner who puts their own boundaries and preferences above you and the relationship as a whole? This episode covers a lot, including analogies between parenting where people bring their A game and relationships where people don't, the logical conundrum of thinking your partner shouldn't even want you to do something you don't want to do (bet this doesn't work for you in the inverse), analogies between the wife who won't give a BJ and the husband who is an unenthusiastic jerk about the curtains or date night or whatever else, and how to best expedite your progress in couples work.  Therapy: www.bestlifebehavioralhealth.com Subscribe!  The most recent paid episode was on men who feel everyone thinks their wife is out of their league. https://anchor.fm/drpsychmomshow/subscribe Join my secret Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/becomesupporter/DrPsychMom Links: https://www.drpsychmom.com/2020/07/11/resolve-disagreement-both-needs-met/ Sacrificing for Your Partner podcast: https://anchor.fm/dashboard/episode/e1i0rcv