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

Become a Paid Subscriber: https://anchor.fm/drpsychmomshow/subscribe Many people in relationships try to be a good partner overall... but they end up feeling burnt out and unappreciated.  Why? They are not focusing either on their strengths OR what their partner actually values. How can you balance your relationship without sinking to the level of lists and charts?  We are taking a big picture approach here. Each of you should only be doing what you are good at, what you enjoy, OR what is truly meaningful to your partner. Share with your partner and see what each of you feels good at and what each of you most values in each other.  The answers could help you shift your dynamic for the better, so you can have the loving partnership that you both deserve. If you want to read the parenting to your strengths post that I reference, here it is!  And here's more on love languages. Thanks for listening. Please subscribe and follow me on Facebook!  

Become a Paid Subscriber: https://anchor.fm/drpsychmomshow/subscribe Did you grow up in a dysfunctional home and not know what "normal" is?  You are not alone.  In this episode, I discuss the various questions that Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families Don't Understand, including how it feels to rely on your parents, and how to set boundaries.  If you struggle with these, I encourage you to find a therapist and work through these difficult issues.  There is no shame in not knowing what healthy relationships or habits look like if you never got to see any!   Here are links to the books I mentioned!   The Ghost In The House (about growing up with a depressed mother) Children of the Self-Absorbed (when you have narcissistic parents) Running on Empty (about childhood emotional neglect) And here are the therapy resources: My group practice Best Life Behavioral Health PsychologyToday.com Please subscribe if you find these podcasts useful, and follow me on Facebook!

Become a Paid Subscriber: https://anchor.fm/drpsychmomshow/subscribe Today on The Dr Psych Mom Show, I address overfunctioning, which is when you do more than everyone else around you, which in turn leads to others underfunctioning.  Does this sound like you? Without me, nobody would survive! My spouse/kids can't do anything for themselves! Nobody would take care of any of my responsibilities even if I got sick! Nobody could ever do what I do around the house! Nobody deserves to feel stuck on the hamster wheel of overfunctioning!  It leads to bitterness and resentment in your relationship, not to mention exhaustion. This episode helps you identify overfunctioning, recognize how it develops and why, and think differently about whether it's really necessary. To learn more about overfunctioning, read this. And the classic book on codependency and why you may overfunction is Codependent No More! Follow me on Facebook and please subscribe to The Dr Psych Mom Show!

Become a Paid Subscriber: https://anchor.fm/drpsychmomshow/subscribe When women have higher sex drives than their male partners, which I see in about a third of my couples clients, this can hurt the relationship overall. In this episode, I describe practical ways for men to address low libido as well as ways for couples to better communicate about this issue. Use this episode for ideas about how to address libido mismatch in your relationship and to spark a discussion with your partner about this sensitive topic. And if you're still single, read this for signs that your partner will stop enjoying sex after marriage and kids. Subscribe to this podcast and follow me on Facebook!  Thanks for listening.

Subscribe to get all my bonus episodes here: https://anchor.fm/drpsychmomshow/subscribe The longer I work with couples, the more I see that, particularly for highly sensitive women, there are some really pragmatic steps that men can take to make their sex lives better.  Since my experience as a couples counselor has taught me that people tend to talk openly about sex approximately 1,000,000% less than they should, here are some technical, concrete tips that can improve your sex life instantly if you’re married to a Highly Sensitive Woman who is too shy to tell you what she wants and/or is too inexperienced prior to you to even know what she might want (common situation).  Note: if you’re a Not Highly Sensitive man, some of these may seem stupid, but do you lose anything from trying?  Low risk high reward is the name of the game here. For a text version of this podcast, check this out.  Subscribe to this podcast and follow me on Facebook! If you are a Dad Starting Over fan, sign up for our Zoom event on whether monogamy can work here! https://events.zoom.us/ev/ALRxKTP6PeG7CacB_qbwNhHXaPGk46c1jLkaB8dN7jpRwigdlXsIN9TRHKtgaB0yFMZmmHQ?lmt=1648863467000

I'm a clinical psychologist in private practice and the founder of DrPsychMom.com. I love helping people live their most fulfilling life, as partners, parents, and people overall. Schedule a session at my practice at bestlifebehavioralhealth.com!