The Human Intimacy Podcast

Heart to Heart: Q&A on Strengthening Communication and Intimacy in Your Relationship Skills Join me, Dr. Kevin Skinner for a one on one conversation as I answer some of the common questions I receive as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Questions discussed in today’s podcast include: What can I do if I can’t get the people close to me to open up. What can I do to stop my unwanted sexual behaviors? How can I overcome a fear of intimacy and being close to others? I have been holding back from telling others about being betrayed, what do you think I should do? Sources discussed in this podcast: https://www.humanintimacy.com/course/treating-sexual-addiction https://www.humanintimacy.com/course/human-intimacy-free-webinar-series Thanks for joining The Human Intimacy Podcast!

PIERS: 5 Simple, Evidence-Based Daily Rituals to (help you) Stay Afloat and Successfully Navigate Stress and Chaos. Life can be hard, and at times it can feel hopeless, helpless, and even out of control.  We invite you to embark on a journey with us as we deep dive into the world of simple, grounding, evidence-based daily rituals for optimal living. These practices will help you improve your relationship with yourself and others. They will also enhance your physical, emotional, and mental health as you discover and develop these anchors to keep you afloat and thriving amidst life's daily challenges. Resources Discussed During This Podcast: Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being by Dr. Martin Seligman Lost Connections by Johann Hari A special thanks to McKay Hatch for the music.  You can learn more about McKay at: https://youtu.be/BPmF47qHYbg?si=yWRL3H47q2f6HHZt

The Anatomy of a Sincere Apology While we all may want to hear someone close to us apologize for what they did to hurt or offend us, in this episode Amy and Dr. Skinner discuss how to improve your approach when you say “I’m sorry.” In fact, this episode you will learn why “I”m sorry” often is not enough. Learn to strengthen your relationships, as you learn to apologize.   References Discussed: How Can I Forgive You (Janice Abram Spring) Rebuild Your Relationship after Sexual Betrayal (Dr. Kevin Skinner)  

Cultivating Connection: The Mindful Approach to Better Relationships Welcome to the Human Intimacy Podcast, this special episode is dedicated to enriching your personal connections through the power of mindfulness. Join us as we explore the principles of mindfulness with our esteemed guest, Dallin Bruun, who studied Mindfulness at UMass Medical Center under the guidance of Jon Kabat-Zinn. In this episode, we delve into practical strategies for applying mindfulness in your day to day life. Dallin provides two enlightening mindfulness exercises backed by research that demonstrates how mindfulness can improve mental health and strengthen relationships. Whether you're looking to deepen your understanding of mindfulness or simply learn how to slow down in this chaotic world this episode provides the tools and knowledge to help you cultivate an authentic and healthy relationship with self and others.  

Learn to Heal Trauma: Your Body Knows the Answers Do you feel tense and uptight? Do you frequently get headaches or muscle pain? If so, your body may be feeling the lasting effects from difficult or traumatic experiences. In this episode Amy Andrus and Dr. Skinner interview Lauren Hatchett a trauma informed yoga specialist.  In this episode you will learn specific cues you can take to listen to your body as you learn to heal from old or current wounds.

Safety: The Foundation of All Intimate Interactions Have you ever questioned whether connecting with someone is a good idea? Or do you find that, for some reason, unbeknownst to you, you are holding back from others? In this week's podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and Amy Andrus discuss the most critical component of connection: Safety. If you find that you are struggling to connect with others, this podcast will provide insight into possible reasons for why. You will also hear ideas on creating safety with yourself, even if the people around you don't feel safe to you.  Resources to Enhance Your Human Intimacy Transform your life with the new Human Intimacy Monthly Subscription Program. Learn more here! Learn how to strengthen your relationship with more effective communication. Building Bridges: The Art of Communication A special thanks to McKay Hatch for sharing his musical talents with us in the intro music. To learn more about McKay here’s a link to access his music — https://song.link/y/qHhQoebmizE  

Discover How Developmental Trauma Hinders Adult Attachment It's a universal experience to grapple with identity formation in childhood, especially when parents exert significant control over our lives. This podcast, featuring guest Jon Taylor, offers a wealth of expert knowledge on developmental trauma. Gain valuable insights into how early life experiences can shape relationship dynamics as we mature. As we strive to create healthy, intimate adult relationships, we need to make sure that we address barriers such as developmental trauma. In this week's podcast, we explore how to address developmental trauma by creating boundaries in relationships with parents or other family members. Learn how to address these challenging issues to create intimate relationships now.  One Form of Developmental Trauma Developmental trauma can occur when a child grows up in an environment where their parents or caregivers exhibit behaviors of ownership towards them. This sense of ownership can manifest in controlling, possessive, and manipulative behaviors that can have a lasting impact on the child's emotional and psychological development. Additional Topics Discussed: Mother Enmeshed Men Growing up in an enmeshed relationship with a mother can have several impacts on a man's development. Firstly, these men may struggle with autonomy and forming healthy boundaries in relationships. They may have difficulty asserting their own needs and desires, often prioritizing their mother's wishes over their own. Additionally, mother-enmeshed men may have challenges forming and maintaining healthy intimate relationships. Their dependence on their mothers for emotional support and validation can interfere with their ability to connect with a partner on a deeper level. Resources Discussed: Book: Mother Enmeshed Man Workshop: Overcoming Enmeshment Special Thanks to McKay Hatch for sharing his musical talents with us. Click here to listen to McKay discuss how to live life through adversity.

Play Your Way to a More Intimate Relationship (Episode #13) Have we forgotten how to play? As we get older, we tend to forget to have genuine fun. In this episode. Dr. Kevin Skinner and Amy Andrus encourage you to pull out games and learn to play again. When we tease, flirt, and engage in friendly banter in our relationships, we create memories that can last a lifetime. If you are looking for a few ideas on strengthening intimacy in your relationship through play, join us for this fun episode.  Playful Tips You Can Try Feeling inspired to inject some playfulness into your relationships? Here are a few suggestions on how to do just that: Have a Game Night: Dust off the old board games or cozy up for a night of video gaming. Take a Class Together: Whether it’s cooking, painting, or dancing, learning something new can be both educational and fun. Prank Each Other: Keep things light by playing a practical joke once in a while (and be sure to keep it lighthearted!). Enjoy Childish Delights: Visit an amusement park, spend an evening stargazing, or have a picnic in the living room. Remember, it's all about the experience. Play Sports or Exercise Together: A bit of healthy competition can be great for both your physical and relational health. Cater to Each Other’s Whims: Indulge in each other’s spontaneous, fun ideas. Try Role-Playing: A risqué endeavor, perhaps, but role-playing can introduce new, fun elements into your relationship. Bring Out Your Inner Child: Engage in activities you loved as kids, from finger painting to building forts. Get Crafty for Each Other: Make personal gifts or cards, or work together on a DIY project. Create Inside Jokes: Inside jokes are tiny tempos of happiness that can be shared anytime, anywhere. Resources Discussed in This Show Dating on Purpose (Book) A special thanks to McKay Hatch for the intro music. If you haven’t listened to the episode with McKay, his story is truly inspiring. Here’s a link to that show: Living Life Through Adversity

Healing Attachment Trauma Caused by Sexual Behaviors: Insights from Dr. Skinner’s Discuss with Dr. Sue Johnson In 2016, I had the privilege of interviewing renowned relationship expert Dr. Sue Johnson. In this special interview, Dr. Johnson discussed how pornography and other sexual behaviors alter our attachment bonds.  The content of this interview is timeless, as the principles discussed will never cease to enlighten our understanding of healthy human relationships. This interview is especially poignant today, as we remember the profound impact Dr. Sue Johnson had on therapy. Her passing on April 23rd, 2024, marked the end of an era, but her brilliant mind and insight into the attachment model will continue to guide us for generations to come.   Dr. Johnson graciously gave her time for this podcast because she believed in helping individuals and couples heal from problems created by pornography use and other unwanted sexual behaviors.  Resources Discussed: Bloom for Women Human Intimacy

If you are struggling with boundaries in your life, this podcast will empower you to create healthy boundaries that strengthen your relationships. Simply said, boundaries matter. While every healthy relationship has boundaries, in relationships where we struggle, we usually find boundary violations. In this podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis discuss the challenges of creating healthy boundaries and they share how to use your personal value system as a guide to create boundaries that meet your needs and enhance your relationships. Learn to improve your personal life and your relationships by applying the critical concepts discussed in this podcast.