The Couples Therapist Couch

As couples therapists we know how important a good foundation is. Educating couples about relationship skills right from the beginning can set them up for a lifetime of fulfillment. Unfortunately, we are not taught nearly enough about what it takes to have a happy, healthy relationship in our society. Mayi Dixon helps couples with this by offering premarital counseling in her private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. She works with these couples to learn how to have a fulfilling relationship and gain understanding right from the beginning. Mayi has worked in the mental health field for over 10 years. Mayi specializes in Marriage and Family Therapy and Play Therapy. She works a lot with adults recovering from infidelity, attachment, adult parent child relationships, and healing from sexual trauma with an emphasis on attachment. Currently, Mayi host her own relationship show on Blog Talk Radio entitled the “Heart and Soul of Relationships”. Mayi works as an Adjunct Professor at Mercer University and is a doctoral student at Mercer University studying Counselor Education and Supervision.  The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday about the practice of couples therapy. Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Check out Mayi's website at premaritalbliss.com Follow Mayi on instagram at http://www.instagram.com/innovcounseling Follow Mayi on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/innovcounseling

Everyone knows someone who has been impacted by infidelity. It is such a prevalent reality in our society, yet there is still so much taboo and limited understanding in the way that we talk about it. There tends to be a lot of shame and judgement involved which can make it even more difficult for couples to work through it. In this interview with Terri DiMatteo we talk about how to help couples affected by infidelity and betrayal. We go into detail about how to guide couples to have a different perspective and learn to trust and depend on each other again.  Terri DiMatteo is a Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey and the founder of Open Door Therapy. She spent many years as an Early Childhood Specialist where she learned about the work of John Bowlby and Attachment Theory. She brings that understanding into her work with couples. She specializes in helping couples cope with infidelity.  The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday about the practice of couples therapy. Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Check out Terri's practice website at opendoortherapy.net Check out Terri's blog loveBONDS Here is a link to her podcast on iTunes. It is called Love Bonds

*Bonus business episode. We all have trauma from being in school and getting a big red X on a paper. When people mention the word paperwork it can definitely trigger an anxiety response in a lot of people.  Maelisa Hall, with her business QA Prep is not only making paperwork more fun, but also making it meaningful to enhance the work we do with clients.  Maelisa is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who has created educational programs to help therapists make paperwork a valuable part of the work that they do in therapy. She is also the co-founder of My Biz Bestie with Amber Hawley. The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday about the practice of couples therapy and once a month there is an episode about the business of private practice. Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Check out QA Prep at qaprep.com Get your free private practice paperwork Crash Course Check out My Biz Bestie

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) is one of the most well regarded models being used by couples therapists today. In this episode Jim Thomas offers a glimpse into some of the aspects of EFT that make it so powerful when used well with couples. Jim Thomas has received supervision from the founder of EFT, Sue Johnson and is an ICEEFT Certified EFT Trainer and a member of the ICEEFT Strategic Planning Committee dedicated to spreading the word about EFT. He still does a lot of work with couples, much of which is in intensive therapy sessions. Jim also does a lot of workshops and trainings for therapists. Jim is facilitating an EFT externship on May 30-June 2 in Denver. The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday about the practice of couples therapy. Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Check out Jim's practice website at www.jimthomas.care Find out more about the EFT Externship Jim is leading.

A meaningful apology can transform a relationship. A lackluster apology can just as easily lead to major problems in people's ability to connect.  For the past 2 decades, Dr. Harriet Lerner has studied the art of the apology and recently just published her latest book called Why Won't You Apologize? Harriet Lerner is one of the nation's most loved and respected relationship experts, renowned for her scholarly work on the psychology of women and family dynamics. She has written 12 books including the New York Times bestselling The Dance of Anger, which has sold several million copies. The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday about the practice of couples therapy. Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Watch Harriet's TED talk on apologizing: TED Talk Find out more about Harriet's book, Why Won't You Apologize? Visit Harriet's website at https://www.harrietlerner.com/

All couples get stuck in emotional interactions and patterns that lead to them feeling hurt and wanting to be loved at the same time. It can feel very confusing when the person who we feel is hurting us is also the one who we want to love us. Figs O'Sullivan talks about getting beyond the content of these couples interactions to guide couples to be more understanding and feel more connected. Figs is a Couples Therapist in San Francisco and the creator of the relationship quiz, Empathi. He has studied various couples therapy modalities, but is particularly dedicated to Emotionally Focused Therapy.  The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday about the practice of couples therapy. Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Check out Figs's practice website at therapywithfigs.com Check out the relationship quiz Figs created at Emaphi.com  

When we think about problems in our relationships we often want to place blame on our partner and attack their character. When this happens it makes people feel stuck and helpless to do anything about the situation.  In the conversation with Bill O'Hanlon, he talks about guiding couples to express themselves by using specific examples and come up with specific solutions that empower them to break through the areas where they feel stuck. Bill O'Hanlon is the founder of Solution-Oriented Therapy and the author or co-author of 36 books. He has given over 3500 talks in 27 countries and his work has been featured in many media outlets including an appearance on Oprah. The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday about the practice of couples therapy. Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Resources Visit Bill's website at billohanlon.com Just Some of Bill's Books For Couples: Stop Blaming, Start Loving, AKA: Love is a Verb For Therapists: Rewriting Love Stories To Use in Therapy: Couples Therapy Homework Planner

There are specific things for therapists to think about when working with a couple who has been impacted by autism. It could be a child of the couple or one of the partners who is on the spectrum, but whatever the case, there is a lot to consider.  This conversation with Janeen Herskovitz sheds light on many of those concepts for therapists to keep in mind.  Janeen is a Mental Health Counselor in private practice in North Florida. She loves helping autism spectrum families live happier more peaceful lives. The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday about the practice of couples therapy. Please subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Resources Visit Janeen's podcast website at autismblueprint.com Visit Janeen's practice website at puzzlepeacecounseling.com

As therapists, we have so much to offer people, but we are often afraid. Whether it is a case of imposter syndrome or just getting stuck in the day to day, it can be easy to stay in our comfort zone. In this bonus business episode with Ernesto Segismundo, he talks about how to put ourselves in new situations in order to see things from a different perspective and get fresh ideas. Ernesto is always challenging therapists to create content on social media, particularly using video. He helps therapists find their voices and share their messages with the world. He has a facebook group for therapists who want to learn more about using video called FYLMIT.com--Video Marketing for Therapists. The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday and a bonus business episode released the first Thursday of each month. Please rate and subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Resources Visit Ernesto's website FYLMIT.com Visit Ernesto's group practice site at cavfamilytherapy.com Click here to join the FYLMIT.com Facebook Group

In the field of Couples Therapy there has been very little research on gay couples. Fortunately, more and more is being done all of the time. It is important for Couples Therapists to be educated on this research and also understand how they can communicate in a way that is inclusive. This episode was with Alapaki Yee and Salvatore Garanzini, the founders of the Gay Couples Institute with locations in San Francisco, San Diego, and New York. They created the institute because they disagreed with many of the things their gay and lesbian friends were being told in their own relationship therapy that were not based on any research. They both have advanced training in the Gottman method and Salvatore is a Certified Gottman Therapist. They continue to do research and are at the forefront of what is working in couples therapy. Please, please, please read the article below about their work!!! The Couples Therapist Couch is the podcast for Couples Therapists about the practice of couples therapy. The host, Shane Birkel, interviews an expert in the field of couples therapy each week. There is an episode released every Tuesday. Please rate and subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes! Click here to join the Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group. Resources Visit The Gay Couples Institute website at gaycouplesinstitute.org Article: Gottman Method Couples Therapy Established as Evidence-Based Treatment for Same-Sex Couples