
The Couples Therapist Couch
This podcast is about the practice of Couples Therapy. Many of the episodes are interviews with leaders in the field of Relationships. The show is meant to help Therapists and Coaches learn how to help people to deepen their connection, but in the process it explores what is most needed for each of us to love, heal, and grow. Each week Shane Birkel interviews an expert in the field of Couples Therapy to explore all about the world of relationships and how to be an amazing therapist.
Latest episodes

Jul 23, 2024 • 1h 4min
216: Beyond Mars and Venus with John Gray
Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/ Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new In this episode, Shane talks with John Gray about Beyond Mars and Venus and what he’s been up to since his last time on The Couples Therapist Couch. John is one of the most well-known relationship experts of the past 40 years and also wrote the iconic bestseller, Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. Hear how to keep your libido at any age, why partners lose interest in sex, how to keep that spark as a married couple, why grief is actually addictive, and what he learned from his wife’s passing. To learn more about John and his coaching, visit MarsVenusCoaching.com Check out John’s book, “Beyond Mars and Venus” You can also listen to John on Episode 43 of The Couples Therapist Couch: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/blog/043-beyond-mars-and-venus-with-john-gray

7 snips
Jun 18, 2024 • 52min
215: ADHD and Couples with Anita Robertson
Anita Robertson, an ADHD & Relationship Therapist and author of "ADHD & Us," shares her expertise on navigating relationships impacted by ADHD. She discusses the unique challenges couples face, emphasizing effective communication and supportive environments. Anita introduces five essential pillars for relationship management and engages listeners with interactive exercises to enhance understanding. The conversation also highlights the importance of individual therapy alongside couples therapy for better outcomes.

Jun 11, 2024 • 25min
214: Working with High Intensity after an Affair with Shane Birkel
Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/ Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new In this solo episode, Shane breaks down how to work with high intensity after an affair. This topic stems from a question that came up in the Couples Therapist Inner Circle. Hear how to help clients recover after an affair, the emotions both partners are going through, how long it typically takes people to recover from an affair, how to get someone to stop having affairs, and how to help a client avoid getting into a shame spiral. Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295562197518469/

7 snips
Jun 4, 2024 • 48min
213: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Attachment with Dr. James Hawkins
Dr. James Hawkins discusses Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and attachment on the podcast. Topics include success tied to vulnerability, bringing important issues forward, love and protection balance, the key role of validation, and typical client frequency in therapy.

May 28, 2024 • 47min
212: Implicit Psychotherapy and Couples with Dr. Abi Blakeslee
Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/ Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new In this episode, Shane talks with Dr. Abi Blakeslee about implicit psychotherapy and couples. Abi is the founder of Implicit Psychotherapy and senior faculty at Somatic Experiencing International. Hear how to help people find deeper healing, how implicit memory works, how somatic experiencing fits with implicit memories, how childhood trauma impacts relationships years later, and how small changes can make a big impact over time. To learn more about Abi, visit: AbiBlakeslee.com ImplicitPsychotherapy.com You can also listen to Abi on Episode 169 of The Couples Therapist Couch

May 21, 2024 • 43min
211: Peace and Healing in Couples Therapy with Dr. Sabrina N'Diaye
Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/ Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new In this episode, Shane talks with Dr. Sabrina N'Diaye about peace and healing in couples therapy. Sabrina is a therapist, storyteller, and peacebuilder with over 3 decades of service to the underserved. Hear how to get your clients to slow down and breathe, the role of a couples therapist when it comes to divorce, how to model acceptance, how to look at a marriage in different stages, and when to be direct with your clients. To check out Sabrina’s book, Big Mama Speaks, visit: BigMamaSpeaks.com To learn more about Sabrina’s practice, visit: TheHeartNest.com You can also listen to Sabrina on Episode 172 of The Couples Therapist Couch

May 14, 2024 • 50min
210: Narcissism in Couples Therapy with Wendy Behary
Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/ Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new In this episode, Shane talks with Wendy Behary about narcissism in couples therapy. Wendy is the Bestselling Author of “Disarming the Narcissist” and the Founder and Director of The Cognitive Therapy Center of New Jersey and The Schema Therapy Institutes of NJ-NYC and DC. Hear how she became interested in the study of narcissism, how to approach narcissism as a therapist, how to use Schema Therapy, whether it’s okay to interrupt your clients, and how to avoid getting triggered. To learn more about Wendy and check out her book, visit: DisarmingTheNarcissist.com

May 7, 2024 • 45min
209: Trauma in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with Kathryn Rheem
Kathryn Rheem, an expert in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and director of the Washington Baltimore Center for EFT, shares insights on the intersection of trauma and relationships. She discusses overcoming Impostor Syndrome and the impact of trauma on the nervous system. Kathryn emphasizes the importance of empathy in connecting with defensive partners and healing emotional wounds. She also explores how EFT facilitates love reception and emotional processing, encouraging mutual support for lasting healing.

Apr 30, 2024 • 1h 5min
208: Dr. Sue Johnson on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
This episode is dedicated to the incredible life of Dr. Sue Johnson. In this interview from nearly 5 years ago, Shane talks with Dr. Sue Johnson, the creator of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Hear how she came up with EFT, the patterns she noticed in her clients, how emotion organizes your inner world, the impact of working with someone in EFT, and the qualities of a good EFT therapist. Learn more about the life of Dr. Sue Johnson at https://drsuejohnson.com/in-remembrance-of-dr-sue-johnson/

Apr 23, 2024 • 48min
207: Stay or Go? With Sharon Pope
Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/ Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new In this episode, Shane talks with Sharon Pope about all things divorce. Sharon is a Marriage & Relationship Coach and several-time Bestselling Author on love and relationships, including “Stay or Go?” Hear how to approach divorce, where people get stuck, how women and men differ in divorce, how therapists can guide people towards a decision, and why divorce should always be an option. To learn more about Sharon, visit SharonPope.com Check out “Stay or Go?” at StayOrGoBook.com