

What Healthy Couples Know That You Don't
Rhoda Sommer on Relationships
Relationships matter. Do you want to know the nitty gritty of what makes a relationship work? Get your answers to relationship questions. Learn how to keep respect alive & well, because lack of respect is why people get divorced. Learn what builds trust & how to recover from infidelity, drama or codependency. Advice from psychotherapist Rhoda Sommer based on over 35 years of working with couples. www.therapyideas.net
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 5, 2025 • 55min
How to Be More Open and Connected Right Now in Your Relationship
Real connecting with another person requires attention. In a world with so much going on, we often end up easily distracted by our fears & negative thoughts. We too quickly rise to defensiveness which builds a wall, instead of being open to understanding the differences we have with somebody else. Just because we love somebody doesn’t meant mean we pay enough attention in the moment.

Jul 23, 2025 • 50min
Navigating Divorce with Mediation: Save Time, Money, and Heartache
Divorce doesn't have to be a battlefield. In this episode, we explore the growing popularity of divorce mediation: why so many couples are turning to it, what it can save you emotionally and financially, and when it might backfire. From power imbalances to hidden agendas, we’ll unpack the pros and cons of sitting down at the table instead of standing before a judge. This conversation pulls back the curtain on what works—and what doesn’t—when love ends and legal agreements begin.

Jul 9, 2025 • 34min
Who Are We Now? After Decades Together Redefine Your Relationship
So it’s been decades of doing life together—raising kids, building careers, caring for aging parents—it’s no wonder your relationship might feel like it’s been on autopilot. Beneath the surface of routine and responsibility, there's still something worthwhile waiting to be rediscovered. Today, we’re talking about how to breathe life back into a long-term relationship and create a second marriage with the same person—one that’s deeper, more emotionally connected, and aligned with who you are now.

Jun 18, 2025 • 53min
Invest In Your Own Love Story
Investing in your own love story is one of the most empowering decisions you can make. It means choosing to be intentional about how you love and how you show up in that love. When you prioritize your own relationship, you’re not just hoping for a fairy tale ending—you’re becoming the author, editor, and leading character. This shift from passive participation to active creation is what sets apart relationships that grow & thrive

Jun 2, 2025 • 27min
The Resentment Trap: Holding Grudges in Relationships
Resentments are part of all long-term relationships because there are two imperfect people rubbing shoulders day in and day out. Inevitably feelings get hurt & needs are not going to be met. We’re not trained on how to handle that well, so we do it poorly. We either stuff it or are passive aggressive, then we wall ourselves & nothing else goes well.

May 13, 2025 • 19min
My Decade Behind The Mic On Relationships and 40+ Years As A Therapist
There have been a lot of experiments on my path to becoming a therapist over the last 40 years. And I am celebrating a decade of podcasting in April of 2025. Making uncertainty bearable in order to take risks, experimenting with choices and exploring is the best path to find your best life. My podcast isn't about changing the essence of who you are. It's about becoming more whole, adding to your abilities not subtracting them

Apr 30, 2025 • 52min
Survive Cheating: Transform Pain into Growth
Today we tackle one of the most painful and challenging experiences anyone can face in a relationship—infidelity. If you've found yourself navigating the emotional turmoil that comes with betrayal, you're not alone. Infidelity shakes up the very foundation of trust & turns the world upside down. We’ll dive into the complexities of infidelity and how to start the process of recovery, whether you’re the one betrayed or the one who broke the trust.

Apr 16, 2025 • 47min
Money Matters in Love: How to Overcome Financial Struggles Together
We're diving into one of the most challenging yet crucial aspects of any relationship, managing money. If you are sharing finances with someone, financial struggles are bound to come up at some point. Money touches almost every part of our lives. And when couples aren't on the same page about how to manage it, stress can quickly build.

Apr 2, 2025 • 36min
Stop the Cycle: How to Handle Conflict and Reduce Resentments
Couples never fighting, means at least one person is catering too much by swallowing their disagreement, which makes things so not interesting. So it may have the appearance of constant joy, but underneath, unspoken resentments are piling up because pretending the differences are not there doesn't work over the long haul. Listen & learn how to make conflict be respectful and not destructive.

Mar 19, 2025 • 43min
Elevating Love: How Growth, Responsibility & Purpose Strengthen Bonds
Growth in love requires openness to change, the willingness to challenge old patterns, and the courage to embrace transformation in the pursuit of something greater. It is the conscious effort to evolve together that truly sustains a relationship. Relationships flourish when both partners take accountability seriously.