Reimagining Love with Dr. Alexandra Solomon

The struggle of family estrangement is explored in depth. Emotional challenges and motivations behind cutting ties are dissected. Self-awareness and a collectivist approach can aid healing. Key questions are proposed to foster understanding for both the estranger and the estranged. The importance of intergenerational contexts in shaping relationships is emphasized, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own experiences. This conversation aims to offer tools for compassionate dialogue and the potential for reconnection after a painful separation.

Dené Logan, a marriage and family therapist and Depth Psychology expert, dives into the intricate dance between masculine and feminine energies. She discusses the societal conditioning that shapes our identities and how it affects intimacy and emotional expression. Highlighting her book, 'Sovereign Love,' Dené explores how recognizing these internal energies can heal relationships. She advocates for emotional honesty, challenging traditional roles, and urges couples to celebrate each other's strengths, especially in the wake of life's challenges.

Andrea Miller, founder and CEO of YourTango, shares her journey as a lifelong seeker of relational wisdom. She discusses the significance of embracing imperfections for authentic connections and the power of relational self-awareness. Miller highlights the need to break free from toxic perfectionism and the transformative effects relationships have on personal growth. Additionally, she delves into the complexities of navigating family dynamics and parenting challenges, emphasizing open communication and vulnerability in fostering stronger connections.

Loss and grief are universal and profoundly human. The death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, a trauma that drastically shifts the trajectory of a life—each spurs a unique grieving process that can be difficult to navigate for both the people grieving and their support systems. As a chaplain at a Level One Trauma Center in Florida, J.S. Park provides emotional and spiritual care for and comfort to those experiencing grief. His support of patients at the end of their lives, and of the loved ones who remain, adds tremendous impact and compassion to his most recent book, As Long As You Need: Permission to Grieve. In this episode, J.S. shares with Dr. Alexandra what his education and experience have taught him about the “right” things to say and the ways to support grieving loved ones. He offers deeply considered insights into our misguided fear of bringing up the deceased, the impact of loss on the past and the future, and how to care for both a loved one and oneself during the grieving process. Relevant Links:Order J.S.’s book, As Long As You Need: Permission to GrieveConnect J.S. on InstagramOrder Dr. Alexandra's latest book, Love Every DaySubscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s NewsletterSubmit a Listener Question Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when we listen and are listened to more fully, forging a deeper connection? Decades of research tell us that the brain undergoes physiological changes when we begin to “talk without criticizing, listen without judgment, and connect beyond difference.” This is the definition of dialogue coined by today’s guests, Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt and Dr. Harville Hendrix. Doctors Hunt and Hendrix are internationally recognized couples therapists, educators, speakers, and a married couple themselves. Through decades of research, they developed the Imago Relationship Therapy method, which is taught to therapists around the globe. In this episode, they speak with Dr. Alexandra about moving from monologue (turning the conversation to focus on oneself) to dialogue (keeping the conversation focused on the speaker), and how listening and ensuring true understanding of a speaker’s meaning has enormous benefits to our relationships and our brains.Relevant Links:Harville and Helen’s new book, How To Talk to Anyone About Anything - https://harvilleandhelen.com/books/how-to-talk-with-anyone-about-anything/Learn more about Imago Relationship Therapy - https://harvilleandhelen.com/initiatives/what-is-imago/Explore Safe Conversations, A Methodology for Connecting - https://safeconversations.com/Order Dr. Alexandra's latest book, Love Every DaySubscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s NewsletterSubmit a Listener Question Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this two-part series, Dr. Alexandra shares ten essential skills for couples struggling with routine conflict in their relationship. Offering strategies from her couples therapy practice, Dr. Alexandra provides new language and ways of thinking about arguments that promote empathy and care, shifting couples into a "we" perspective so that they can move through hard times as a team.Relevant links:Listen to Part One of the Conflict seriesAccess the Conflict Skills worksheetCouples therapy directories: Gottman Referral NetworkTherapist.comPsychology TodayDomestic Violence ResourcesOrder Dr. Alexandra's new book, Love Every DaySubscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s NewsletterSubmit a Listener Question Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this two-part series, Dr. Alexandra shares ten essential skills for couples struggling with routine conflict in their relationship. Offering strategies from her couples therapy practice, Dr. Alexandra provides new language and ways of thinking about arguments that promote empathy and care, shifting couples into a "we" perspective so that they can move through hard times as a team.Relevant links:Access the Conflict Skills worksheetCouples therapy directories: Gottman Referral NetworkTherapist.comPsychology TodayDomestic Violence ResourcesOrder Dr. Alexandra's new book, Love Every DaySubscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s NewsletterSubmit a Listener Question Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dafna Lender, a family therapy expert with 25 years in parent-child dynamics, joins Dr. Alexandra to unravel the intricacies of familial relationships. They discuss how to break the cycle of blame, using empathy to strengthen connections. Dafna emphasizes playful engagement as a path to joy, and the vital need for involving both parents and children in therapy. With insights into authentic parenting, they highlight the importance of understanding attachment histories to foster healing, ultimately encouraging a nurturing and supportive environment for growth.

Chip Conley, expert in midlife transitions, discusses the importance of navigating midlife transitions with grace and courage. Topics include reimagining love in midlife relationships, emphasizing protein intake for a healthy lifestyle, and ritualizing major life transitions. The podcast explores the transformative chrysalis of midlife and the significance of adopting a growth mindset in navigating life stages.

Research shows that gender socialization plays out most rigidly in our intimate relationships. How do we learn to separate our thoughts and actions from our socialization? In this episode, podcaster, author, and feminist coach Kara Loewentheil joins Dr. Alexandra for an expansive conversation that confronts the ways in which patriarchy influences our thoughts, beliefs, and actions.Relevant links:Take Back Your Brain: How a Sexist Society Gets in Your Head--And How to Get It Out  a New York Times Bestseller by Kara LoewentheilListen to the Unf*ck Your Brain PodcastOrder Dr. Alexandra's new book, Love Every DaySubscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s NewsletterSubmit a Listener Question Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.