That Relationship Show

From Ireland via San Francisco, Deb & Nao welcome Marriage & Family therapist Fiachra Figs O'Sullivan. With his unique brand of warmth, humor and Irish charm, Figs shares his passion for helping others heal from emotional pain. He his therapist wife Teale run the company empathi.com, aimed at democratizing mental health care. 

Deb & Nao welcome Dr. Susan Simonds from Moscow, Idaho to talk about a passion of hers; the intersection of trauma, relationships and healing through EFT & creative expression. She explains how forgetting the orange juice can be a blip on the radar or a nuclear meltdown, depending on our trauma history. 

From parenting to relocations to job changes, every couple will experience life transitions and the stress, joy and pain they bring---sometimes all at once. Deb & Nao enlist the help of Theresa Bullock Cohen, LICSW, Certified EFT supervisor and group process expert to talk about how couples can prepare for and work through these changes. Theresa offers guidance so that couples can protect and strengthen their bonds through all that life presents them with---from the cradle to the grave.

Deb and Nao enlist the help of EFT trainer, author and adjunct faculty member at UNC Greensboro Lorrie Brubacher, LMFT & RMFT to talk about the most painful of injuries for couples. Lorrie shares her extensive knowledge about how couples can come together after safety and trust have been shattered, to a place of deep healing and reconnection. 

Deb and Nao land the interview of their dreams with Psychologist and EFT developer Dr. Susan M. Johnson. Sue shares the stories of her childhood and young adulthood that led to her passion for helping couples find connection. 

Triggers are the match and core struggles the gasoline that set the negative cycle ablaze for couples. In this episode, Deb & Nao enlist the help of beloved EFT Supervisor Jean Shirkoff, LICSW to help couples learn how to turn off the gas valve and snuff out the match before too much damage is done. As if that weren't enough, we hear about Phil & Dolly Curtis's honeymoon as well.

Deb and Nao confront their own issues with technology usage, and enlist the help of Oz Akbas, LMFT, who has a specialty in the impact of technology usage on individuals, couples, families and society. They discuss the unintended consequences of technology usage, and Oz gives tips about how to protect our most cherished relationships from being negatively impacted by it.

Deb and Nao define what they mean by culture, and explore its impact on couples. From race to religion to families of origin, the cultures we belong to play an important role in the way we see the world. Though we may not share these things with our partner, we do need their sensitivity and understanding when cultural issues arise. Dr. Robert Allen talks with Deb and Nao about how couples can connect more deeply by weaving cultural awareness into their relationships.

Deb and Nao define and discuss the origins of Borderline Personality Disorder, which can feel devastating to relationships for everyone involved. Their guest is clinical psychologist Karin Wagenaar, the first EFT trainer in Europe, who joined them from Holland where she helped create an innovative program that uses EFT as part of its treatment of this complex disorder.

Deb and Nao welcome Dr. Patricia Papernow, stepparent, psychologist, author and expert on the subject of stepfamilies. Dr. Papernow discusses the inherent challenges that adults and children face, explains why the notion of blending ought apply to smoothies and not families, and offers the best tools for couples to maintain connection to each other, their children and stepchildren whilst building new traditions together.

With suicide rates on the increase locally and around the world, Deb & Nao seek the advice of an expert to help understand this tragic phenomenon. Kirk Woodring, LICSW is the Chief Clinical Officer of the Brattleboro Retreat, a lecturer at Smith College and the author of books about suicide. We discover the importance of connection as a protective factor against suicide.

Deb and Nao tackle the timely topic of narcissism. Deb interviews Dr. Craig Malkin, psychologist, expert and author of the book Rethinking Narcissism on how narcissism develops, impacts relationships and can be addressed using an attachment-based approach like EFT. Dr. Malkin explains how to tell when loving a narcissist has hit a dead-end.

In this informative and moving episode, psychologist Dr. Shiri Cohen takes us inside the lives of soldiers and the people who love them, as they adjust to family life post-deployment. A certified EFT therapist and clinician working with the Home Base foundation in Boston, Dr. Cohen has the compassion and expertise to enlighten us about the many challenges these brave men and women face, and the possibilities for healing that therapy can offer.

Traumatic events, whether in childhood or adulthood leave an indelible mark on us as individuals. It turns out they can also wreak havoc on our relationships. Deb and Nao offer different definitions of trauma, including a few that may surprise listeners. They welcome renowned specialist Dr. Kathryn Rheem, ICEEFT certified trainer who brings a wealth of information about how EFT can help couples impacted by trauma to a place of hope and healing.

Addiction hurts everyone in its path---from the person who uses to everyone who cares about them. Yet "tough love" approaches have not proven effective. In this episode we welcome from Atlanta, Certified EFT trainer Michael Barnett LPC, who has years of experience treating couples and treating addiction. He weaves these together with EFT to create a gentle, respectful model that promotes healing for couples impacted by addiction.