Brave Marriage Podcast

On today’s episode, I’m answering Ashley & Sarah’s questions on transition - how to transition well into parenthood & how to support your friends as they transition into marriage. If you have questions you’d like to hear answered, feel free to email me: kensi@bravemarriage.com. Music on today’s episode by: John Tibbs. You can find John’s music on iTunes or Spotify, or connect with him @johntibbsmusic To work with Kensi at Brave Marriage, click the link below: Marriage Therapy Couples Coaching Premarital Coaching Grief Counseling Courageous Conversations Workshop Thanks so much for joining us today! If you’re enjoying the show, please rate & review the podcast & share with your friends!

While some transitions can be anticipated and prepared for, others catch us completely off guard. This episode provides insight as to what to expect, how to process your experience, and how to move forward together when life catches you off guard through loss. In honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, I’m sharing pieces of my story with you on this episode. My heart is to help you be brave as you sit with your own experience - whatever that may be - as well as seek healing and wholeness. If you’d like to work with me, you can do so in the following ways: Grief Counseling for Pregnancy Loss: bravemarriage.com/pregnancy-loss Marriage Therapy: bravemarriage.com/marriage-therapy Couples Coaching: bravemarriage.com/couples-coaching Courageous Conversations Workshop: bravemarriage.com/courageous-conversations Thanks to John Tibbs (@johntibbsmusic) for the music on the Brave Marriage Podcast. And thanks so much for joining us today! If you know someone who’d enjoy this podcast, please share + subscribe!

If you thought marriage was a transition…just wait until you have kids! On today’s episode, we’re talking about: 2 of the biggest changes to your marriage relationship after having children. 3 mindsets to adopt early on. 3 “speed bumps” to watch out for relationally. 10 ideas for time together! Lots to cover on today’s episode. I promise, I’ll be shorter next week. ;) Brave Marriage Resources include: FREE Relationship Quiz: https://bravemarriage.com/quiz Courageous Conversations Workshop: https://bravemarriage.com/courageous-conversations Mentioned on today’s episode: The Effect of the Transition to Parenthood on Relationship Quality: An Eight-Year Prospective Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2702669/ Gottman’s 6 Hours to a Better Relationship: https://cdn.gottman.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/6-hours-to-a-better-relationship.pdf Bringing Home Baby: The Research: https://www.gottman.com/blog/bringing-baby-home-the-research/ Music on this Episode by: John Tibbs @johntibbsmusic Thanks so much for joining us today! If you enjoyed this episode, feel free to share & subscribe!

Love cannot last on feelings alone! Learn what to do when your feelings fade as you transition out of the honeymoon phase and into what mature actually is. Mentioned on this episode:  Courageous Conversations Workshop: https://bravemarriage.com/courageous-conversations Couples/Premarital Coaching: https://bravemarriage.com/couples-coaching 1-Hr. Consultation: https://bravemarriage.com/shop Intro & outro music: @johntibbsmusic Thanks so much for joining us today! If you're enjoying the podcast but haven't yet subscribed, please do! And feel free to share with others who'd enjoy!

Leaving & cleaving…what the heck does that mean anyway? Join us today as we talk about the transition into marriage, why it can be so hard, & what you need to do to be sure you transition well into marriage. Mentioned on this episode:  Relationship Quiz: https://bravemarriage.com/quiz Couples/Premarital Coaching: https://bravemarriage.com/couples-coaching 1-Hr. Consultation: https://bravemarriage.com/shop Intro & outro music: @johntibbsmusic Thanks so much for joining us today! If you're enjoying the podcast but haven't yet subscribed, please do! And feel free to share with others who'd enjoy!

What do you do when your problems seem unsolvable? These are known as perpetual issues. According to Dr. John Gottman, every couple has 3-5 perpetual issues. What makes the difference between couples who are happily married and those who aren’t…is how couples handle these issues over the long haul. Tune in today for practical tips on how to deal with your perpetual issues! Intro & outro music: @johntibbsmusic Mentioned on this episode:  Relationship Quiz: https://bravemarriage.com/quiz Michael Fulwiler’s “Managing Conflict: Solvable vs. Perpetual Issue”: https://www.gottman.com/blog/managing-conflict-solvable-vs-perpetual-problems/ Couples/Premarital Coaching: https://bravemarriage.com/couples-coaching Grief Counseling: Pregnancy Loss: https://bravemarriage.com/pregnancy-loss Thanks so much for joining us today! If you're enjoying the podcast but haven't yet subscribed, please do! And feel free to share with others who'd enjoy!

We all know how to problem solve. But what happens when our problem solving is premature? Tune in to today’s episode, When to Solve Your Problems, to find out why timing is the most important part! Intro & outro music: @johntibbsmusic Mentioned on this episode:  Relationship Quiz: https://bravemarriage.com/quiz Marriage/Premarital Coaching with Kensi: http://bravemarriage.com/couples-coaching Thanks so much for joining us today! If you're enjoying the podcast but haven't yet subscribed, please do! And feel free to share with others who'd enjoy!

It's unrealistic to think that as married couples, we won't ever have conflict. It's also unrealistic to think that we would ever do it perfectly. Join us this week as we discuss how to have a do-over & turn conflict into connection in your marriage! Intro & outro music: @johntibbsmusic Mentioned on this episode:  Relationship Quiz: https://bravemarriage.com/quiz Les Parrott Quote: https://lesandleslie.com Thanks so much for joining us today! If you're enjoying the podcast but haven't yet subscribed, please do! And feel free to share with others who'd enjoy!

Awareness of our triggers can make all the difference between responding to our spouse & reacting to them! Join us today to better understand what triggers YOU in both negative & positive ways, so that you can learn to do something different (& re-wire your brain in the process!) *This episode is the fourth in a 4-part series on conflict in marriage. Intro & outro music: @johntibbsmusic Mentioned on this episode:  Relationship Quiz: http://bravemarriage.com/quiz Simon Sinek's "How Great Leaders Inspire Action" TedTalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en Thanks so much for joining us today! If you're enjoying the podcast but haven't yet subscribed, please do! And feel free to share with others who'd enjoy!

Answering Lindsey's question on the podcast today about maintaining healthy communication, given the specific relational dynamics in her marriage, which so many of us can relate to!  Intro & outro music: @johntibbsmusic To work with Kensi, check out:  Relationship Quiz: http://bravemarriage.com/quiz Couples Coaching: http://bravemarriage.com/couples-coaching Thanks so much for joining me today! If you're enjoying the podcast but haven't yet subscribed, please do! And feel free to leave a rating + review, & share with others who'd enjoy!

What defense mechanisms are you engaging in that are preventing your marriage from thriving? Listen in to identify your defenses...and then commit to drop them. FREE Relationship Quiz: http://bravemarriage.com/quiz Marriage/Premarital Coaching with Kensi: http://bravemarriage.com/couples-coaching Intro & outro music: @johntibbsmusic Thanks so much for joining me today! If you're enjoying the podcast but haven't yet subscribed, please do! And feel free to leave a rating + review, & share with others who'd enjoy!

What defense mechanisms are you engaging in that are preventing your marriage from thriving? Listen in to identify your defenses...and then commit to drop them. FREE Relationship Quiz: http://bravemarriage.com/quiz Marriage/Premarital Coaching with Kensi: http://bravemarriage.com/couples-coaching Intro & outro music: @johntibbsmusic Thanks so much for joining me today! If you're enjoying the podcast but haven't yet subscribed, please do! And feel free to leave a rating + review, & share with others who'd enjoy!

Do you know what it means to get flooded? It's probably happened to you before. The key in conflict is learning to recognize it, communicate it to your spouse, & calm yourself down! FREE Relationship Quiz: http://bravemarriage.com/quiz Couples Coaching with Kensi: http://bravemarriage.com/couples-coaching Intro & outro music: @johntibbsmusic Mentioned on this episode:  Managing Perpetual Issues: https://www.gottman.com/blog/managing-conflict-solvable-vs-perpetual-problems/ Thanks so much for joining me today! If you're enjoying the podcast but haven't yet subscribed, please do! And feel free to leave a rating + review, & share with others who'd enjoy!

Answering questions on the podcast today about how to have a healthy marriage, how to know when it's time to go to counseling, & what Brave Marriage is all about! Intro & outro music: @johntibbsmusic Mentioned on this episode:  Relationship Quiz: http://bravemarriage.com/quiz To work with me through couples coaching, visit: http://bravemarriage.com/couples-coaching John Gottman's Sound Marital House: https://cdn.gottman.com/wp-content/uploads/08673eaf1eebfeffee4c170bbf1e94ac.jpg Thanks so much for joining me today! If you're enjoying the podcast but haven't yet subscribed, please do! And feel free to leave a rating + review, & share with others who'd enjoy!

Our marriages are only as intimate as the degree to which we learn to speak for ourselves. That means holding on to ourselves & expressing our true feelings, while communicating fully, honestly, & with integrity & respect. Learn more on today's episode! *This episode is the fourth in a 4-part series on communication in marriage.  Intro & outro music: @johntibbsmusic Mentioned on this episode:  Relationship Quiz: http://bravemarriage.com/quiz Primary Emotions (Shaver et al., 2001): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3598857 Thanks so much for joining us today! If you're enjoying the podcast but haven't yet subscribed, please do! And feel free to share with others who'd enjoy!