A Better Love with Dr. Greg Matos

Dive into a 3-part series on divorce and separation with Dr. Greg, a board-certified couple and family psychologist.

On today's episode:
1. Seeking support and expert advice.
2. Acknowledging stress and managing it like a wave.
3. Defining the kind of practical connection you can maintain with your spouse (especially for co-parenting).

Send your divorce questions to Dr. Greg @abetterloveproject on TikTok/Instagram or drop a comment on this video.

Want to support our project? Subscribe to our newsletter and we'll keep you updated on our non-profit's growth, upcoming live events, and more: https://subscribe.abetterloveproject.org/. 

Learn more about Dr. Greg and A Better Love Project: https://www.abetterloveproject.org/about

Join Dr. Greg and special guest Dr. Nazanin Moali, a Certified Sex Therapist, to discuss menopause, sexual health in mid-life, and great preventative health recommendations.

On this episode:
1. Defining menopause and potential impacts on sexual health
2. Discussion about hormonal therapy, diet, and adapting
3. Dr. Moali on how you can foster a healthy, thriving sex life

If you want to connect with Dr. Moali, visit her podcast here: https://sexologypodcast.com/. As always, you can send your questions to me Dr. Greg @abetterloveproject.

Your generosity makes this show possible. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to sustain our mission: https://donorbox.org/abetterloveproject-annual-fund.

To make an ongoing donation, become a sustaining member and get exclusive content, workshops, and more: https://www.patreon.com/abetterloveproject.

A Better Love Project, Inc. is a tax-exempt 501c3 media organization. Your support shares science-based relationship advice and support with couples and families who need it most.

Support the show

Join Dr. Greg to discuss 4 common family roles that you may be enacting right now - is it helpful to you or the family system?

It's clear we all enact roles in our life, in our work, relationships, and family. Our developmental life shapes our personality and relational skills, influenced by roles we may place.

Listen to the descriptions of these common roles and see if they resonate with you?

Your generosity makes this show possible. Please consider becoming a sustaining member of A Better Love with Dr. Greg and get exclusive content, workshops, and more: https://www.patreon.com/abetterloveproject.

A Better Love Project, Inc. is a tax-exempt 501c3 media organization. Your support shares science-based relationship advice and support with couples and families who need it most.

Support the show

Join Dr. Greg and Stephanie Smith, host of the Dirty Blondes Podcast for a bite-sized conversation about how to leverage sexual fantasy to increase sexual arousal and desire. 

On this episode:
1. Your relationship with fantasy and the power of your imagination.
2. Common fantasies and where to begin with your partner.
3. Vulnerability, trust, and fun with role-playing.

If you want to connect with Stephanie, follow her on Instagram @dirtyblondespod and as always, send your relationship and sex questions to Dr. Greg @abetterloveproject.

Your generosity makes this show possible. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to sustain our mission: https://donorbox.org/abetterloveproject-annual-fund. 

To make an ongoing donation, become a sustaining member and get exclusive content, workshops, and more: https://www.patreon.com/abetterloveproject.

A Better Love Project, Inc. is a tax-exempt 501c3 media organization. Your support shares science-based relationship advice and support with couples and families who need it most.

Follow us for more content: 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abetterloveproject
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abetterloveproject
Signup for a Live Workshop with Dr. Greg: https://subscribe.abetterloveproject.org/

Support the show

Join Dr. Greg for this quick episode on what to do when you're being asked for separation before understanding what the issues are in your relationship.

Let your first response be to seek understanding and couples therapy. Any two adults who have children together deserve time in couples therapy to determine what's changeable. 

Your generosity makes this show possible. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to sustain our mission: https://donorbox.org/abetterloveproject-annual-fund. 

To make an ongoing donation, become a sustaining member and get exclusive content, workshops, and more: https://www.patreon.com/abetterloveproject.

A Better Love Project, Inc. is a tax-exempt 501c3 media organization. Your support shares science-based relationship advice and support with couples and families who need it most.

Follow us for more content: 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abetterloveproject
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abetterloveproject
Signup for a Live Workshop with Dr. Greg: https://subscribe.abetterloveproject.org/

Support the show

Join Dr. Greg to discuss non-monogamy, what it is and whether it works on today’s episode of A Better Love.  

Your generosity makes this show possible. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to sustain our mission: https://donorbox.org/abetterloveproject-annual-fund. 

To make an ongoing donation, become a sustaining member and get exclusive content, workshops, and more: https://www.patreon.com/abetterloveproject.

A Better Love Project, Inc. is a tax-exempt 501c3 media organization. Your support shares science-based relationship advice and support with couples and families who need it most.

Follow us for more content: 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abetterloveproject
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abetterloveproject
Signup for a Live Workshop with Dr. Greg: https://subscribe.abetterloveproject.org/

—
Transcript:

…today we’re talking about non-monogamy and since it’s the first time we’re talking about it here, I’ll start with a broader framework that I consider when thinking about couples I’ve worked with who were non-monogamous. I’ve got a book recommendation at the end of the episode as well, so let’s dive into it.

I want to start by clarifying my cultural views and biases on this topic as a way to acknowledge that each of us has our own values and belief systems. When you work with a couples therapist, it’s totally relevant to ask about their work with open relationships and polyamorous couples to date and their overall view of healthy relationships as it relates to these forms of love.

I was raised in a somewhat socially conservative family which has obviously evolved over time on a range of subjects. However, there really wasn’t an option except for monogamy in my home as much as I’m sure for many of you, monogamy remains the dominant strain of romantic relationships in the world. Non-monogamous relationships account for only about 1-4% of romantic relationships.

My views of non-monogamy have evolved with my training and clinical experience, though admittedly my work with non-monogamous couples is slim. There are probably lots of reasons for that including barriers to care that involve stigma and overall a lack of funding for research of non-monogamous couples to build out our foundation of knowledge and training in the field.

So here are three points I want to be clear about: 

There are, in fact, many healthy non-monogamous relationships in the world.
I believe it's productive to view our relationships as social constructions, agreements between two or more people that are chosen freely and without coercion.
I believe that core healthy relationship skills are equally necessary for all versions of romance, love, partnership, friendship, etc.  

I’d say for most of us who were raised to view monogamy as the only choice, that monogamy will likely be the easiest choice to make and, relationship skills being equal, would lead to fewer friction points, adjustment difficulties, and the like. The bottom line here is: you can suck at relationships regardless of whether you’re monogamous or not, you can be a disaster doing the most traditional thing ever, the rules might be different but living the rules with trust, commitment, persistent attention, emotional connection, good conflict management, they’re all equally powerful in determining the health of your love. 

Support the show

Join Dr. Greg to answer a listener's question about how to find themselves after a divorce. And I think this is a great time of year to think about this question and set out on some self-exploration.

Today’s episode:

1. Divorce rates and common experiences.

2. The importance of validating individual joys and aspirations.

3. Self-exploration and self-affirmation.

Your generosity makes this show possible. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to sustain our mission: https://donorbox.org/abetterloveproject-annual-fund. 

To make an ongoing donation, become a sustaining member and get exclusive content, workshops, and more: https://www.patreon.com/abetterloveproject.

A Better Love Project, Inc. is a tax-exempt 501c3 media organization. Your support shares science-based relationship advice and support with couples and families who need it most.

Follow us for more content: 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abetterloveproject
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abetterloveproject
Signup for a Live Workshop with Dr. Greg: https://subscribe.abetterloveproject.org/

Support the show

Join Dr. Greg on our final daily episode in December to talk about the power of hope in our lives and loves.

On today’s episode:

1. We’ve reached 30,000 followers on TikTok! Thank you.
2. Focus on positive needs.
3. Focus on what’s possible for you in 2022.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and we’ll see you in 2022: https://www.youtube.com/c/ABetterLoveProject?sub_confirmation=1

Your generosity makes this show possible. Please consider becoming a sustaining member of A Better Love with Dr. Greg and get exclusive content, workshops, and more: https://www.patreon.com/abetterloveproject.

A Better Love Project, Inc. is a tax-exempt 501c3 media organization. Your support shares science-based relationship advice and support with couples and families who need it most.

Support the show

Join Dr. Greg to talk about leaving a toxic relationship in the context of degrees of freedom and decision points.

On today’s episode:

1. Privilege/Marginalization
2. Fostering Self-Belief
3. Fostering Social Connection

Your generosity makes this show possible. Please consider becoming a sustaining member of A Better Love with Dr. Greg and get exclusive content, workshops, and more: https://www.patreon.com/abetterloveproject.

A Better Love Project, Inc. is a tax-exempt 501c3 media organization. Your support shares science-based relationship advice and support with couples and families who need it most.

Support the show

Join Dr. Greg to explore the foundation of a healthy co-parenting relationship and the benefits to your health and your child's wellbeing.

On the episode:
1. Mission mindset.
2. Teamwork.
3. Consistency.

Your generosity makes this show possible. Please consider becoming a sustaining member of A Better Love with Dr. Greg and get exclusive content, workshops, and more: https://www.patreon.com/abetterloveproject.

A Better Love Project, Inc. is a tax-exempt 501c3 media organization. Your support shares science-based relationship advice and support with couples and families who need it most.

Support the show