Do you ever feel like you're doing all the emotional heavy lifting in your relationship? Constantly managing your partner’s feelings, smoothing over conflicts, and wondering why you're always the one trying to "fix" things? You might be over-functioning—taking on more than your fair share of responsibility and emotional labor.

In this episode, Erin sits down with psychotherapist Dr. Ashley Southard to unpack the unhealthy dynamic of over-functioning in relationships and how to break free. Tune in as they discuss what a real, emotionally mature partner looks like (yes, they do exist!), why rupture and repair are essential for healthy relationships, and why it’s time to stop analyzing your partner’s issues and start focusing on your needs. Here’s what’s on the table:

1. Why women are often conditioned to overfunction in relationships.
2. How over-functioning leads to loneliness, frustration, and resentment—and keeps you stuck in a cycle.
3. The impact gender roles and cultural norms have on relationship dynamics, and how they often leave women to pick up the emotional labor.
4. Ignoring your intuition has consequences—don’t wait for a crisis to force change, pay attention to the small signals before reaching a breaking point.
5. Why shifting your focus inward and prioritizing yourself is the antidote to over-functioning.
6. How to recognize the signs of an emotionally mature, engaged, and healthy partner.

OUR GUEST: Dr. Ashley Southard is a psychotherapist in Scottsdale, AZ, specializing in helping over-functioning women in unfulfilling relationships. With 20+ years of experience treating trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues, she creates a safe space for women to realize they’re not ‘crazy’ or ‘broken’—they’re powerful and capable of becoming their best selves. Dr. Ashley also shares life-changing insights on Instagram, guiding women to reclaim their power and heal together in community.

Want more Dr. Ashley? Find her online at www.drashleysouthard.com and follow her on social media:

1. IG: @drashleysouthard
2. FB: @drashleysouthard

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Mentioned in this episode:

Broad Collective

Learn more about Broad Collective and our membership network for midlife women entrepreneurs at broadcollective.com.