Would you date someone who didn't earn as much as you expected?

And what happens when the financial expectations you discussed before marriage change once real life begins?

In this episode of Marina on Marriage, Marina Edelman, LMFT, is joined by Chris Calandra, LMFT for a therapist-to-therapist conversation about money, relationships, and the small financial decisions that can shape an entire marriage.

Inspired by a Married at First Sight conversation about a $150,000 income expectation, Marina and Chris discuss what salary expectations can represent, how couples transition from thinking as “me” to thinking as “we,” and why financial compatibility is about much more than how much someone earns.

They explore housing and affordability, saving for marriage, becoming parents, shifting from two incomes to one, women out-earning their partners, changing gender roles, and what happens when career or family plans change unexpectedly.

Marina also shares how a decision to support her husband's career and move to Germany eventually contributed to a series of choices that brought her to California and changed her career from finance to therapy. Chris shares how preparing to propose influenced his own financial decisions and how his parents shaped his beliefs about money and family.

Because sometimes a seemingly small financial decision becomes one of the decisions that changes everything.

Thank you to Chris Calandra, LMFT for joining Marina on Marriage and sharing his perspective.

🎧 Follow Marina on Marriage for future episodes about money, marriage, family, and the choices we live with.

What happens when the safest career path is not the life you truly want? In the first episode of Marina on Marriage, Marina Edelman, LMFT, shares the pivotal decision that changed the direction of her career, marriage, and family life. Marina began her career as a financial analyst after following the practical path her immigrant parents encouraged her to pursue. She was good at the work—but she wasn’t passionate about it. Years later, with two young children, limited financial security, and a husband unexpectedly searching for a new job, Marina made the frightening decision to return to graduate school and become a therapist. More than 20 years later, she reflects on what made that decision possible: a supportive marriage, mutual trust, a willingness to accept financial uncertainty, and the choice to move toward the life she wanted instead of letting fear decide for her. Marina on Marriage explores the choices that shape our relationships and our lives—choices about money, trust, family, work, and where we place our time and energy. Because marriage is rarely defined by one enormous decision. It is built through hundreds of smaller choices made along the way. Subscribe for honest conversations about marriage, money, trust, relationships, and the decisions that shape our lives.— Marina Edelman, LMFTRelationship & Marriage CounselorWestlake Village & Thousand Oaks | Serving CaliforniaFounder of TrueMe® Counseling and the TrueMe® Method

In this episode, we talked about what happens when old family tension meets new attempts at connection, and how tricky that can get when everyone’s bringing their dog (literally and emotionally). We also got into the ups and downs of couples therapy, navigating trust, shame, and learning how to actually share the spotlight in a relationship. It’s messy, funny, and honestly kind of sweet.

In the quiet sanctuary of therapy, where vulnerability meets courage, every story is a journey of transformation. I'm Marina Edelman, and in "Clients on the Couch," we dive deep into the intricate landscapes of human emotion, fear, and healing.

Today, we explore the delicate terrain of health anxiety—a landscape where statistical probabilities dance with personal fears, and where the path to understanding begins with a single breath. Join me as we navigate the complex emotions surrounding medical uncertainty, unpack the power of exposure therapy, and witness the remarkable resilience of the human spirit.

These are real conversations. Raw. Unfiltered. Healing.

Welcome to Clients on the Couch.

Welcome to "Clients on the Couch" with Marina Edelman. In today's episode, we dive into a compelling story of love, loss, and the complex dance of co-parenting. Today's session unfolds like a modern-day relationship drama, where our client navigates the choppy waters of post-divorce life.

Picture this: A planned tropical getaway to the Bahamas derailed by co-parenting complications. Our client, showing admirable parental dedication, opts to stay in New York with his children rather than risk legal entanglements. But beneath this practical decision lies a deeper emotional current.

The holiday season, traditionally a time of joy, serves as a magnifying glass for our client's sense of isolation. While he maintains a stance of holiday indifference, the empty spaces in his life feel particularly pronounced during this festive period.

At the heart of his current struggles is a legal battle with his children's mother, draining both his financial and emotional resources. This situation is further complicated by the ghost of a recent relationship with his ex, who once stood as his rock during similar storms. Her departure has left him questioning his romantic future – "Who would want to deal with this disaster?" he wonders.

The session reveals the raw aftermath of losing his wife, a relationship that ended leaving both emotional and financial loose ends. Our client now faces the challenge of reimagining his living space, which still echoes with memories of their shared life. His coping mechanisms are under review, with plans to reduce alcohol consumption and seek community connections.

As your host and therapist, I guided him toward recognizing his inherent worth, independent of his current circumstances. We explored the possibility that future relationships aren't just possible – they're probable, once he's ready to open that door again.

This session beautifully illustrates how life's challenges often come in waves – legal battles, relationship endings, and parenting responsibilities all crashing at once. Yet within these challenges lie opportunities for growth and self-discovery.

Remember to subscribe to "Clients on the Couch" for more real, raw, and transformative therapy sessions. These stories remind us that we're all human, all healing, and all worthy of love and connection.

[Note: All identifying details have been altered to protect client confidentiality]

In this episode, we step into the therapy room with Connor and Anna, a couple navigating the complexities of career decisions, family responsibilities, and relationship dynamics. With guidance from their therapist, Marina, they tackle pivotal questions: How do you balance career ambitions with family needs? What role does gratitude play in a thriving partnership? And how can daily rituals transform connection?

From strategic career planning to the power of manifestation, this session is packed with relatable struggles, thoughtful insights, and actionable advice for couples seeking balance in their own lives. Tune in to explore the art of aligning dreams and priorities—together.