Relationships Inside Out

“I am a failure.” 

“I hate my body. Why would anyone find me attractive?”

“I am a disappointment.”

“Why can’t I do anything right?”

“I don’t deserve love or connection.”

“Everyone is better than me. I will never be good enough or worthy.”

Have you ever said any of these phrases, or something similar, to yourself? These are all evidence of negative self-talk, a common yet still unhealthy pattern of thinking. We want you to consider: if a friend talked to you the way you talk to you, would you still be friends with them? If the answer is “no,” it is time for a change!

Join us as we shine a light on negative self-talk. At its worst, negative self-talk has the ability to devastate our mental health, relationships, parenting, career, and friendships. We are all subject to negative self-talk from time to time, but when it takes over how we feel, talk, and value ourselves, it is officially unhealthy and worthy of your attention to change. Let us help you start the journey towards self-compassion, self-worth, and positive self-talk!

If you find this episode, or any of our other episodes, helpful to you, please share with those that you love! Let us know what you think about what you want us to talk about next by emailing us at [email protected]!

In two weeks, we dive into the world of sex therapy! Later topics include: trauma, military families, gender roles, parenting, self-acceptance, domestic violence, and so much more!

For more updates and helpful resources, follow us on Facebook at @RelationshipsInsideOutllc!

Some resources related to this episode:

• Self-Talk
• The Toxic Effects of Negative Self-Talk
• How to Transcend Self-Doubt and Negative Self-Talk

Books

• Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself
• Negative Self-Talk and How to Change It

What are you doing with your life?

Have you ever wondered this to yourself about your own life? Are you truly living the life you want and deserve? What gets in the way of living that dream, or at minimum happy, life? These questions are among the many we ask and help you process to get you on track of finally doing the things you WANT to do! 

Join us as we deep dive the question, what are you doing with your life?. We wholeheartedly believe everyone has the right to a happy, fulfilling, and meaningful life. If you are bored, dissatisfied, unhappy, or drudging through your life, you do not want to miss this one! It is time for a change, and we hope to guide you there!

If you find this episode, or any of our other episodes, helpful to you, please share with those that you love! Let us know what you think about what you want us to talk about next by emailing us at [email protected]! 

In two weeks, we unpack negative self-talk! Later topics include: sex therapy, military families, gender roles, parenting, self-acceptance, domestic violence, and so much more!

For more updates and helpful resources, follow us on Facebook at @RelationshipsInsideOutllc!

Some resources related to this episode:

• When Should You Re-Evaluate Your Career and Life?
• 20 Questions to Plan Your Life
• Wheel of Life Self-Assessment Tool
• 5 Types of Self-Care for Every Area of Your Life
• 10 Psychological Predictors of Happiness Across the Lifespan

Have you ever felt like you were walking on eggshells with a partner, friend, family member, coworker, or child? Do you worry about his or her reaction to your feedback or emotions, limiting who you are and how you behave around them? This pattern is far too common, and deeply unhealthy. Join us as we unpack what it means to be walking on eggshells and steps to break this toxic cycle. 

Join us as we breakdown the experience of walking on eggshells, including warning signs that this is happening, the other person’s role, your role, and next steps to overcome this cycle. You deserve to be your whole and authentic self in all of your relationships, free from fear, manipulation, reactivity, and gaslighting. Let’s tackle this together and help you both feel healthier in your relationship! 

If you find this episode, or any of our other episodes, helpful to you, please share with those that you love! Let us know what you think about what you want us to talk about next by emailing us at [email protected]! 

In two weeks, we ask the hard questions to help you examine what you are doing with your life! Later topics include: sex therapy, military families, gender roles, parenting, self-acceptance, domestic violence, and so much more!

For more updates and helpful resources, follow us on Facebook at @RelationshipsInsideOutllc!

Some resources related to this episode:

• What to Do If You Feel Like You're Walking on Eggshells in Your Relationship
• Always Walking on Eggshells? How to Stop
• Walking on Eggshells with Loving Steps

Anxiety spraying: the act of casting your anxiety on those around you. We all get anxious, but do you or someone you love sometimes become so anxious, that others around cannot help but pick up those emotions? We have all been there! Emotions are contagious, often leading to others being affected by our emotional state without even intending it. It is time we all come to understand our emotions and how our emotions impact others, we well as how to take control of them!

Join us as we dive into anxiety spraying, and other forms of emotional contagion. We explain what it is, why it matters, and how to prevent it. We also explain emotional reciprocity and why this is key for emotionally safe, balanced relationships with those we love. You are responsible for your emotions, and we are here to help you take ownership of them!

If you find this episode, or any of our other episodes, helpful to you, please share with those that you love! Let us know what you think about what you want us to talk about next by emailing us at [email protected]! 

In two weeks, we dive into walking on eggshells with those you love! Later topics include: sex therapy, military families, gender roles, parenting, self-acceptance, domestic violence, and so much more!

For more updates and helpful resources, follow us on Facebook at @RelationshipsInsideOutllc!

Some resources related to this topic:

• How to Create Emotional Boundaries in Your Relationship
• 8 Ways to Provide Emotional Support for Your Partner...and what to avoid
• Grounding Techniques for Trauma and Anxiety
• 11 Tips for Coping With an Anxiety Disorder

Privacy and secrecy in relationships can be a hot button topic. How much is too much or too little? When are privacy and secrecy okay or not okay? How can I trust my partner if they keep secrets? Aren’t we supposed to be an open book with our partner? We are here to help answer all of these questions and more! 

Join us as we discuss privacy and secrecy in romantic partnerships, including what healthy privacy and secrecy look like and how to avoid common pitfalls. Healthy relationships include maintaining a personal identity and things that are just our own, including secrets. In healthy relationships, privacy and secrecy are not only important in protecting space to be our individual selves, but also in building trust and safety in the relationship. Let us explain how! 

If you find this episode, or any of our other episodes, helpful to you, please share with those that you love! Let us know what you think about what you want us to talk about next by emailing us at [email protected]! 

In two weeks, we explore anxiety spraying in relationships! Later topics include: sex therapy, gender roles, parenting, self-acceptance, domestic violence, self-awareness in relationships, and so much more!

For more updates and helpful resources, follow us on Facebook at @RelationshipsInsideOutllc!

Some resources related to this episode:

• Why We Keep So Many Secrets
• How Much Relationship Privacy Do You Need?
• The Secrets That You Keep: Secrets and Relationship Quality
• When Do Your Secrets Hurt Your Well-Being

“My child is constantly melting down.”

“My child seems so anxious. I don’t know how to help them.”

“Why is my kiddo struggling so much at school, including with making friends?”

“I am worried about my child with our divorce. I don’t want to hurt her/him.”

Have you said any of these phrases, or similar phases, when talking about your child? Do you worry about your child’s mental health, social skills, reactivity, behaviors, or mood? You are not alone, but you and your child do not have to continue to struggle. There are therapists specifically for children here to help! 

Join us as we welcome another guest, Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist, Tracy Main! Tracy is a highly trained child therapist, specializing in the mental health care of our smallest family members, our children. She unpacks what play therapy is, when parents might consider adding this support to their family, and how play therapy can dramatically improve your child’s life (and your’s)! You do not want to miss this one! 

If you find this episode, or any of our other episodes, helpful to you, please share with those that you love! Let us know what you think about what you want us to talk about next by emailing us at [email protected]! 

In two weeks, we unpack privacy in relationships! Later topics include: sex therapy, secret keeping, gender roles, parenting, self-acceptance, domestic violence, self-awareness in relationships, and so much more!

For more updates and helpful resources, follow us on Facebook at @RelationshipsInsideOutllc!

Some resources related to this episode:

• What Is Play Therapy?
• Association for Play Therapy - find a play therapist
• Association for Play Therapy Research Resources
• An Overview of Play Therapy
• Play Therapy: Considerations and Applications for the Practitioner

We all have experienced past wounds from those around us, including friends, family, partners, coworkers, and our community. Those wounds often follow us for far longer than we recognize, shaping our future relationships, reactivity, thought patterns, trust, and much more. It is time to identify your relationship baggage and officially leave it behind! 

Join us as we talk about past baggage and how to let it go for good. Whether you have experienced trauma, rejection, betrayal, abandonment, hurt feelings, or simply failed expectations, chances are that these experiences alter how you enter into any new relationship or friendship. This does not have to be the case, and we are here to show you how!

If you find this episode, or any of our other episodes, helpful to you, please share with those that you love! Let us know what you think about what you want us to talk about next by emailing us at [email protected]!

In two weeks, we welcome another guest, Tracy Main, to discuss play therapy for our little family members! Later topics include: sex therapy, secret keeping, gender roles, parenting, self-acceptance, domestic violence, self-awareness in relationships, and so much more!

For more updates and helpful resources, follow us on Facebook at @RelationshipsInsideOutllc!

Some resources related to this episode:

• What Does the Term 'Emotional Baggage' Mean?
• Everyone Has Baggage, Including You
• Five Ways Our Relationship Baggage Can Be Beneficial
• How to Let Go of the Past

Valentine’s Day, the ultimate Hallmark holiday. We often use this day to go on a fancy date and say all the things we should have over the past year. We use it as a time to reconnect with our partner for a day, but then the holiday passes, and we are right back to where we started. Not this year! It is time to shake up this pattern and keep that spark alive long past February!  

Join us we help you keep your relationship connected, romantic, fun, and fulfilling beyond the Valentine’s Day bliss. Join us as we give tangible tools to reignite the spark in your relationship and give your relationship the focus it needs to keep it healthy and strong. If you are in a relationship, you need and deserve to hear this one! 

If you find this episode, or any of our other episodes, helpful to you, please share with those that you love! Let us know what you think about what you want us to talk about next by emailing us at [email protected]! 

In two weeks, we dive into past baggage and how it could be weighing you down in more ways than you recognize! Later topics include: sex therapy, secret keeping, gender roles, parenting, self-acceptance, domestic violence, self-awareness in relationships, and so much more!

For more updates and helpful resources, follow us on Facebook at @RelationshipsInsideOutllc!

Some resources related to this episode:

• How to Keep the Spark Alive in Your Romantic Relationship
• 7 Surprising Ways to Make Your Relationship Better
• How Routines Can Improve Your Relationship
• 13 Ways to Keep the Thrill in Your Relationship

Life is hard, leading to hard conversations. While it is not an experience any of us hope for, we may find ourselves serving as the deliverer of hard, traumatic, or critical information to another. To know how to have these conversations if often a skill we are not taught, but we are here to help, including with our children!

Join us as we breakdown the “how to” for having difficult conversations and breaking painful news to those we love. The challenges we may have to discuss can include death of a loved one, divorce, moving, medical crises, marital challenges, car accidents, and more. There is no right way to discuss these, but we are here to give you tools to approach conversations with intentionality, respect, and compassion. 

If you find this episode, or any of our other episodes, helpful to you, please share with those that you love! Let us know what you think about what you want us to talk about next by emailing us at [email protected]! 

In two weeks, we offer guidance and tips to reignite the spark in your relationship! Later topics include: parenting, self-acceptance, domestic violence, navigating milestones as a couple, how to have tough conversations, self-awareness in relationships, and so much more!

For more updates and helpful resources, follow us on Facebook at @RelationshipsInsideOutllc!

Some resources related to this episode:

• How to Have Difficult Talks About Your Marriage
• Strategies to Make Tough Conversations More Effective
• 7 Tips for Getting Through Difficult Conversations
• How to Handle Difficult Conversations Gracefully

Helicopter parenting: a buzz phrase with potentially serious implications on families. Helicopter parenting, or the choice to be high in control and surveillance as a parent, is often in reflection of love but risks the healthy development of children. Parents often fear for their children, including their safety and emotional well-being. When we take the desire for protection to a high level, we wade into the waters of helicopter parenting.

Join my colleague, Dr. Greg Seibert, LMFT, and I as we unpack helicopter parenting, including what it is, the risks of this parenting style, and ways to avoid leaning in this direction as a parent. We all love our children and want them to be safe and successful, but we must also allow them room to make mistakes, experience distress, and lead in their own autonomy. If you are a parent, you do not want to miss this one! 

If you find this episode, or any of our other episodes, helpful to you, please share with those that you love! Let us know what you think about what you want us to talk about next by emailing us at [email protected]! 

In two weeks, we will walk you through how to have tough conversations with those we love. Later topics include: parenting, self-acceptance, domestic violence, navigating milestones as a couple, how to have tough conversations, self-awareness in relationships, and so much more!

For more updates and helpful resources, follow us on Facebook at @RelationshipsInsideOutllc!

Some resources related to this episode:

• What Is Helicopter Parenting?
• What is Helicopter Parenting? Signs, Effects & Impacts
• Why Helicopter Parenting Fosters Failure
• No, Don't Be a Helicopter Parent. But Be Involved
• Why Perfectionists May Become Helicopter Parents
• How Not to Raise a Narcissist