You know that moment when you're frustrated — at your spouse, your boss, your mom — and you just need to tell them how mad you are? Same.

But here’s the hard truth: venting isn’t the same as problem-solving. And if we don’t slow down and figure out what we actually want, nothing changes.

This episode is all about that one simple shift that can transform your relationships. I’m sharing a recent (and very real) argument with my husband that forced me to face my own bad habits—and the uncomfortable truth that emotional expression isn’t the same as fixing the problem. You’ll hear:

• Why knowing what you want before a tough conversation changes everything.
• The reason venting often backfires (even when you just need to be heard).
• How to ask for what you actually need — without getting shut down or ignored.
• The biggest mistake most of us make in conflict (and how to stop doing it).

If you’ve ever felt unheard, dismissed, or stuck in the same fights over and over, this episode is for you. Let’s talk about how to get real change—at home, at work, and everywhere in between.

Want to hear the original episode that inspired this reflection, listen here: I Feel Like I'm to Blame for Our Lack of Sex Life

Just a reminder, in this busy season of life and business, I'll be releasing episodes every other week (want the deets? Listen here).

If you want to stay connected between episodes, make sure you’re on my email list—where I share thoughts, updates, and behind-the-scenes moments I don’t always talk about on the podcast.

🔗 Join My Email List: https://www.andreaburkly.com/signup

💌 Have a relationship question you’d like featured on the show? Fill out the Sounds Like Therapy Listener Survey - there is a submission box at the end of the short survey where you can write in your question.

📣 Loved this episode? Leave a 5-star review and share it with a friend (or five!)

🎙 Tune in in two weeks for real-life relationship questions, insight that builds empathy, and practical steps to create happier, healthier relationships.

Disclaimer: while this podcast sounds like therapy, it is not actually therapy nor is it a substitute for therapy, and while I am a therapist, I am not YOUR therapist. Please be entertained and encouraged, and seek appropriate mental health support from a licensed therapist in your community, if necessary.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when you’re in love, but your family isn’t? If you’ve ever had to navigate family drama over a partner, this one’s for you.

This week, I’m joined by my sister Sharon (aka Sissy) to tackle a question from a listener whose introverted boyfriend is struggling to win over her extroverted family.

Her family thinks he’s too quiet—to the point that her sister says she forgets he’s even there. Meanwhile, she sees a totally different side of him and feels stuck between the people she loves.

So, what should she do? Push her boyfriend to be more social? Tell her family to back off? Or just hope things smooth out over time on their own?

In this episode, we cover:

✅ The real reason her family is struggling with her boyfriend’s personality

✅ Whether it actually matters if your family approves of your partner

✅ How to support an introverted partner in a loud, opinionated family

✅ What she can ask of him (and what she shouldn’t expect)

✅ Why it’s crucial to establish boundaries with family before marriage

Plus, Sharon and I share a few personal stories—including one where I was very skeptical of her now-husband. (Spoiler: I was wrong!)

Just a reminder, in this busy season of life and business, I'll be releasing episodes every other week (want the deets? Listen here).

If you want to stay connected between episodes, make sure you’re on my email list—where I share thoughts, updates, and behind-the-scenes moments I don’t always talk about on the podcast.

🔗 Join My Email List: https://www.andreaburkly.com/signup

💌 Have a relationship question you’d like featured on the show? Fill out the Sounds Like Therapy Listener Survey and share your story.

📣 Loved this episode? Leave a 5-star review and share it with a friend (or five!)

🎙 Tune in in two weeks for real-life relationship questions, insight that builds empathy, and practical steps to create happier, healthier relationships.

Disclaimer: while this podcast sounds like therapy, it is not actually therapy nor is it a substitute for therapy, and while I am a therapist, I am not YOUR therapist. Please be entertained and encouraged, and seek appropriate mental health support from a licensed therapist in your community, if necessary.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m doing something a little different today. Instead of answering a listener question, I want to bring you behind the scenes of my life and work—because there are some big changes happening.

For a long time, I’ve been balancing my therapy practice, this podcast, my family, and my dreams for what’s next. And honestly? It’s been a lot. Like so many of you, I’ve found myself trying to do everything at once, refusing to put anything down, and running into the same wall over and over again.

So today, I’m sharing why I’ve made a tough decision: for this next season - at least the next few months - this podcast will be airing every other week. I’m taking a step back—not because I want to do less, but because I want to do more in a way that’s sustainable and impactful.

And I want to invite you to reflect on your own life, too: Is there something you need to adjust, uncommit from, or rework so that you can move forward in a way that actually works?

In this episode, I’ll talk about:

✅ The reality of trying to build something big while managing real life

✅ The hard truth about why we resist scaling back

✅ A challenge for you to rethink what you’re holding onto

Plus: If you want to stay connected between episodes, make sure you’re on my email list—where I share thoughts, updates, and behind-the-scenes moments I don’t always talk about on the podcast.

🔗 Join My Email List: https://www.andreaburkly.com/signup

💌 Have a relationship question you’d like featured on the show? Fill out the Sounds Like Therapy Listener Survey and share your story.

📣 Loved this episode? Leave a 5-star review and share it with a friend (or five!)

🎙 Tune in in two weeks for real-life relationship questions, insight that builds empathy, and practical steps to create happier, healthier relationships.

Disclaimer: while this podcast sounds like therapy, it is not actually therapy nor is it a substitute for therapy, and while I am a therapist, I am not YOUR therapist. Please be entertained and encouraged, and seek appropriate mental health support from a licensed therapist in your community, if necessary.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Valentine’s Day is here, and if you and your spouse are feeling more like roommates than lovers, you are not alone.

In this episode, I sit down with listener Allie, who bravely shares her story of feeling disconnected in her marriage—something so many couples experience, especially after kids. She and her husband are caught in the classic standoff: she needs emotional connection to feel physical desire, and he needs physical intimacy to feel emotionally close. Sound familiar?

We unpack why modern relationships struggle in this way, why you shouldn’t blame yourself (or your partner), and—most importantly—how to move forward together. If you’re feeling stuck in the roommate phase, this episode is your roadmap out.

PLUS: I’ve created a free guide to help you and your partner start strengthening your partnership in just 20 minutes a week. It’s available exclusively for Sounds Like Therapy listeners, so grab it now!

🔗 Get the Free Guide: https://www.andreaburkly.com/partnerbetter

💌 Have a relationship question you’d like featured on the show? Fill out the Sounds Like Therapy Listener Survey and share your story.

📣 Loved this episode? Leave a 5-star review and share it with a friend (or five!)

🎙 Tune in next week for real-life relationship questions, insight that builds empathy, and practical steps to create happier, healthier relationships.

Disclaimer: while this podcast sounds like therapy, it is not actually therapy nor is it a substitute for therapy, and while I am a therapist, I am not YOUR therapist. Please be entertained and encouraged, and seek appropriate mental health support from a licensed therapist in your community, if necessary.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all want intimacy, connection, and partnership in our marriages—but what if we’ve been going about it the wrong way? In this episode, I break down why so many modern couples struggle after having kids, why emotional connection alone isn’t enough, and the one thing that must come first if you want a happier marriage. Spoiler: It’s not romance or communication—it’s good partnering.

If your relationship has felt unbalanced, if you’re keeping score, feeling resentful, or constantly arguing about “who does more,” this episode is for you. I’ll explain why we bring 21st-century desires to marriage with 20th-century skills, and why we must learn how to run our homes like a well-oiled team before we can ever hope for deep emotional intimacy.

PLUS: I’ve created a free guide to help you and your partner start strengthening your partnership in just 20 minutes a week. It’s available exclusively for Sounds Like Therapy listeners, so grab it now!

🔗 Get the Free Guide: https://www.andreaburkly.com/partnerbetter

💌 Have a relationship question you’d like featured on the show? Fill out the Sounds Like Therapy Listener Survey and share your story.

📣 Loved this episode? Leave a 5-star review and share it with a friend (or five!)

🎙 Tune in next week for real-life relationship questions, insight that builds empathy, and practical steps to create happier, healthier relationships.

Disclaimer: while this podcast sounds like therapy, it is not actually therapy nor is it a substitute for therapy, and while I am a therapist, I am not YOUR therapist. Please be entertained and encouraged, and seek appropriate mental health support from a licensed therapist in your community, if necessary.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve ever tried to set limits on your kid’s phone use and ended up in an argument, you’re not alone. One listener reached out with a common parenting dilemma: her 13-year-old son is glued to his phone, has unrestricted access to social media, and spends his free time either on his phone or playing Fortnite. She wants to set boundaries—but she also doesn’t want him to be mad at her for doing it.

In this episode, we tackle the uncomfortable truth about setting tech limits: there will be pushback, and that’s okay. I break down exactly how to approach this in a way that protects your relationship while making boundaries clear and enforceable. We talk about why relying on a teen’s self-control is a losing game (for all of us, honestly), how to set limits that actually work, and how to shift the conversation from control to connection.

You’ll Learn:

✔️ The four types of tech limits every parent should consider

✔️ Why boredom is actually good for your kid—and how to help them push through it

✔️ How to frame tech boundaries in a way that fosters responsibility, not just obedience

✔️ The surprising way humor and social media can help teens think critically about their own screen use

If you’ve been feeling exhausted from the constant power struggles over tech, this episode is for you. Let’s dive in.

💌 Have a relationship question you’d like featured on the show? Fill out the Sounds Like Therapy Listener Survey and share your story.

📣 Loved this episode? Leave a 5-star review and mention how this listener's question resonated with you - you might just help someone else feel less alone.

🎙 Tune in next week for real-life relationship questions, insight that builds empathy, and practical steps to create happier, healthier relationships.

Disclaimer: while this podcast sounds like therapy, it is not actually therapy nor is it a substitute for therapy, and while I am a therapist, I am not YOUR therapist. Please be entertained and encouraged, and seek appropriate mental health support from a licensed therapist in your community, if necessary.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebuilding after an affair is one of the hardest challenges a marriage can face.

In this episode, I tackle a deeply personal question from a listener who’s navigating the aftermath of her husband’s infidelity. She’s a working mom of two who’s been blindsided by her partner’s affair and is grappling with intrusive thoughts, unanswered "why’s," and the emotional toll of rebuilding trust. Together, we unpack what early recovery looks like, why intrusive thoughts are normal (and how to manage them), and the steps both partners need to take to heal and rebuild.

I also dive into why the season of raising young kids is so hard on marriages, how betrayal can shake us to the core, and why healing requires empathy and understanding from both partners—even when one bears the sole responsibility for stepping outside the marriage. Whether you’ve experienced an affair in your own life or are seeking insight into relationship challenges, this episode is a compassionate guide to finding your way forward.

💌 Have a relationship question you’d like featured on the show? Fill out the Sounds Like Therapy Listener Survey and share your story.

📣 Loved this episode? Leave a 5-star review and mention how this listener's question resonated with you - you might just help someone else feel less alone.

🎙 Tune in next week for real-life relationship questions, insight that builds empathy, and practical steps to create happier, healthier relationships.

Disclaimer: while this podcast sounds like therapy, it is not actually therapy nor is it a substitute for therapy, and while I am a therapist, I am not YOUR therapist. Please be entertained and encouraged, and seek appropriate mental health support from a licensed therapist in your community, if necessary.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do we teach our children to love themselves when we’re still working on loving ourselves? In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with a listener navigating her own body insecurities while raising a daughter who looks just like her. Together, we explore the journey of healing, breaking the cycle of negative self-talk, and modeling self-acceptance for the next generation.

💌 Have a relationship question you’d like featured on the show? Fill out the Sounds Like Therapy Listener Survey and share your story.

📣 Loved this episode? Leave a 5-star review and mention how this listener's question resonated with you - you might just help someone else feel less alone.

🎙 Tune in next week for real-life relationship questions, insight that builds empathy, and practical steps to create happier, healthier relationships.

Disclaimer: while this podcast sounds like therapy, it is not actually therapy nor is it a substitute for therapy, and while I am a therapist, I am not YOUR therapist. Please be entertained and encouraged, and seek appropriate mental health support from a licensed therapist in your community, if necessary.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feeling the New Year's pressure to overhaul your whole life, right now? Let’s rethink that.

After a too-short December and a too-long holiday break, New Years is coming in HOT with some be-more-do-better energy... and it feels like I'm already falling behind in 2025 (and it's only January 7th!).

Can you relate?

Instead of signing up for the slew of goals our society sets for us - the leanest body, biggest work accomplishments, most money, BEST YEAR YET! - I'm trying something a little bit different:

• Taking a breath.
• Looking back.
• And using my personal highs, lows, and new self-knowledge to set the course for a truly tailored approach to the new year.

And I'm inviting you to do the same.

It's not your typical to do list to level up. Instead, it's a mindful way to set an intention for the year to come.

If you’re ready to set goals that feel good, not forced, this episode is for you.

We'll be back to listener questions next week, so make sure that you're subscribed to the show so you don't miss a minute!

💌 Have a relationship question you’d like featured on the show? Fill out the Sounds Like Therapy Listener Survey and share your story.

📣 Loved this episode? Leave a 5-star review and mention how this little wellness check resonated with you - you might just help someone else (ME!) feel less alone.

🎙 Tune in next week for real-life relationship questions, insight that builds empathy, and practical steps to create happier, healthier relationships.

Disclaimer: while this podcast sounds like therapy, it is not actually therapy nor is it a substitute for therapy, and while I am a therapist, I am not YOUR therapist. Please be entertained and encouraged, and seek appropriate mental health support from a licensed therapist in your community, if necessary.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HOLD THE PHONE! If you're feeling tempted to reconnect with estranged family members because it's the hollliiiiddddaaaayyyysss, you are not alone!

Maybe it's the twinkle lights. The traditions. The third glass of your mother's favorite wine. Or... worst of all... the hope that the season brings. But for some reason, the relationship boundaries that seem so clear during the rest of the year can get cloudy during the holidays.

But before you send the familial equivalent of "U up?" to your estranged family members...

Listen in as I tackle a question from a listener, Sarah, who wants to know if she should encourage her husband to reach out to his parents, who cut off contact from the family earlier this year. She asks:

• Should we be in contact with our parents, on behalf of our children, so that they have a grandparent relationship?
• Can disappointing parents be good grandparents?
• If the estrangement continues, what should we say to our children when they ask why they never see their grandparents?

In this episode, I cover:

• How family cutoffs can be particularly painful during the holidays
• How to recognize emotional immaturity in your parents (or anyone else!)
• That emotional immaturity in parents can lead to harmful dynamics for their children and grandchildren
• That setting boundaries is crucial when dealing with emotionally immature family members
• That it's natural to yearn for family connections, but not all relationships are healthy
• That coping with family estrangement requires grounding oneself in reality
• That finding comfort in oneself and one's immediate family is essential when dealing with emotionally immature family members, or dealing with a family estrangement

💌 Have a relationship question you’d like featured on the show? Fill out the Sounds Like Therapy Listener Survey and share your story.

📣 Loved this episode? Leave a 5-star review and mention how Sarah's call resonated with you - you might just help someone else feel less alone.

🎙 Tune in next week for real-life relationship questions, insight that builds empathy, and practical steps to create happier, healthier relationships.

Disclaimer: while this podcast sounds like therapy, it is not actually therapy nor is it a substitute for therapy, and while I am a therapist, I am not YOUR therapist. Please be entertained and encouraged, and seek appropriate mental health support from a licensed therapist in your community, if necessary.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.