Is your partner trying to help but totally missing the mark?

This episode in the Love After Kids series, breaks down why self-awareness is the foundation for feeling seen, supported, and connected in your marriage—especially after kids.

Let’s talk about what it really means to know your needs and express them clearly (without guilt or guessing games).

✨ Inside this episode:

• How self-awareness shifts your communication.
• Why you might feel unsupported—even when your partner is “trying.”
• How being in touch with your emotions helps deepen connection.
• What process groups are and why they build relationship skills.
• Ways to get clearer about what support actually looks like for you.

This is a must-listen if your relationship feels stuck and you’re ready for real connection again.

Helpful Links: 

Men's Group Waitlist 

Thank you so much for joining me this week on today's episode. Be sure to follow me on IG @therapy.with.kayla

I love hearing about your insights and aha! moments from the show. 

About the Podcast Host
Kayla Nettleton is a TX-based licensed therapist, business owner, and mom of 3.

In her private practice, Kayla helps women break free from cycles of anxiety, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. Her holistic approach guides clients toward authentic, fulfilling lives by reconnecting with their intuition, setting boundaries, and building confidence.

Kayla also works with couples, especially parents balancing marriage and family. She offers both traditional couples therapy and focused intensives (6 to 18 hours) to help partners address key issues like communication, trust, and intimacy.

Through empathy and effective therapeutic tools, Kayla helps couples reconnect, thrive, and create healthier, more supportive relationships. Her practice transforms self-doubt and disconnection into growth, healing, and lasting change.

Find Kayla on

IG: @therapy.with.kayla

TikTok: therapy.with.kayla

YouTube: The Modern Mom's Roadmap to Balance Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Free Consultation: Schedule a Free 20 minute therapy consultation here.

Ever feel like the spark is gone—but you’re not sure how to get it back?

This special episode from the Modern Mom's Roadmap to Balance Podcast was such an inspiration that we are re-releasing it for our Love After Kids series. In this episode, I sit down with Gottman-certified marriage coach Kameran Thompson Al-Areqi to talk about how couples can rebuild emotional safety and reconnect in a meaningful way—even if things feel strained right now.

✨In this episode, we dig into:

• How to rebuild trust when you feel disconnected.
• The surprising role of emotional bids in everyday conversations.
• Why your childhood impacts your marriage more than you think.
• What real repair looks like (and why it matters more than avoiding conflict).

🎧If you're navigating a rough patch or just want to be more intentional in your relationship, this one’s for you.

Helpful Links:

Website: https://recognizingpotential.com/

Find Kameran on Social Media
FB: Kameran Thompson

Other resources noted:

Fair Play by Eve Rodsky

Thank you so much for joining me this week on today's episode. Be sure to follow me on IG @therapy.with.kayla

I love hearing about your insights and aha! moments from the show. 

About the Podcast Host
Kayla Nettleton is a TX-based licensed therapist, business owner, and mom of 3.

In her private practice, Kayla helps women break free from cycles of anxiety, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. Her holistic approach guides clients toward authentic, fulfilling lives by reconnecting with their intuition, setting boundaries, and building confidence.

Kayla also works with couples, especially parents balancing marriage and family. She offers both traditional couples therapy and focused intensives (6 to 18 hours) to help partners address key issues like communication, trust, and intimacy.

Through empathy and effective therapeutic tools, Kayla helps couples reconnect, thrive, and create healthier, more supportive relationships. Her practice transforms self-doubt and disconnection into growth, healing, and lasting change.

Find Kayla on

IG: @therapy.with.kayla

TikTok: therapy.with.kayla

YouTube: The Modern Mom's Roadmap to Balance Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Free Consultation: Schedule a Free 20 minute therapy consultation here.

Good communication in relationships doesn’t mean always being nice or never arguing. It means being honest—even when it’s uncomfortable. In this episode in the Love After Kids series, we’re talking about how criticism and silence both get in the way of true connection—and what to do instead.

✨ Here’s what we’ll unpack:

• Why "If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all" may be terrible marriage advice.
• How to speak up without criticizing your partner.
• Why vulnerability builds deeper connection (even if it feels scary).
• How to start practicing healthier communication in your relationship today.

This episode is packed with relatable stories from Reddit and TV shows, actionable tools, and encouragement for anyone trying to strengthen their relationship—especially after kids.

Helpful Links: 

15 Emotional Needs Your Partner May Have, But Doesn't Know How to Say Out Loud Exercise (Questionnaire worksheet mentioned in this episode)

Thank you so much for joining me this week on today's episode. Be sure to follow me on IG @therapy.with.kayla

I love hearing about your insights and aha! moments from the show. 

About the Podcast Host
Kayla Nettleton is a TX-based licensed therapist, business owner, and mom of 3.

In her private practice, Kayla helps women break free from cycles of anxiety, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. Her holistic approach guides clients toward authentic, fulfilling lives by reconnecting with their intuition, setting boundaries, and building confidence.

Kayla also works with couples, especially parents balancing marriage and family. She offers both traditional couples therapy and focused intensives (6 to 18 hours) to help partners address key issues like communication, trust, and intimacy.

Through empathy and effective therapeutic tools, Kayla helps couples reconnect, thrive, and create healthier, more supportive relationships. Her practice transforms self-doubt and disconnection into growth, healing, and lasting change.

Find Kayla on

IG: @therapy.with.kayla

TikTok: therapy.with.kayla

YouTube: The Modern Mom's Roadmap to Balance Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Free Consultation: Schedule a Free 20 minute therapy consultation here.

Not sure if now’s the right time to start couples therapy? In this episode, Kayla breaks down why couples often wait too long—and why waiting could cost you more than you think.

💬 In this episode, we’ll talk about:

• Why couples therapy isn’t just for people on the verge of divorce.
• What the research says about how long couples wait to get support.
• How early therapy can prevent resentment from building.
• What good couples therapy actually looks like (and how it shouldn’t feel).
• A fitness analogy that will totally change how you view relationship help.

Whether you're feeling a little disconnected or completely stuck, this episode will help you take the first step.

Helpful Links:

TikTok video mentioned in this episode. 

Thank you so much for joining me this week on today's episode. Be sure to follow me on IG @therapy.with.kayla

I love hearing about your insights and aha! moments from the show. 

About the Podcast Host
Kayla Nettleton is a TX-based licensed therapist, business owner, and mom of 3.

In her private practice, Kayla helps women break free from cycles of anxiety, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. Her holistic approach guides clients toward authentic, fulfilling lives by reconnecting with their intuition, setting boundaries, and building confidence.

Kayla also works with couples, especially parents balancing marriage and family. She offers both traditional couples therapy and focused intensives (6 to 18 hours) to help partners address key issues like communication, trust, and intimacy.

Through empathy and effective therapeutic tools, Kayla helps couples reconnect, thrive, and create healthier, more supportive relationships. Her practice transforms self-doubt and disconnection into growth, healing, and lasting change.

Find Kayla on

IG: @therapy.with.kayla

TikTok: therapy.with.kayla

YouTube: The Modern Mom's Roadmap to Balance Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Free Consultation: Schedule a Free 20 minute therapy consultation here.

Ever find yourself wondering why your relationship doesn’t feel like what you imagined? Maybe it's not your partner or even your marriage—it might just be the expectations you’ve been holding onto.

In this episode, we dive into the sneaky ways unrealistic relationship expectations (thanks, rom-coms and social media!) can leave you feeling disconnected, disappointed, and unsure where to go next.

Here’s what we’ll explore:

• Why it’s so easy to expect more than we can name.
• How childhood, culture, and comparison shape our views of love.
• A simple tool you can use weekly to build real, sustainable connection.

If you’ve ever thought, “Shouldn’t it be easier than this?”—this episode is for you.

Helpful Links:

15 Emotional Needs Your Partner May Have, But Doesn't Know How to Say Out Loud Exercise (Questionnaire worksheet mentioned in this episode)

Thank you so much for joining me this week on today's episode. Be sure to follow me on IG @therapy.with.kayla

I love hearing about your insights and aha! moments from the show. 

About the Podcast Host
Kayla Nettleton is a TX-based licensed therapist, business owner, and mom of 3.

In her private practice, Kayla helps women break free from cycles of anxiety, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. Her holistic approach guides clients toward authentic, fulfilling lives by reconnecting with their intuition, setting boundaries, and building confidence.

Kayla also works with couples, especially parents balancing marriage and family. She offers both traditional couples therapy and focused intensives (6 to 18 hours) to help partners address key issues like communication, trust, and intimacy.

Through empathy and effective therapeutic tools, Kayla helps couples reconnect, thrive, and create healthier, more supportive relationships. Her practice transforms self-doubt and disconnection into growth, healing, and lasting change.

Find Kayla on

IG: @therapy.with.kayla

TikTok: therapy.with.kayla

YouTube: The Modern Mom's Roadmap to Balance Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Free Consultation: Schedule a Free 20 minute therapy consultation here.

Postpartum body image is one of the biggest silent struggles moms face—but you don’t have to carry it alone. In this week’s Love After Kids episode, I’m joined by therapist and women’s empowerment coach Alyssa Booth for a powerful conversation about healing your body image, especially after kids.

We talk about:
• How postpartum body image affects your confidence and connection with your partner.                                                                                                                                      • Why trying to “bounce back” often leads to more shame, not more self-love.
• How diet culture and perfectionism fuel mom guilt and burnout.
• What real self-acceptance looks like (and how it changes everything).

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and didn’t feel like yourself—or felt unworthy of intimacy because of how your body has changed—this is your episode. 💛

Helpful Links: 

Website: https://heyalyssabooth.com/

Social Media Handles:

IG: alyssabooth_lpc

Free FB Group: Empowered Body 

Thank you so much for joining me this week on today's episode. Be sure to follow me on IG @therapy.with.kayla

I love hearing about your insights and aha! moments from the show. 

About the Podcast Host
Kayla Nettleton is a TX-based licensed therapist, business owner, and mom of 3.

In her private practice, Kayla helps women break free from cycles of anxiety, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. Her holistic approach guides clients toward authentic, fulfilling lives by reconnecting with their intuition, setting boundaries, and building confidence.

Kayla also works with couples, especially parents balancing marriage and family. She offers both traditional couples therapy and focused intensives (6 to 18 hours) to help partners address key issues like communication, trust, and intimacy.

Through empathy and effective therapeutic tools, Kayla helps couples reconnect, thrive, and create healthier, more supportive relationships. Her practice transforms self-doubt and disconnection into growth, healing, and lasting change.

Find Kayla on

IG: @therapy.with.kayla

TikTok: therapy.with.kayla

YouTube: The Modern Mom's Roadmap to Balance Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Free Consultation: Schedule a Free 20 minute therapy consultation here.

If you’ve ever been told, “I’m just not good at that,” when asking your partner to help around the house—this episode is for you. In this solo episode of the Love After Kids series, host Kayla Nettleton gets real about a topic that’s been buzzing online and showing up quietly in marriages everywhere: weaponized incompetence. What started as a playful reel on Instagram quickly turned into a deeper conversation when followers pointed out how common—and harmful—this dynamic really is. We’re digging into weaponized incompetence—what it looks like, why it happens (spoiler: it’s not always intentional), and how it chips away at trust and connection in relationships.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What weaponized incompetence really is (and isn’t).
• Why it often leads to resentment and disconnection.
• How to start setting boundaries and having honest conversations without sparking defensiveness.
• Real-life examples of how this dynamic shows up in marriage.

✨ Whether you’re a mom doing everything or a therapist supporting couples, this conversation is a must-listen.

Helpful Links:

IG Reel and TikTok mentioned in this episode:

IG Reel

TikTok

Thank you so much for joining me this week on today's episode. Be sure to follow me on IG @therapy.with.kayla

I love hearing about your insights and aha! moments from the show. 

About the Podcast Host
Kayla Nettleton is a TX-based licensed therapist, business owner, and mom of 3.

In her private practice, Kayla helps women break free from cycles of anxiety, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. Her holistic approach guides clients toward authentic, fulfilling lives by reconnecting with their intuition, setting boundaries, and building confidence.

Kayla also works with couples, especially parents balancing marriage and family. She offers both traditional couples therapy and focused intensives (6 to 18 hours) to help partners address key issues like communication, trust, and intimacy.

Through empathy and effective therapeutic tools, Kayla helps couples reconnect, thrive, and create healthier, more supportive relationships. Her practice transforms self-doubt and disconnection into growth, healing, and lasting change.

Find Kayla on

IG: @therapy.with.kayla

TikTok: therapy.with.kayla

YouTube: The Modern Mom's Roadmap to Balance Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Free Consultation: Schedule a Free 20 minute therapy consultation here.

It’s easy to believe that if you and your partner could just communicate better everything would fall into place. But what if communication isn’t the real problem? Ever catch yourself thinking, "Why can't my relationship look like theirs?" In this episode of Love After Kids series, I’m talking about something so many of us do without even realizing it — comparing our relationship to others. 

We’ll chat about why comparison is so tempting (especially on social media), how it can quietly erode connection in your relationship, and what to focus on instead. 

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How to start creating a relationship where you both feel seen and heard again. 

• Why comparison shows up most in motherhood and marriage.

• How social media can create unrealistic expectations.

• A mindset shift to create a relationship that actually works for you. 

This episode is your reminder that the healthiest relationships aren’t picture-perfect — they’re built with intention, communication, and a whole lot of grace. 

🎧 Tune in now!

Thank you so much for joining me this week on today's episode. Be sure to follow me on IG @therapy.with.kayla

I love hearing about your insights and aha! moments from the show. 

About the Podcast Host
Kayla Nettleton is a TX-based licensed therapist, business owner, and mom of 3.

In her private practice, Kayla helps women break free from cycles of anxiety, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. Her holistic approach guides clients toward authentic, fulfilling lives by reconnecting with their intuition, setting boundaries, and building confidence.

Kayla also works with couples, especially parents balancing marriage and family. She offers both traditional couples therapy and focused intensives (6 to 18 hours) to help partners address key issues like communication, trust, and intimacy.

Through empathy and effective therapeutic tools, Kayla helps couples reconnect, thrive, and create healthier, more supportive relationships. Her practice transforms self-doubt and disconnection into growth, healing, and lasting change.

Find Kayla on

IG: @therapy.with.kayla

TikTok: therapy.with.kayla

YouTube: The Modern Mom's Roadmap to Balance Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Free Consultation: Schedule a Free 20 minute therapy consultation here.

Motherhood is overwhelming enough—so when your relationship feels out of sync too, it can feel like you're crumbling under the weight of it all. In this episode of the Love After Kids series, I sit down with somatic therapist Kim Torrence to talk about what happens when you're trying to be a great mom and a great partner—and losing parts of yourself in the process.

In this conversation, we explore what balance really means, how burnout sneaks into our relationships, and how the path to deeper connection often starts with reconnecting with ourselves.

✨ Here’s what we unpack:

• What “balance” actually looks and feels like—and why it’s different for every mom.
• How to tell when you’re out of alignment in your relationship.
• Tools to build self-awareness and practice nervous system regulation.
• Why getting curious about your anxiety can create more peace (and even better sleep!).
• How tending to your inner world leads to more connection in your partnership.

This one’s a deep exhale for the moms carrying it all. 💛

Helpful Links:

Website: https://kimtorrence.com/

Recommended Podcast Episodes: 

Spotify: Episode 61 & Episode 62

Apple Podcasts: Episode 61 & Episode 62

YouTube: Episode 61 & Episode 62

Thank you so much for joining me this week on today's episode. Be sure to follow me on IG @therapy.with.kayla

I love hearing about your insights and aha! moments from the show. 

About the Podcast Host
Kayla Nettleton is a TX-based licensed therapist, business owner, and mom of 3.

In her private practice, Kayla helps women break free from cycles of anxiety, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. Her holistic approach guides clients toward authentic, fulfilling lives by reconnecting with their intuition, setting boundaries, and building confidence.

Kayla also works with couples, especially parents balancing marriage and family. She offers both traditional couples therapy and focused intensives (6 to 18 hours) to help partners address key issues like communication, trust, and intimacy.

Through empathy and effective therapeutic tools, Kayla helps couples reconnect, thrive, and create healthier, more supportive relationships. Her practice transforms self-doubt and disconnection into growth, healing, and lasting change.

Find Kayla on

IG: @therapy.with.kayla

TikTok: therapy.with.kayla

YouTube: The Modern Mom's Roadmap to Balance Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Free Consultation: Schedule a Free 20 minute therapy consultation here.

In this solo episode, Kayla opens up about the silent struggle so many couples face after becoming parents—losing connection in the chaos of raising kids. If your marriage has taken a backseat to parenting, you’re not alone. 

What you’ll hear in this episode: 

• Why pouring everything into your kids can hurt your relationship 
• How to reclaim time and intimacy with your partner 
• Simple ways to nurture your marriage, even with a packed schedule 

This is your gentle reminder that you and your relationship still matter. 

🎧 Tune in now!

Thank you so much for joining me this week on today's episode. Be sure to follow me on IG @therapy.with.kayla

I love hearing about your insights and aha! moments from the show. 

About the Podcast Host
Kayla Nettleton is a TX-based licensed therapist, business owner, and mom of 3.

In her private practice, Kayla helps women break free from cycles of anxiety, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. Her holistic approach guides clients toward authentic, fulfilling lives by reconnecting with their intuition, setting boundaries, and building confidence.

Kayla also works with couples, especially parents balancing marriage and family. She offers both traditional couples therapy and focused intensives (6 to 18 hours) to help partners address key issues like communication, trust, and intimacy.

Through empathy and effective therapeutic tools, Kayla helps couples reconnect, thrive, and create healthier, more supportive relationships. Her practice transforms self-doubt and disconnection into growth, healing, and lasting change.

Find Kayla on

IG: @therapy.with.kayla

TikTok: therapy.with.kayla

YouTube: The Modern Mom's Roadmap to Balance Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Free Consultation: Schedule a Free 20 minute therapy consultation here.