Desiree's father passed away from cancer about a year ago, but in recent months, her mom has joined multiple dating apps and started going on several dates a week. Desiree understands that everyone grieves differently and knows her mom has been lonely, but she can't shake the feeling that her mother is moving on too quickly. Seeing her get excited about the attention she's receiving from strangers has left Desiree feeling hurt, conflicted, and even betrayed. At the same time, she genuinely wants her mom to be happy. Now she's turning to Sarah and the crew for help sorting through these complicated emotions.

In our second session, Phoebe married young and spent 16 years with her ex-husband, Ryan. Four years after their divorce, Ryan suffered a serious medical emergency—and Phoebe was still listed as his emergency contact. Seeing him in the hospital brought a flood of old feelings rushing back, and the two have since resumed contact. The complication? Phoebe is now engaged to Greg. As her connection with Ryan deepens, she finds herself torn between a past love she thought was behind her and the future she's built with her fiancé. Unsure where her heart truly belongs, Phoebe is searching for a way forward without hurting the people she cares about.

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Rachel recently discovered that her fiancé has been secretly paying his ex-girlfriend Vanessa’s rent from their joint account for almost a year. He says Vanessa fell on hard times after losing her job and swears there’s nothing inappropriate going on between them. According to him, he only kept it from Rachel because he knew she wouldn’t understand. But for Rachel, the betrayal runs deeper than the secrecy and the shared money being spent on another woman: they’re supposed to be saving for their wedding.Her fiancé argues that Vanessa has no one else to turn to, and that helping her is a reflection of his character. But is this generosity or a major breach of trust?

How should Rachel handle what feels like extreme financial infidelity and the fact that her fiancé is framing it as moral high ground? Could this “charity” spill into other parts of their relationship? Is Rachel being too harsh, or just setting reasonable boundaries? Sarah, Ellen, and Ryan weigh in to help Rachel make sense of this complicated situation.

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Amanda and her husband, Tyler, both work for the same company. After Amanda is promoted, she suddenly finds herself in the uncomfortable position of managing her own spouse. While Tyler was initially supportive, his behavior has shifted: he’s now distant at work and at home, where frequent arguments often spiral into clashes over what he sees as a lack of respect for him as a man. At the same time, one of Amanda’s employees, Brandon, has been consistently encouraging and supportive, and she finds herself increasingly drawn to his company. Feeling caught between her husband’s growing resentment and her own complicated emotions, Amanda turns to Sarah for guidance on how to navigate her marriage, her role as a boss, and her emerging attraction to Brandon.

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Trina’s best friend, Misty, has broken one of the biggest unspoken rules in the friendship handbook: she’s dating Trina’s long-term ex-boyfriend, Brandon. Even though Trina was the one who ended the relationship and things ended amicably, it still hurts. Misty was there for all the post-breakup drinks and ugly cries, but when Trina confronted her, Misty stood her ground, saying that Trina was the one who dumped him and Brandon is fair game now. Even Trina’s mom thinks she needs to let it go or risk losing both of them. Should Misty have told Trina about her feelings first? And is Trina justified in feeling hurt and uncomfortable?

In our second session, Aaron, 28, has fallen hard for Abby, 50. She’s brilliant, independent, adventurous and unlike anyone he’s ever met before. After nine months of dates that felt straight out of a movie, Abby ended things. She doesn’t see a future and doesn’t want to invest more time in something she believes won’t last. She wants Aaron to find someone closer to his own age, but Aaron doesn’t want anyone else. He wants Abby. Should he respect her decision and walk away or fight for the relationship?

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Anita has recently lost weight, her confidence is soaring and she's even started dating a new guy that she met through a hiking club. But when her friend Linda posted a slideshow of their favorite memories together, Anita noticing a troubling pattern: every photo was from before Anita's weight loss. Was this an innocent oversight or does Linda feel threatened by Anita's transformation? Should Anita take the high road and let it go, or should she confront Linda head-on?

In our second session, Roberto is regular at Ojos Locos, a sports bar where the servers are scantily clad and very flirtatious, that he's frequented for years with his friends. But now that he's engaged, his fiancé Kimber is uncomfortable with how much time he spends there and with his single friends. Roberto wants to hold on to his independence, while Kimber wants to protect their relationship, which are both valid. Is there a compromise that leaves everyone feeling respected and happy?

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Diana’s sister, Lyla, and her husband Marcus, appear to have a picture‑perfect marriage and family, at least from the outside. But Diana has never trusted Marcus, largely because of his charming, flirtatious personality. During a visit, Diana borrowed Marcus’s iPad and discovered several inappropriate messages between him and another woman. She immediately told Lyla, and now the marriage is in free fall, with divorce looming. The problem? The rest of the family is divided over whether Diana did the right thing. Should she have kept it to herself for the sake of her sister’s family and allowed Lyla to live in blissful ignorance or was telling the truth the only option? 

In our second session, Kim is dating Micah, a highly successful man who travels 245 days a year for work. Kim enjoys the perks of his lifestyle: staying in his beachfront home, driving luxury cars, and being showered with gifts and jewelry. But despite all of that, she feels deeply lonely because of his constant travel. Adding to her unease, she rarely knows exactly where he’s going or who he’s meeting, and his extreme charm only heightens her concerns. While Kim’s friends think she’s crazy to question such an enviable lifestyle, she feels she’s missing the one thing she wants most: time with Micah.

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Two of Darren’s adult children have moved back in with him after rough breakups. He loves having them close, but they’re not contributing financially, and it’s starting to strain things. Darren wants to support his kids without feeling taken advantage of, so he turns to Sarah for advice on how to ask them to pitch in and become more self‑sufficient.

Our second caller is Dawn, who’s been divorced three times and has turned to a matchmaker to help her find Mr. Right. So far, though, every match has been a bust—too short, too skinny, too hairy, you name it. Is Dawn being too picky, or is the matchmaker cashing checks and missing the mark?

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Amanda is dating an amazing man named Eduardo. He treats her wonderfully, and their physical chemistry is undeniable, but there’s one major problem: he’s married with two kids. They sneak away on secret weekend getaways and even meet up in empty parking lots, but Amanda is starting to wonder how long this double life can really last. Eduardo keeps promising that he’ll leave his wife for her, but the question is no longer whether he will, it’s how long Amanda is willing to live in limbo while she waits.

In our second session, Savannah attends a work party and finds herself in an unexpectedly flirtatious conversation with her boss’s attractive husband, who seems to be giving her a little too much attention. When her boss overhears, the atmosphere at work shifts. Ever since, Savannah has been met with the cold shoulder, and it escalates when her boss gives her an incorrect project deadline, causing Savannah to turn in her work a full week late. Now Savannah is stuck wondering how to handle the fallout. Should she address the issue directly with her boss, involve HR, or let it go and hope things settle down on their own?

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Torri is engaged to Daniel, so why can't she stop thinking about his brother? After a one-on-one dinner with Marcus sent sparks flying, she's left wondering if this is a red flag, a setup, or just bad timing. Was Marcus out of line, or did Daniel orchestrate the whole thing as some kind of loyalty test? Our hosts Ellen and Ryan and resident therapist Sarah unpack the family drama, the gray areas, and the very complicated feelings.

Then in our second session, Anna has lost the spark with her husband, but she's found it with a hot firefighter on Instagram (who has no idea she exists). Is it harmless to fantasize about someone you've never met IRL? And more importantly, can anything actually reignite attraction in a long-term relationship, or is the flame just... out?

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“Therapy Thursday,” the beloved weekly segment from KOST 103.5 FM’s The Ellen K Morning Show, is now a podcast! Each episode features licensed therapist Sarah Dash offering free, on-air advice to listeners navigating personal challenges, relationship struggles, and everyday stress. With years of clinical experience and a warm, compassionate approach, Sarah creates a safe space for honest conversation and meaningful guidance. Hosts Ellen K and Ryan Manno join in with their thoughtful insights, candid reactions, and signature on-air chemistry, bringing heart, humor, and perspective to every discussion.

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