Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Have you ever wondered if focusing too much on your kids might be pulling you away from your partner? Join us as we unravel this intricate conundrum through the lens of Regina and Sebastian, a couple attempting to juggle the needs of their relationship with the demand…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Unlock the secrets to a stronger parenting partnership as we explore the intricate interplay of trust and communication in relationships. What happens when differing parenting styles collide, especially during nighttime duties? Join us to uncover how real-life couple …

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Have you ever found yourself caught in a whirlwind of negative banter with your partner, wondering how it all escalated so quickly? Join us as we explore the pitfalls of critical behavior in relationships through the story of Janelle and Hector. This episode reveals h…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. What happens to intimacy when children enter the picture? Many parents find themselves asking this question, and we're here to provide some insights. Join us, Dr. Stephen and Erin Mitchell, as we untangle the complex web of maintaining a healthy sex life post-kids. Th…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Have you ever had a fight with your partner that left you both feeling distant and unsure of how to reconnect? In this episode of Couples Counseling for Parents, Erin and Dr. Stephen Mitchell dive deep into the art of repairing after conflict. Using the relatable stor…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. In today's episode, Stephen and Erin tackle the feeling many couples experience after kids—that sinking thought that "maybe I’ll never feel truly loved or appreciated." Using the high-stress periods of pregnancy and birth as a case study, they break down how partners …

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. One of the most complex relationships to navigate for parenting partners is relationships with their parents and in-laws. What can parenting partners do to have healthy relationships with their parents/in-laws and give their kids strong relationship with grandparents?…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Does talking about emotions matter? We see so many couples were one partner's primary complaint is that their partner cannot talk about how they feel. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss whether talking about emotions matters and what couples can do …

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Is the preoccupied attachment style really just needy? We examine how childhood experiences shape adult relationships, focusing on preoccupied attachment. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss what preoccupied attachment is, how it impacts a couple rel…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Ever wondered if an avoidant partner can truly connect emotionally? We examine how childhood experiences shape adult relationships, focusing on avoidant attachment. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss what avoidant attachment is, how it impacts a cou…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. There are three questions that parenting partners are asking one another every day. They might not be asking them directly but in their conflict, in their frustration, in their stress these are the questions that underline all of these interactions. Stephen Mitchell, …

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. It's something most parenting partners feel but no one really talks about: Loneliness. That's right. Many parenting partners find themselves feeling lonely during the parenting years and it can be hard to talk about with your partner. This feeling of loneliness can al…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. If your partner has ever been pregnant. If you have ever had a partner in the postpartum phase of parenting. If you are a parent period. You need to hear this! Being aware of the impact of pregnancy and postpartum on your partner's body matters. Even if you are beyond…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. No one likes having the default parent conversation because it typically ends up in both partners getting frustrated and going to their separate corners. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell MACP help you understand how to have the conversation differently and in a…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Have you ever caught yourself wondering how the spark you once had with your partner could disappear so fast? Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss how the "little" moments of everyday parenting life can lead to disconnection, and how these "little" mo…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Discover a refreshing take on love and commitment as Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP sit down with Nate and Kaley Klemp, authors of "The 80/80 Marriage." https://www.8080marriage.com/Oleh Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. We hear it all the time, "My partner cares more about their job than our family." Or "My partner's job gets the best parts of them and we get what's left over at home." Work is something that happens everyday and is big source of conflict and hurt in parenting partner…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. What do you do when you think your partner's mental health is negatively impacting your family? How do you bring it up? What if your partner dismisses your concerns? Join Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP as we shed light on the profound impact that condit…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Every relationship faces the siege of stress, but how we navigate through this inevitable reality makes all the difference. Imagine this case example: Josh, retreating into his shell under the pressure of life's stress, leaves Lindsay spinning plates to maintain the f…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Every parenting partnership has its struggles, but when ADHD is in the mix, it's like navigating an intricate dance of dopamine, interest, and misunderstanding. Katy Weber shares her wisdom on fostering teamwork in a couple relationship impacted by ADHD and reframing …

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Feeling like you're paddling a two-person canoe alone can be exhausting, but it's a situation commonly felt in parenting partner relationships. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss how this dynamic happens in parenting partner relationships and how pa…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. On our latest podcast, we're joined by Rachel and Marley Shepard -Ohta from HeySleepyBaby, who share their experience navigating the wild ride that is understanding kids and sleep. Join Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP as they share this dynamic and insig…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Erin Mitchell, MACP and Stephen Mitchell, PhD unwrap the complexities of parenthood and its impact on couples. We crack open the often-misunderstood narrative that children are the wrecking ball of romance, with a sprinkle of humor and personal tales like Stephen's ow…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Ready to unravel the knotty issue of resentment lurking in your relationship? Today, we're stripping down and tackling this common, yet often unspoken, issue that silently strains and stresses many parenting partner relationships. In our candid conversation, we shed l…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Ever feel a strange sense of relief when your partner is not around and you're handling the parenting duties solo? Let's be real, it's not uncommon. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss how partners can talk about this sensitive topic in a way that br…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Who says setting boundaries with in-laws and extended family has to be a negative experience? Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP tell you how boundary setting can foster healthier interactions within your couple relationship and your relationship with exten…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. The way you parent can indeed influence your partner's feelings towards you, and the level of connection you feel as parenting partners. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss why how you parent is so important to your couple relationship and feeling co…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Talking with your partner about being the default parent is one of the most challenging conversations for any couple! At the same time the non-default parent can feel like they are trying to do more than be a "helper" but feel like their partner is micro-managing how …

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Sometimes being in a couple relationship and being parents just feels so hard!! Why does parenting introduce a new level of hard into couple relationships. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP tell you why.Oleh Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. One of the most talked about conflicts we see with couples is how to balance the roles and responsibilities between a partner that works full-time and a partner that stays at home full-time. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP offer a solution to this confli…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Parenting partner conflict happens and many times couples focus on the wrong thing when they disagree. What are parenting partners really fighting about? Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell MACP give you the reason behind every parenting partner conflict and the "…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. One of the keys to effective partner communication is knowing how you have been impacted by your home environment (positively and negatively). Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss why this matters and how knowing the impact of your past can free you t…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP address how couples can talk to one another about the recent school shootings in Denver and Nashville and how to talk with kids about these events.Oleh Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. We hear it a lot from couples: "My partner did this and made me feel..." Can we make our partner's feel a certain way? Are we responsible for our own feelings? Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell MACP tackle these questions in this weeks show.…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Want to stop having a dead end dialogue about the mental load? Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP talk about the mental load because the mental load is always present and often tough to talk about as parenting partners. Here is a way to never have the same …

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Disconnection is normal in every parenting partner relationship. Want to know how to make feeling connected normal too? Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP will tell you how.Oleh Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. It is not uncommon for parents to be critical of one another's parenting. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss what might be behind some of the challenges we face as parents and how talk with one another about them.…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. The Cycle of Disappointment and Disengagement is one of the most common cycles in parenting partner relationships. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss how to break this cycle in parenting partner relationships.…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss how parenting partners can get on the same page and make the changes they both want to have a more connected relationship.Oleh Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. The holidays can be a wonderful time of feeling connected and together as a family. They also are stressful and many couples find that their relationship feels worn out and strained after all the festivities are over. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP disc…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. What is an apology and why is it so hard to apologize in your parenting partner relationship? Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP give you a "cheat code" for how to apologize in your couple relationship.Oleh Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. If you and your partner want to stay connected and you want to build a sense of safety for your kids...You should tell more stories. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP talk about how you and your partner can strengthen your relationship and help your kids f…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. There are 3 mistakes that you and your partner could be making that are leading to feeling disconnected. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss these mistakes and help couples learn how not to make them.Oleh Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. At some point in every parenting partner relationship a couple will face hard times. Hard times like receiving a scary diagnosis, infertility, death of a child, death of a loved one, struggling to feel at home as a parent...you name it. When these times come how can a…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Having couple conflict when your kids are in the same room happens as parents. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss how couples can determine if this is a moment for modeling healthy conflict or a moment to avoid as parents.…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Resentment has a stacking effect in parenting partner relationships. Over time it stacks up and leads to serious conflict and hurt. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss how resentment stacks up in couple relationships, how to tell if it has happened i…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. What we mean here is transitions like getting ready in the morning, coming back home from work or transitions that happen when you have a partner in the military who is gone frequently or travels a lot for business. However, the transition happens in your parenting pa…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Being critical or feeling criticized is something every parenting partner experiences. This pattern often leads to conflicts and resentment in parenting partner relationships. Want to know how to shift this pattern? Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discus…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. One of the most common struggles for parenting partners is feeling like their partner is not meeting their needs. We all have needs in relationships. How can you get your needs met in your relationship? Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss how partner…

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. What is the difference between reacting and responding when communicating with your partner? Is one a healthier way to communicate than the other? Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss these questions and give you some tips on how to implement healthie…