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 relationship, and how partner's can stay connected if one of them is preoccupied.…

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 couple relationship, and how partner's can stay connected if one of them is avoidantl…

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, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP tell you what the questions are and how you can your p…

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 also be an underlying factor for some of the stress, conflict, and hurt feelings par…

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 this phase of your parenting journey, it matters! Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin …

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 way that will actually change your couple relationship for the better.…

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" moments can also be what keeps you connected.…

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/By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

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 relationships. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP offer a two step pro…

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 conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, and unresolved trauma can have on a family…

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 family's harmony. Their story may sound familiar, and we're peeling back the layers…

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 ADHD as a joint adventure rather than a solitary battle. Join Stephen Mitchell, Ph…

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 parenting partners can start paddling the canoe together.…

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 insightful conversation with Rachel and Marley from HeySleepyBaby.…

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 own 'eye-opening' parenting injury. Strap in as they navigate the seismic shift in d…

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 light on how resentment can spring from significant life decisions and disagreement…

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 brings understanding and connection.…

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 extended family.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

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 connected as a couple.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

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 they parent. How can parenting partner's have this conversation in a way that brin…

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.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

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 conflict.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

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 "how to" fix it.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

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 to have the future you want as a couple and family.…

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.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

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.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

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 old conversation again and actually get somewhere as a couple on this topic.…

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.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

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.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

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.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

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.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

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 discuss how you and your partner can come out of the holidays feeling connected.…

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.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

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 feel safe by telling one another stories.…

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.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

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 couple make it through? Stephen Mitchell PhD and Erin Mitchell MACP give couples …

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.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

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 in your relationship, and how to keep it from ruining your parenting partner relati…

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 partner relationship many couples find that they experience increased stress, increa…

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 discuss how criticism can become a part of every couple relationship and how to "get rid…

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 partners can identify their needs, express their needs, and meet one another's needs.…

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 healthier communication in your parenting partner relationship.…

What are the silent killers in a couple relationship? Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss what the silent killers are and how to avoid them.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

From in-laws to finances to work to technology, it can be hard for parenting partners to define and set healthy boundaries. What are boundaries and why is it so hard to set healthy ones? Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss the purpose of boundaries and how parenting partners can define and set healthy boundaries.…

Are you tired of dead end dialogues in your parenting partner relationship? Do you keep having the same fight over and over again with nothing changing? Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP talk about how parenting partners can stop fighting and actually "get somewhere" when they disagree.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

One of the most common barriers to parenting partners connecting is grief. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP share how to cope with grief and stay connected as parenting partners.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

Talking about mental load as parenting partners is one of the hardest conversations to have! Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP share their own experience of how they have unsuccessfully and successfully navigated this topic.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

What do you do as parenting partners when you feel like you have lost your "spark"? Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss how couples can rediscover their spark.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

This is one of the most challenging conversations for parenting partners to have without getting defensive. Parenting is hard. Parenting makes you both tired. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss how the goal in this conversation is to understand what tired means for your partner and to try and make changes to support them.…

We hear this all the time: "My partner and I can't agree about parenting styles!" Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP share how to have this conversation as a parenting team rather than parenting adversaries.By Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP