The EmotionAlly Podcast

How do we best gauge our success when our world is in upheaval? In this episode, I tackle the question of how to focus on process and intention, rather than results. I chat about the things we can and can't control, what it means to live by connection, and why doing so will ultimately lead us to greater peace and joy, even in the midst of a world in commotion.

Watching our teen (and adult) kids make unwise decisions or face intense struggles can be heart-wrenching, frustrating, and even embarrassing. In this episode, @drseandavis joins me again to discuss the best ways to help lift the burdens our kids carry and how a focus on the fundamentals can help us better see the big picture. We'll chat about how to get past our own embarrassments and distinguish...

Conflict is an inevitable part of life, even within the healthiest relationships. In this episode, I point out red flags, explain the difference between healthy fighting and abuse, give tips to help kids feel safe amidst parental conflict, and outline the core relationship principles that will not only help us fight with our partner in healthier ways, but will eventually negate the need for fighti...

We're shaking things up this week with an episode discussing pop music and relationships. I'm joined by Rich & Celeste Davis, hosts of the Marriage Theraoke Podcast, a podcast that analyzes relationship messages in pop songs and then rewrites the songs accordingly. We chat about how their podcast came to be, how popular music can affect our relationships, particular episodes that have struck a cho...

In this episode, I discuss dating from multiple angles, from tips for online dating, to building trust with a partner, to the most important questions to ask before making a long-term commitment. Whether you're single, just starting out, or in a committed relationship, this episode will help you recognize and cultivate healthy patterns of emotional expression with those you love. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I discuss how to craft questions that inspire real connection with those around us. I'll chat about the kinds of questions that help others feel safe, the importance of paying attention to the comfort levels of those around us, and how real empathy speaks louder than perfect execution. Give it a listen!

In this Valentines week episode, I'm joined again by Dr. Sean Davis as we discuss the life of a marriage. Research points to the fact that most long-term marriages follow a "seasonal" pattern. We chat about what each season looks like, how to recognize the transitions, and what we can do to better feel peace and hope (and patience!), regardless of which season we're currently experiencing. Give it...

As Valentines Day approaches and reminds many of us of what we lack, we're focusing this week on some of the single most important aspects of who we truly are, regardless of our relationship status. We'll dig into what our self-worth truly entails, how to identify and cultivate our true selves, and how to better connect with others on more than an external level. Give it a listen!

That truly is the question for many young parents these days. In this episode, I'm joined by Katie T. Christiansen, founder of Preschool Inspirations, to discuss whether preschool is really necessary, emotional wellness for the littlest ones in our lives, and how even the most exhausted parents can still make childhood magical. Give it a listen!

Whether we're talking about our own kids or our neighbors' kids, entitlement has become a buzz word these days. In this episode, I explain what entitlement is, where it stems from, and I offer parents hands-on tools to help their kids avoid it—or more accurately, to develop beyond it, regardless of what age their kids may be. Give it a listen! And remember to subscribe!

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Sean Davis, a leading researcher in the field of marriage & family therapy, about the links between physical and emotional self-image and how they show up in our most intimate relationships. We chat about the importance of emotional connection and how such openness can help us draw closer to our intimate partners, both in and out of the bedroom. Give it a listen!

Happy New Year! In this episode, I make a case for having Connection be your 2020 theme. I talk about the importance of process over outcome, how to better connect with yourself (and not just through self-care!) and how to connect better with those you love. Give it a listen!

In the last episode of 2019, I chat with author J. Scott Savage about finding hope even in the trenches of our lives. A master storyteller, Savage draws on his personal and career experience to remind us that failure is not the end of the road, but rather a necessary bend in it. Don't miss this one!

In this episode, I tackle the topic of facing our unfaceable emotions—the overwhelming waves of grief, hurt, discouragement, or whatever else that seem like they will drown us if we give them space in our everyday lives. I explain where so much of this fear comes from, why survival is normal but may be unhealthy long-term, and finally, how to face even our most overwhelming emotions on a daily bas...

Buckle up, because this episode is for every parent, grandparent, or guardian who has ever experienced the oh-so-familiar guilt of not being enough, not doing enough, or not starting your child's therapy fund (thanks to your own mistakes!) early enough. We've ALL felt it. Where does it come from? When is it justified? How do we best handle it when it comes? And how do we forgive our own parents fo...

Therapist In this episode, I chat with marriage therapist Dr. John Brailsford about compassion and vulnerability, when it's most meaningful for a couple to get help, and how to know when you and your partner are headed in the right direction. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I discuss how to make holiday time together with family and friends mean more than just time. We want to share memories, we want to build bond. But sometimes all we actually share is space. I explain how to build connection during our holiday gatherings, even if our friends and family don't know how to bridge that gap. Give it a listen! And remember to subscribe!

No relationship is perfect, and even the best marriages face rocky periods. In this episode, I chat with Richie, a former client, about his experience in a former marriage. We talk codependency, unhealthy patterns, how to come back to the table and find healing (there is hope!), and how to heal even if the marriage doesn't. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I discuss how we can get closer to our partners and loved ones by bringing forgiveness to the equation. We all talk about it, we ask for it, but we don't always know how to actually forgive, especially when our hurt runs deep. I explain what is, and what isn't, forgiveness. And I give meaningful steps for how we can forgive, how forgiveness can facilitate healing, and how we can t...

As the holidays approach, I discuss how to navigate the complicated, messy, and at times, toxic relationships that we often face: be they family, work, or community-based. I discuss how to better understand ourselves, as well as the people we may find ourselves struggling to love, and I give tools for staying true to our authentic selves in the midst of those difficult situations. Give it a listen...

In this episode, I discuss some hands-on tools for talking with our kids when they have big emotions and when they go to extreme statements and threats because of those emotions. We don't have to be afraid, and there really are meaningful things we can do to help. I discuss what to say to our kids in those moments, how to know when higher intervention is needed, and how to keep our own stability i...

In this episode, I interview Sarah, a therapy client and single mom who has learned through hard experience how to be there for her kids when circumstances are hard. We discuss how we can CARE for our kids without CARRYING their emotions. We talk about making self-care intentional. And we discuss respecting the emotions of our children, while still guiding them. We also discuss "mom guilt" and how...

In this episode, I discuss the necessary pieces to getting our teens to HEAR us and to WANT to connect, rather than just hearing that we are upset, that we are right, and that they're the problem. I discuss how empathy requires no mutual agreement on a topic in order to function well. And I explain three steps to getting solutions to stick with our teens. Give it a listen!

In this episode, I chat with Nikki Harmon, a gifted LMFT Therapist, about some of the things that matter most when it comes to parenting. We talk shame and emotion and how to be the calm at the center of our children's storms. Give it a listen!

In this Week Three episode, I talk with an actual client couple (whose voices have been altered to protect confidentiality). In this month of discussing addiction, I ask them to explain their journey of healing from pornography addiction as a couple. It's powerful stuff—the perspective of a couple who has found their connection again—and healing that lasts. Give it a listen!