Adventures In Relationship

Why do relationship arguments become so painful, repetitive, and exhausting—and how do you actually stop the cycle? In this episode of Adventures in Relationship, couple psychotherapist Amy Gordon breaks down practical, trauma-informed strategies for navigating conflict without escalating it. Drawing from real patterns seen in therapy, this episode focuses on strategies for avoiding offensiveness...

Why do relationship arguments become so painful, repetitive, and exhausting—and how do you actually stop the cycle? In this episode of Adventures in Relationship, couple psychotherapist Amy Gordon breaks down practical, trauma-informed strategies for navigating conflict without escalating it. Drawing from real patterns seen in therapy, this episode focuses on the mindset and ground rules that can...

Are you feeling jaded about dating? Like there’s no one good out there… and maybe no real hope for a healthy relationship? In this episode of Adventures in Relationship , psychotherapist Amy Gordon explores why modern dating can feel so discouraging—especially for adults with complex trauma , attachment wounds , and a dysregulated nervous system. If you’ve been burned by dating apps, stuck in patt...

Are you constantly asking yourself, “Should I stay or leave this relationship?” If you live with complex trauma (CPTSD) , this question can feel overwhelming, confusing, and exhausting. In this episode of Adventures in Relationship , therapist Amy Gordon explores how attachment styles, trauma history, resentment, jealousy, and boundary violations shape your ability to make clear relationship decis...

If you’re asking yourself “Should I stay or should I go?” in your relationship, you’re not alone—and for adults with complex trauma, this question can feel especially consuming. In this episode of Adventures in Relationship , we take an honest, nuanced look at abuse in relationships—moving beyond black-and-white thinking to explore the complicated reality many trauma survivors face. You’ll learn h...

Anxious attachment has become the most talked about attachment style/relationship pattern online— but much of what’s being shared is incomplete, softened, or simply inaccurate. In this episode of Adventures in Relationship , psychotherapist Amy Gordon offers a direct, grounded, and at times uncomfortable reframe of what is commonly called “anxious attachment.” Drawing from attachment theory, traum...

Why do romantic relationships sometimes start out feeling completely different… and then slowly begin to feel painfully familiar? In this episode of **Adventures in Relationship**, therapist Amy Gordon explores a question many adults with complex trauma eventually ask:**Why does this keep happening to me in relationships?**After divorce, betrayal, or leaving an unhealthy partnership, many people m...

In this episode of Adventures in Relationship , Amy unpacks scapegoating — in families, romantic relationships, workplaces, and even mental health systems. What is scapegoating? It’s what happens when harm is occurring, but accountability would destabilize the system. So instead of addressing the conditions, one person absorbs the blame. The “difficult” child. The “bitter” partner. The “unstable”...

In this episode of Adventures in Relationship , psychotherapist Amy Gordon explores how current events, political violence, and systems of power are impacting mental health—especially for adults with complex trauma (CPTSD). From a relational and neurobiological perspective, this episode examines why global violence, authoritarian control, immigration enforcement, war, and collective harm can activ...

Most therapists overlook the significance of emotional flashbacks for adults with complex trauma. Amy describes what emotional flashbacks are and offers some tips for working with emotional flashbacks, especially as they pertain to conflict avoidance. Start here if you want to be less conflict avoidant. Don't let cognitive, assertion-based, or behavioral models further drive you into spiraling...

One of Psychology's best kept secrets is the knowledge that childhood anxious attachment trauma can yield Borderline Personality Disorder, avoidant attachment trauma can yield Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and disorganized attachment trauma can yield Antisocial Personality Disorder. Amy breaks down the links between the insecure attachment styles and these disorders of the personality. Th...

There's a lot of talk about narcissism and Borderline Personality Disorder floating around and that's GOOD! Amy's clinical perspective shines light on intellectual gatekeeping within the mental health field and dares to share some really important information about NPD, BPD, and other personality disorders for adults with C-PTSD and complex trauma. Email me at: amy@adventuretherapyheal...

Codependency isn't spending a lot of time with somebody. It is a much more deeply rooted rejection of self that silences it's sufferers into abandoning their self in order to preserve relationships. Amy breaks down an overview of what codependency is, how it comes from complex trauma, what common traits of codependency are, and how codependency interacts with adult attachment. Email me at:...

Male-dominated Psychology had blamed our mothers for mental-emotional issues for more than a century. How accurate is this assumption? Maybe more than we'd like to admit. BUT systems of patriarchy, capitalism, imperialism, colonialism, sexism, racism, ableism, and homophobia, AKA 'great white father' has set our mothers up for failure. Amy breaks down how these patriarchal systems of o...

Hosts of The Way of the Femme (Stephanie Carrodegua and Amy Gordon) reunited and it feels so good to share with you all about the vulnerability, struggles, and realities of starting a podcast and hope to inspire you to follow your dreams. Catch up with your favorite queer femmes in this crossover episode and enjoy the meandering, spiralic, and feral discussion of some of life's greatest myster...

Don't want to break up? Pay special attention to the 2nd relationship stage! Check out this breakdown of helpful information regarding the relationship stages. Amy provides support for how to stay together through the most challenging periods for couples and shares about the 5 relationship stages, offering advice for progressing through each stage. Email me at: amy@adventuretherapyhealing.com...

"Boundaries" is a relatively vague term. How do you know if you have actually set a boundary? Do you need to tell the other person that you will remove yourself if the boundary violation continues? Do non-speakers have boundaries? Amy presents a flexible and non-ableist framework for considering boundaries and offers some important guidance on what actually constitutes a boundary. Email me at: amy...

Is it your role to heal your partner? Afraid of losing autonomy in your relationship? Amy presents new ways of thinking about these questions and offers some framework for creative collaboration between partners. Reciprocally prioritizing your relationship/helping each other to heal, and being fully autonomous individuals do not have to be at odds with each other! Email me at: amy@adventuretherapy...

Is jealousy eroding your relationship? Amy offers advice for chronically jealous partners (without shaming) and advice for the partners of chronically jealous people, while also presenting a new framework for considering the complex origins and prognostic factors of persistent dysfunctional jealousy. Email me at: amy@adventuretherapyhealing.com Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinrelation...

Are you missing the gold in your partner's complaints? Amy shares insight about how couples often focus on the apparent content of conflict instead of seeing the underlying needs, expressions of hurt that originated in their past wounding, and how to address partners complaints in a healing and productive manner. Email me at: amy@adventuretherapyhealing.com Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@adv...

An incredibly powerful strategy for getting your partner to hear you! Tell them how they affect you when they say/do this or that. Amy shares some important whys and hows when it comes to telling your partner how they affect you. Try this for reduced defensiveness, improved understanding, and positive change in your relationship. Email me at: amy@adventuresintherapy.com Videos: https://www.youtube...

What if your diagnoses are really just descriptions of the symptoms of your complex trauma? Amy shares about new ways of thinking about mental illness and challenges traditional conceptualizations of mental health diagnoses. amy@adventuretherapyhealing.com https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinrelationship https://www.instagram.com/adventuresinrelationship/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therap...

We've all heard of Gottman but there are better options for many couples. Amy shares about alternative couple therapy models and some important considerations in choosing the right therapist for your relationship. https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinrelationship https://www.instagram.com/adventuresinrelationship/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/amy-gordon-adventures-in-therapy-albuq...

Listen as your hosts spontaneously respond to a fan's request for your hosts to cover the topic of community. Amy brings in the neurobiology of community, Stephanie gets vulnerable and insightful about human psychology. Spoiler alert: Femme's need community! Happy Pride month, everyone!!! https://www.youtube.com/@thewayofthefemmepodcast

Join Amy and Steph in catching up with each other and exploring the upcoming eclipses, the astrological new year, relationships, business, and animals, among many other subjects!