All Things Marriage with Dr. Chavonne

In this episode, I have the absolute pleasure of sharing with you one of my clients' experiences inside my coaching program, The Well Made Woman. I appreciate so much Cindy's willingness to share her relationship journey, all the transitions, and the power she has been able to reclaim for herself. You will hear from her as she talks about attempting to get her partner on board with improving their...

What comes to mind when you hear that something is well made? In this episode, we are diving into the concept of a well made woman and why becoming more intentional in the way you show up in your life has so many positive ripple effects. We have goals for everything - work, finances, health - and today we are talking about the internal goals that create you being your BEST. In this episode you wil...

Whose opinion do you value the most? If the answer is anyone other than yourself, this episode will be eye-opening. We are conditioned from an early age to please others. To change the way we operate to accommodate how others feel. As children this makes sense - it's essential for our survival. But as adults, and especially in marriage, we want to cultivate the skill of internal validation. When y...

If you've ever wondered "how do I communicate more effectively with my spouse"...then this podcast episode is for you. I break down the hidden agenda behind this question, and help you determine what you true communication goals are. You'll also learn the 3 essential components of effective communication, and what needs to happen in each category in order to your to truly be heard and understood....

What are your thoughts about your spouse? If I were to ask you to describe them on their worst day as a partner to you, what would you say? Your answer is the Core Negative Image you have of them. It's the set of negative thoughts and beliefs you have that often you are responding to when you are angry, frustrated, sad or disappointed. It's important to uncover these thoughts and to take a look at...

How often do you sit and contemplate what's possible from a positive perspective? Our brains are very good at asking the "what if" question when it comes to worry inducing thoughts. In this episode of the podcast, I'm turning it upside down and introducing you to a powerful concept that will open your mind and accelerate your progress in creating more of what you want in your life and marriage. Yo...

What you do, over and over again creates BIG gains. In how you feel, how you experience your marriage, and your overall life. In this episode I share with you the concept of cumulative effect and why it's so important to create the healthy, happy marriage that you want. It may seem like your day-to-day decisions to do the right and loving thing are slow in crating the BIG changes you want, but tha...

What you do, over and over again creates BIG gains. In how you feel, how you experience your marriage, and your overall life. In this episode I share with you the concept of cumulative effect and why it's so important to create the healthy, happy marriage that you want. It may seem like your day-to-day decisions to do the right and loving thing are slow in crating the BIG changes you want, but tha...

When a marriage experiences challenges, there are a set of predictable positions each person holds that create conflict, disconnection and dysfunction. In this episode I'm taking you inside a concept I first learned about from world-renown couple's therapist Terry Real and sharing with you 4 common relational positions that perpetuate marital issues. Knowing where you and your partner fall on each...

Have you ever considered how giving your spouse the benefit of the doubt can actually benefit YOU? In this episode, I share with you the power concept of Benefit of the Doubt and talk you through why it will help you improve your marriage. If you find yourself assuming and expecting the worst, this podcast will give point you in a more productive direction to experience more of what you want. Also...

One of the most important distinctions you need to be able to make in your marriage is what is healthy vs. what is unhealthy. So much unhappiness and conflict arises when one or both of you are operating from a relationally UNhealthy place. In our episode today I'm breaking down the most common unhealthy dynamics I see - both those that I would considered "marital neglect" and those that I would d...

Does your spouse sometimes feel like an enemy to you? Do you struggle to get on the same page about simple things? Find yourself always feeling like you are on the defensive with them? Does it feel like they look for ways to make things harder to you to get along? If so, this episode will help you so much. I'm breaking down the concept of the Enemy Mindset and how it's taking a toll on you and you...

This one is a vulnerable and personal podcast about my own parenting challenges as my daughter enters her tween years. In several conversations I've had, I noticed the striking parallels between different seasons of the parenting relationship and different seasons of the marital relationship. At the end of the day relationships are relationships are relationships. As I've processed my own shifting...

How do you lead yourself well in a challenging season of your marriage? What does it look like to still show up as your best, even when you are angry, hurt and upset? What are the standards you commit to holding yourself to, no matter what? In today's podcast episode, we are diving into the topic of self leadership - showing up, doing what's right, with kindness, love and respect. This concept is...

In this episode of the podcast we are having a sensitive conversation about the topics of grief, compassion and radical acceptance. So many people struggle with what to do with their unmet expectations. The answer is to grieve. So many people struggle with regret and shame for past choices. The answer is to have compassion. So many people exhaust themselves trying to make their partner or marriage...

We all have behaviors and actions we take that keep us from our goals. In marriage, there are likely things you have a habit of doing that keep you from experiencing the healthiest and happiest marriage possible. In this episode of the podcast I break down some of the most common "bad" habits I see couples engage in. Underneath any behavior that keeps you from your goal is an underlying need. We w...

In today's podcast, we are diving into the experience of being STUCK. So many people come to me feeling like they are not making the progress they want. And it's a long-term experience for them. If you have this same experience it's important to identify exactly where you are stuck. There are 4 specific categories of "stuckness" to consider. Once you have more information about where the bottle ne...

Does your life feel like groundhog day, where you're just going through the motions day in and day out with little that brings you joy? Or maybe the troubles in your marriage weigh you down so much it's hard to find joy in the rest of your life. If so, this episode is for you. We are diving into the topic of how to create a more fulfilling life. No matter what circumstances you currently find your...

When you read the words, Giving Up within the context of marriage, one idea may come to mind - ending the marriage. But before a couple ever gets to that point, there are other decision points where the action is to give up. In this podcast episode I break down the 3 most common ways I see people give up - on trying, on the process of help, and the marriage itself. For each, I break down the minds...

If you've ever wondered, what is marriage coaching, and exactly how does it work to improve a marriage, this episode is for you. I share my own personal notes for how I move my clients from conflict and disconnection, to productive conversations and emotional closeness again. There are 10 very specific, concrete skills, shifts, and approaches we take inside my couples coaching programs. As you lis...

We live in a day and age where having a safety response plan is essential. I'm taking this idea and concept and applying it to your emotional and relational safety as well. In the podcast today we will be diving into the idea of a Trigger Response Plan - a set of steps you take when you are triggered that help you to process what's happening, understand what you need to feel better, and take the a...

Would you consider yourself a curious person? Do you approach conversations with a desire to learn, and with an open mind? This is a superpower skills to bring to your marriage. In this episode of the podcast, I share with you the difference being more curious can make in the communication with your spouse. If you find that your current discussions are filled with defensiveness and finger pointing...

Are you at a place where the attraction you feel towards your spouse has faded? You're not alone. This is a common issue so many people face. In this episode of the podcast, I am breaking down exactly why this happens. It may seem like your spouse's appearance or their way of being is the reason you can't feel excited and attracted to them. But it's more than that. Tune in to this episode to learn...

Anger. It's an emotion so many of us feel. And when I speak to women who are trying to address their anger, it usually involves blaming others. As human beings we are wired to protect ourselves by NOT looking inside to find answers. It's easier to look at what other people are or are not doing. Yet, so often the REAL, CORE reason we feel anger in our lives has a lot to do with what I've defined as...

I wanted to make SURE your heard about my new Masterclass on June 26th. It's the Well Made Woman Masterclass and we are diving deep into how to stop self-sacrifice and how to implement healthy boundaries in your relationships and/or marriage. If you find yourself feeling angry and resentful, and are ready to start taking better care of YOU, this is the masterclass that sets that in motion for you....