Dear Dr. Tracy

In this solo episode, clinical psychologist and relationship expert Dr. Tracy Dalgleish invites listeners into the real emotional landscape of the holidays, far beyond picture perfect family photos. She shares five powerful reflections to help couples and parents move through holiday stress with more connection, less pressure, and a lot more self compassion. Drawing from her experience as a highly...

As the year winds down, many couples reflect on work, finances, and goals—but often forget to reflect on their relationship. In this episode, clinical psychologist and relationship expert Dr. Tracy Dalgleish shares why an end-of-year relationship check-in is one of the most powerful tools couples can use to move out of autopilot and into intention. This conversation isn’t about fixing, blaming, or...

Dr. Tracy Dalgleish answers listener questions on caregiving burnout when a partner has chronic health issues, using Spoon Theory to protect the relationship without losing yourself. She shares practical scripts for rebalancing roles during flare-ups, nervous system regulation tools, and ways to support kids with honesty, predictability, and emotional safety. The episode also covers how to stay co...

In this From The Couch episode, clinical psychologist and relationship expert Dr. Tracy Dalgleish unpacks a painful but common experience many couples face in in law relationships: The moment when a partner seems to disappear emotionally after stepping into their family of origin, leaving the other partner feeling alone, unprotected, or disconnected. Dr. Tracy explains why this shift happens, draw...

In this candid conversation, clinical psychologist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish and her husband Greg unpack a real moment from their own marriage to explore one of the most common and misunderstood relational challenges dismissiveness. Together they break down why phrases like “you’re right,” “everything will be fine,” and “don’t you think you’re being sensitive” leave partners feeling unseen and alone, ev...

In this episode, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish shares two of her most trusted strategies for navigating difficult family dynamics—especially during the holiday season when old patterns, expectations, and nervous system triggers tend to flare. Drawing from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, she explains why we can’t change or control others, and how “dropping the rope” and questioning the stories we tell our...

In this episode, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish unpacks one of the most painful and confusing dynamics she sees in couples: being warmly welcomed into a partner’s family—only to later become the outsider. Through a powerful listener story, she explores why these sudden shifts occur, how family systems create scapegoats, and why meaningful accountability is often out of reach. Dr. Tracy also breaks down what...

In this episode of From the Couch, Dr. Tracy talks about what really happens after ending a toxic or narcissistic relationship and why healing isn’t just emotional—it’s neurological. When you’ve spent years being shamed, blamed, or dismissed, your nervous system learns that mistakes and disagreements aren’t safe. Neurons that fire together wire together, meaning your body develops reflexive respon...

In this episode, Dr. Tracy and Greg explore what really happens to couples during the holiday season—the mental load, the invisible labour, the unspoken assumptions, and those moments when partners suddenly realize they feel more like roommates than a connected team. Dr. Tracy explains why the holidays create the perfect storm for disconnection, how stress triggers negative sentiment override, and...

In this short, impactful episode, Clinical Psychologist and Relationship Expert Dr. Tracy Dalgleish answers one of the most common questions she hears: Should I hold out for an apology from a parent or in-law? When you share your hurt and they respond with defensiveness, justification, or minimization, it often triggers shame and escalation—leaving you feeling unseen and even more frustrated. Dr....

What really happens behind closed doors when two iconic artists build a marriage, a family, and a creative life together? In this intimate conversation, I sit down with Canadian musicians Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace) and Chantal Kreviazuk to talk about the real work of long-term love. We explore the story behind their documentary I’m Going to Break Your Heart, the “burnt chicken” moment that revea...

In moments of conflict, it’s easy to feel unheard—and to keep “piling on” examples in the hope that your partner will finally understand. But what if that very habit is the thing preventing real repair? In this episode, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish unpacks why we overload our partners during arguments, how it triggers defensiveness, and what to do instead to foster connection and accountability. You’ll lea...

Do you ever feel like you’re just going through the motions in your relationship—managing, reacting, doing, but not truly connecting? In this candid conversation, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish and her husband Greg explore what it means to slip into autopilot mode—that state where we function out of habit rather than intention. They unpack the science and psychology behind it, revealing how early experiences...

In this From the Couch episode, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish answers a listener’s question about navigating conflict with a sister-in-law. Using her expertise as a psychologist and couples therapist, she unpacks toxic family patterns, explores loyalty binds within families, and shares practical strategies to help couples stay united when extended-family dynamics create tension. Learn how to set boundaries,...

Have you ever felt caught between your partner and his mother—or wondered how a whole book on that exact dynamic comes to life?  In this cozy, behind-the-scenes conversation, Dr. Tracy sits down with her husband Greg to share the real story of writing You, Your Husband, and His Mother—from 4:30 a.m. writing sessions and walking voice notes, to landing a Big 5 book deal and holding the finished boo...

In Season 2, Episode 2 of Nobody Wants This, Joanne delivers the now-viral line: “Mothers have been hating their son’s girlfriends since the beginning of time…” — and it’s the ultimate masterclass in boundaries. Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, clinical psychologist and author of You, Your Husband, and His Mother, unpacks why Bina’s behavior is a textbook case of enmeshment, guilt, and control disguised as ca...

In this final episode of the series, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, psychologist and relationship expert, discusses the importance of emotional intelligence in family dynamics, particularly focusing on the role of mothers-in-law. She outlines key behaviors that emotionally intelligent mothers-in-law exhibit, such as protecting the couple unit, communicating effectively, owning their impact, including withou...

In this From the Couch session, Psychologist and Relationship Expert Dr. Tracy Dalgleish breaks down one of the biggest questions she gets during the holiday season: What’s the difference between a boundary and a threat? If you’ve ever said, “I’m not hosting this year,” or “If you keep acting like that, we’re never coming over again,” this episode will help you understand why one creates peace and...

In this special episode of Dear Dr. Tracy, clinical psychologist and relationship expert Dr. Tracy Dalgleish sits down with her husband, Greg, to answer real, anonymous listener questions about mothers-in-law (MILs), in-law dynamics, holiday boundaries, and getting on the same page as a couple.  Drawing from her upcoming book, You, Your Husband, and His Mother (launching November 4), Dr. Tracy bre...

Defensiveness is one of the most common reasons couples get stuck in repetitive fights — but few people understand what’s actually driving it. In this episode, Clinical Psychologist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish explains the psychology of defensiveness, how shame and fear of rejection play a role, and the proven tools that help couples communicate without walls going up. Learn how to respond without reactin...

In this special episode of Dear Dr. Tracy, part of the You, Your Husband, and His Mother book launch series, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish sits down with therapist and author Whitney Goodman to unpack one of the most misunderstood family experiences — estrangement. Together, they explore why more people are creating distance from toxic or boundary-violating family members, what healthy families actually loo...

From The Couch - Short hits, hot topics. The I_am_sherlocked phenomenon has taken over Threads — but what’s really drawing us in isn’t just her posts, it’s what they represent. From The Couch, I explore why we’re so captivated by someone unapologetically setting boundaries and saying no without guilt. We’ll unpack what this viral moment reveals about women’s exhaustion, people-pleasing, and the de...

In Part 2 of my MIL book-launch series, I sit down with creator Janelle (@heyjanellemarie) to unpack “Daughter-in-Law Math,” the thousand paper-cut moments that erode trust, and the real power dynamics between mothers-in-law, sons, and couples. We explore passive aggression, exclusion, gossip, and double standards—plus practical tools for the holiday season: code words, aligned exits, and repair t...

In this From the Couch mini-session, Clinical Psychologist and Relationship Expert Dr. Tracy explores one of the most common conflicts couples face: when a husband says, “I just want my mom and my wife to get along.” Dr. Tracy unpacks why this well-intentioned desire often backfires, leading to tension, invalidation, and emotional disconnection in the marriage. Drawing from her nearly 20 years of...

In this special solo episode of Dear Dr. Tracy, Clinical Psychologist and Relationship Expert Dr. Tracy Dalgleish kicks off a new series leading up to the launch of her highly anticipated book, You, Your Husband, and His Mother. Drawing from nearly 20 years of working with couples, Dr. Tracy explores the five most common struggles women face with their mother-in-law, including criticism, boundary...