Let's Therapy

In this season finale episode, Finding and Living in Hope and Healing, hosts Scott and Vanessa Martindale, expert counselors on blended families and mental health, provide encouragement and practical advice for those navigating the challenges of blended families. They discuss the common feelings of fear and isolation, and they share stories of how blended families can find success when they lean o...

In this episode of Let's Therapy, Strategies for Coping with Slander in Blended Families, counselors Scott and Vanessa Martindale discuss the impact of slander in blended families and offer practical advice on how to effectively cope with it. They delve into the damaging effects of negative speech on children and bonus children, the importance of setting boundaries, and more. The hosts also e...

In this episode of "Let's Therapy," counselors Scott and Vanessa Martindale discuss the challenges of emotional regulation for children and stepchildren in blended families. They provide practical advice on building trust, validating feelings, modeling healthy emotional responses, and setting clear expectations. They also emphasize the importance of counseling resources, social supp...

Dealing with stepchild resentment and rejection in blended families can be one of the most challenging aspects of blended family relationships. In this episode of Let's Therapy, Navigating Stepchild Resentment and Rejection, Scott and Vanessa offer thoughtful insights and practical advice for stepparents on managing difficult emotions related to rejection and resentment and building trust wit...

In this episode of Let's Therapy,  Co-Parenting in High-Conflict Situations, Scott and Vanessa Martindale tackle the challenging topic of co-parenting in high-conflict situations. They provide practical and insightful strategies for maintaining your mental health, and offer tips for conflict resolution with a co-parent. The discussion centers around active listening, calm communication, colla...

Feeling overwhelmed in your blended family? In this episode,Therapy Essentials for Thriving in Blended Families, Scott and Vanessa Martindale explore the therapy options for your stepfamily. They provide insights on breaking through stigmas, opening up to emotional healing, and utilizing resources like family therapy, EMDR, couples counseling, and more. Want to join the Blended Kingdom Families Co...

Feeling caught in a destructive family triangle? Whether it's biological parents pitting a child against each other or in-laws taking sides, triangulation wedges people apart. In this episode, Scott and Vanessa Martindale define and provide examples of triangulation in blended families. They also offer strategies for coping with these toxic dynamics. Want to join the Blended Kingdom Families...

In this episode of Let’s Therapy, Scott and Vanessa explore the definitions and signs of enmeshment and emotional incest within blended families. They define this problem from a clinical perspective and discuss how these unhealthy dynamics can deeply impact family relationships. They also offer strategies to break free from these toxic patterns, such as setting appropriate boundaries, respecting a...

In this third and final episode of the series about the impact of narcissism on blended families, Scott and Vanessa share effective strategies for dealing with narcissistic relationships. They share helpful action steps that include setting boundaries, finding peer support, developing assertiveness skills, and using discernment.  Did you enjoy this series on narcissism? Please let us know by leavi...

This is the second episode in our three-part series on narcissism. In it, Scott and Vanessa take a deeper dive into understanding Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and its impact on relationships. They reveal the tactic of love bombing, the importance of setting boundaries, and the crucial role of self-care in maintaining mental and emotional health. If you missed last week's episode, y...

What is a narcissist and what behaviors define their interactions? In this Season 3 opener of Let's Therapy, Scott and Vanessa delve into what characterizes narcissistic personality disorder, including an inflated self-image, lack of empathy, and sense of entitlement. We explore the hallmark narcissist behaviors like gaslighting, love bombing, and the DARVO cycle of manipulation.  Learn to sp...

In this last episode of 2023, Scott and Vanessa reflect on an amazing first year of the Let’s Therapy podcast and look ahead to the future. You’ll learn the backstory of Let's Therapy and how it intersects life, faith, and mental health. You’ll also hear the hosts' vision of removing stigma, promoting counseling, and bringing hope, and you can get a sneak peek of the new topics, stories,...

When teen rebellion rocks your home, how do you stop it from affecting your marriage? Scott and Vanessa share battle-tested tips to keep your relationship strong even in the midst of teenager turmoil. On this episode, you'll learn how open communication, united consequences, and professional support can help you and your spouse present a united front. You'll also discover why self-care a...

Blended families often face unique challenges, including learning how to communicate with each other. Miscommunication can lead to misunderstandings, resentment, and emotional strain. In this episode of Let’s Therapy, join Vanessa Martindale and guest Dan Ennaco as they discuss fostering a safe and open environment, different types of communication, and practical steps to prevent miscommunication....

Join host  Vanessa Martindale along with special guest Dan Ennaco as they explore the transformative journey of resilience in blended families. They discuss the importance of resilience, and they offer biblical insights and practical strategies for building and demonstrating resilience in step-parent dynamics, sibling relationships, co-parenting issues, and more.  Want to join the Blended Kingdom...

Transitions can bring a sense of excitement, anticipation, and possibility. They can also cause stress, uncertainty, and anxiety. In this episode, Vanessa teams up with team member Dan Ennaco to talk about how blended families can make the most of the transitions they face. Prayer, planning, and flexibility are essential elements in helping our families move  into a new season of life. Want to joi...

Many of us grow up in a home where mental health issues are present, and that upbringing can affect our ability to form healthy attachments, autonomy, and boundaries as adults. In this episode of Let’s Therapy, Vanessa Martindale welcomes special guest Dan Ennaco, BKF’s videographer, to talk about how to work through those childhood experiences and develop healthy coping strategies moving forward....

Many blended families face attachment issues, or unhealthy styles of connection (or lack of connection) in relationships. These maladaptive attachment styles often stem from trauma in our past, including childhood. In this episode of Let’s Therapy, Scott and Vanessa Martindale outline four attachment styles and how those styles play out in marriage and other significant relationships. They also pr...

Trust can be a challenge for people who’ve been through a divorce. A former spouse may have been unfaithful, abusive, or left the marriage. Learning to trust again after a failed relationship can feel scary and unsettling. In this episode of Let’s Therapy, hosts Scott and Vanessa Martindale talk about sources of mistrust, the role fear plays in trust, and how to foster trust in a relationship and...

In this episode of Let’s Therapy, we dive into the unique journey of never-married people with no kids marrying someone with children. We explore the complexities a new stepparent can face, including building relationships with the new stepchildren, establishing healthy boundaries with the ex-spouse, and what a new stepparent might need from their spouse. We also share the questions and fears that...

When their parents get divorced, children can feel abandoned for a number of different reasons. In this episode, Scott and Vanessa Martindale discuss physical, emotional, and trauma abandonment resulting from separation, divorce, and remarriage. They talk about the signs children may exhibit when they are abandoned by a parent, as well as steps that parents can take in order to help children cope...

The term gaslighting is popular in today’s culture. It’s a tactic used to manipulate a person’s sense of self and reality. But what is God-lighting? That’s the topic of this episode of Let’s Therapy, counselors Scott and Vanessa Martindale provide an overview and examples of gaslighting and compare that to God-lighting. They also offer tools to tackle gaslighting and strive for God-lighting instea...

In this episode of Let’s Therapy, Scott and Vanessa Martindale discuss the facets of co-parenting with an ex-spouse with narcissistic personality disorder. They offer a clinical definition and symptoms of someone with narcissism, compared with someone who has some narcissistic tendencies. They suggest boundaries to create with the ex-spouse, along with steps to take to protect yourself and your ch...

This episode focuses on the trauma children experience when their parents divorce. Scott and Vanessa Martindale highlight the emotional upheaval that divorce causes for children and offer suggestions for alleviating some of the distress children experience. While parents cannot completely shield their children from the trauma of divorce, they can make sure their children receive the support and as...

Season 2 premiere of Let’s Therapy, Scott and Vanessa Martindale talk about helping our children and stepchildren deal with mental health issues. They shine a spotlight on the stressors children and teens face and the unhealthy coping mechanisms they employ. This episode also provides parents with techniques to process emotions in a healthy way.  Want to join the Blended Kingdom Families Community...