Sounds Like Therapy

Have you ever looked at a long, unanswered text thread with a good friend and thought, “Crap… I was just about to respond to that... and then six months happened”? Yeah. That’s how I feel about this podcast. If you’ve been wondering where I disappeared to — or why Sounds Like Therapy suddenly faded into the distance — this episode explains everything . It’s a little bit of a love letter, a little...

Some betrayals are so big, some secrets so shocking, that when the truth comes out, it splits your life in two—into before you knew and after everything changed . That’s exactly what happened to today’s listener, who suddenly discovered that her family’s closest friends had been hiding deeply disturbing secrets for years. Now, her whole family is reeling. In this episode of Sounds Like Therapy , w...

Lately, it feels like every conversation I have with women sounds the same: “I’m overwhelmed by what's happening in the world, and my husband just... isn't. In fact, he seems way too chill about current events... and I feel totally alone in my marriage. WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING?!?!” I'm so glad you asked! And I'm so happy to tell you: I've got answers! In this episode of Sounds Like Therapy , I’...

When your partner’s been away—whether for military deployment, long work travel, or anything else—life at home adapts. You figure out a new normal, even if it’s exhausting. And then, just when you’ve found your footing, they come home... and the transition isn’t always as joyful (or seamless) as you hoped. Today, I’m answering a listener question about how to navigate the messy, emotional shift fr...

Supporting someone with depression, addiction, or job loss isn’t just hard—it’s heartbreaking. In this deeply moving episode, I sit down with Stephanie, a listener who has been carrying the crushing weight of her husband’s depression and long-term unemployment. After 26 years of marriage, she finds herself working full-time, managing the home, and barely holding it together—while her partner barel...

This isn’t the episode I planned—but it’s the one I needed to record. As I hide from my to-do list and attempt to pack for spring break, I’m taking a few minutes to reflect on turning 43, what this season of life looks like, and how different it feels from the decades that came before it. Your 20s are for striving. Your 30s? Dismantling. But your 40s? There’s something else entirely that starts to...

You know that moment when you're frustrated — at your spouse, your boss, your mom — and you just need to tell them how mad you are? Same. But here’s the hard truth: venting isn’t the same as problem-solving. And if we don’t slow down and figure out what we actually want , nothing changes. This episode is all about that one simple shift that can transform your relationships. I’m sharing a recent (a...

What happens when you’re in love, but your family isn’t? If you’ve ever had to navigate family drama over a partner, this one’s for you. This week, I’m joined by my sister Sharon (aka Sissy) to tackle a question from a listener whose introverted boyfriend is struggling to win over her extroverted family. Her family thinks he’s too quiet —to the point that her sister says she forgets he’s even ther...

I’m doing something a little different today. Instead of answering a listener question, I want to bring you behind the scenes of my life and work—because there are some big changes happening. For a long time, I’ve been balancing my therapy practice, this podcast, my family, and my dreams for what’s next. And honestly? It’s been a lot. Like so many of you, I’ve found myself trying to do everything...

Valentine’s Day is here, and if you and your spouse are feeling more like roommates than lovers, you are not alone. In this episode, I sit down with listener Allie, who bravely shares her story of feeling disconnected in her marriage—something so many couples experience, especially after kids. She and her husband are caught in the classic standoff: she needs emotional connection to feel physical d...

We all want intimacy, connection, and partnership in our marriages—but what if we’ve been going about it the wrong way? In this episode, I break down why so many modern couples struggle after having kids, why emotional connection alone isn’t enough, and the one thing that must come first if you want a happier marriage. Spoiler: It’s not romance or communication—it’s good partnering. If your relati...

If you’ve ever tried to set limits on your kid’s phone use and ended up in an argument, you’re not alone. One listener reached out with a common parenting dilemma: her 13-year-old son is glued to his phone, has unrestricted access to social media, and spends his free time either on his phone or playing Fortnite. She wants to set boundaries—but she also doesn’t want him to be mad at her for doing i...

Rebuilding after an affair is one of the hardest challenges a marriage can face. In this episode, I tackle a deeply personal question from a listener who’s navigating the aftermath of her husband’s infidelity. She’s a working mom of two who’s been blindsided by her partner’s affair and is grappling with intrusive thoughts, unanswered "why’s," and the emotional toll of rebuilding trust. Together, w...

How do we teach our children to love themselves when we’re still working on loving ourselves? In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with a listener navigating her own body insecurities while raising a daughter who looks just like her. Together, we explore the journey of healing, breaking the cycle of negative self-talk, and modeling self-acceptance for the next generation. 💌 Have a relations...

Feeling the New Year's pressure to overhaul your whole life, right now? Let’s rethink that. After a too-short December and a too-long holiday break, New Years is coming in HOT with some be-more-do-better energy... and it feels like I'm already falling behind in 2025 (and it's only January 7th!). Can you relate? Instead of signing up for the slew of goals our society sets for us - the leanest body,...

HOLD THE PHONE! If you're feeling tempted to reconnect with estranged family members because it's the hollliiiiddddaaaayyyysss, you are not alone! Maybe it's the twinkle lights. The traditions. The third glass of your mother's favorite wine. Or... worst of all... the hope that the season brings. But for some reason, the relationship boundaries that seem so clear during the rest of the year can get...

What can you do when your old coping mechanisms, like people-pleasing, no longer serve you? This week, I’m tackling a listener question from a mom of two young kids who’s juggling work, caregiving, and household responsibilities. As a recovering people-pleaser, she finds herself falling into a pattern: doing too much, silently resenting her husband for not doing more, blowing up, and then feeling...

When a romantic relationship ends, everyone understands the grief. You're “allowed” to cry, binge ice cream, and lean on your girlfriends for support. But when you lose a friendship—even a best friendship—that grief can be ignored because the person is "just a friend." And yet, friendship breakups can be every bit as difficult as any other breakup, and can leave us grappling with sadness, self-dou...

Ah, the holidays. Children laughing, people passing, and the smell of resentment thick in the air. What? I’m not supposed to say that part out loud? Here’s the thing: the holidays ARE magical… for the people not in charge of them. But for women - who often do the vast majority of the planning and purchasing and hostessing and cooking and cleaning and decorating, not just during the holidays, but t...

Parenthood can be magical, but let’s face it: it's not great for your sex life. When you’re sleep-deprived, breastfeeding, and feeling self-conscious about your postpartum body, the idea of intimacy with your partner might feel impossible—maybe even repellent. This week’s listener question comes from a mom of two struggling with the “ick” when her husband initiates physical touch. She loves him de...

In case you missed it… here in America we just had a presidential election which, because we’re so divided in this country, means that just about half of the country is celebrating while the other half is devastated. And also now? We are just weeks away from the start of the holiday season, where we’re supposed to sit down with the political foes we call family and pass the peas without throwing p...

Vulnerability alert! While it's tempting to present the first episode of my new podcast, Sounds Like Therapy , as if it were a nearly effortless (but highly impressive) pivot I made after my last podcast went up in smoke about a month ago... that wouldn't be very on-brand for someone who used to co-host a podcast called Honest Women. Instead, I'm bringing you behind the scenes of the last month, a...

Welcome to Sounds Like Therapy ! I’m Andrea Burkly - a real-life therapist and mom of four - here to help you tackle the relationship challenges that keep you up at night. Maybe it's the stress you feel watching your daughter try to navigate the middle school mean girls...or the tension you can't seem to escape each time you see your competitive sister. Maybe it's the lack of connection you feel w...

Be on the lookout! Andrea's new podcast, Sounds Like Therapy , will be popping up in your podcast player of choice... SO SOON! If you're "following" the Honest Women Podcast, the new show will automatically pop up in your podcast feed. Boom! Like magic! But I wanted to give you a heads up, because the cover art will be different, and I didn't want you to think "what the heck is this??" and scroll...

Honest Women, it's with a heavy heart that we are announcing today the end of this chapter. We are so grateful to each and every one of you who listened. Tune in to hear where we're going next <3 CONNECT WITH JESSICA: https://www.jlhutchison.com/ CONNECT WITH ANDREA: https://www.andreaburkly.com/ And make sure you are following the show so you get episodes of Andrea's new podcast, Sounds Like T...