Stronger in the Difficult Places

Gaslighting is an effective technique that makes you question your entire perception of reality- or a slice of it from a certain angle. When someone is gaslighting you, you slowly begin to stop trusting yourself and your instincts. After an interaction with a gaslighter, you walk away wondering what is wrong with you. And in extreme cases, you begin to question your own sanity. In this episode, Dr...

Admitting to yourself that you don't like your husband is scary. But it's not the end and it doesn't mean you are destined towards divorce or a lifetime of unhappiness. Listen in as Dr. Zoe (licensed psychotherapist and relationship coach) gives you 10 tips for how to like your husband again.   Get 10 Tips for How to Like Your Husband Again: https://drzoeshaw.com/how-to-like-your-husband/   Connec...

In general, having expectations for an outcome, an event or a relationship is good. It means that you are forward thinking, you value yourself and you have standards. The problem is that we are not in a relationship with ourselves. There is another whose expectations may not match up with yours. That's where the conflict begins. So if you're looking for clarity, Dr. Zoe outlines what are unrealist...

For women out there who are struggling with making the decision or who have decided to stay because of the kids, Melissa Dumaz, LMFT and I talk about the following: What do you need to consider? When it definitely won't work. When it could work and what should that look like? Options for making it work in the healthiest way possible. Last- what ABOUT YOU? Is it okay to put your life on hold- Are y...

Is your daily mantra a constant telling him to do the things- back seat driving, taking over his tasks because you're "better at it", asking him to pick this up, put this away. Does he have an actual chore chart or a running one in your head? I know how easy this slippery slope can become. As a mom, you take care of the kids, you manage their schedules, hold them accountable, feed them, fill in al...

As parents all over the world are sending their babies off to college, again or for the first time, many are feeling some angst about navigating their new role- parenting an adult child. This sometimes difficult relationship phase isn't talked about as much as the toddler phase, the teen phase or even the grandparent phase. I brought Darlene Brock- author of Raising Great Girls - on this episode b...

Julie Graham (now Julie Bender) is invited back to share how her practice of praying for her husband daily (now a weekly series) transformed her internal life as she navigated a difficult marriage.
 In this episode, she gives hope and a lifeline to women struggling in a difficult relationship. Tune in to listen to her story and gain inspiration on improving your relationship with your husband and...

You may have a relationship that feels like it's slowly slipping from your grasp. Or you may feel that little hope for salvaging it. Maybe it's already been severed. In this episode, Dr. Zoe Shaw (licensed psychotherapist and relationship coach) provides encouragement that if you want it, it's possible to restore it. But it will take effort, humbleness and a bunch of patience. If you know that's w...

You have two competing internal parts that influence your interactions. It's often why things are so complicated in relationships. And to further complicate the situation, don't forget that your partner has two competing parts too that you are communicating with as well. Listen in as Dr. Zoe (licensed psychotherapist and relationship coach) explains these two competing drives and how you can help...

We've all been there. You take a glance at the woman in the other lane and her relationship looks like all you dreamed yours would be. You feel all the feelings, jealousy being one of them. You don't like this feeling, but you don't know how to shake it when your relationships look like they're coming up short. Listen in as Dr. Zoe (Licensed psychotherapist and relationship coach) discusses changi...

In our world, there are a lot of relationship myths. Relationship myths can be highly damaging because they are ideas that don't match up with real people and their real feelings. Listen in as Dr. Zoe (licensed psychotherapist and relationship coach) debunks five myths about relationships that you may be unconsciously holding on to.   Connect with me: Dr. Zoe Shaw on Instagram Dr. Zoe Shaw on Face...

Wouldn't it be wonderful if our good relationships stayed the same? It's hard to deal with change in a relationship (marriage, mother/child or friendship) when you were enjoying it just as it was. Listen in as Dr. Zoe (licensed psychotherapist and relationship coach) explains the best way to handle a change in your relationship.   Connect with me: Dr. Zoe Shaw on Instagram Dr. Zoe Shaw on Facebook...

You may have tried all the common relationship advice and found yourself frustrated, hopeless and feeling like there is something wrong with you because you are trying all the things and can't make your relationship work smoothly. In this episode, I discuss why the common advice may not be working for you and what healthier option you can take instead.   Connect with me: Dr. Zoe Shaw on Instagram...

If you are feeling a little uncertain about the health or the longevity of your relationship, if you are longing for clarity on how to be healthy when things feel upside down in your relationship, this episode is for you. Here, I talk about reasons why you may be feeling uncertain in your relationship, red flags that tell you your uncertainty needs some intervention and how to maintain your own he...

Welcome to the first episode of the re-branded Stronger in the Difficult places podcast. This podcast is for the woman who finds herself in a difficult relationship and struggles to keep herself whole and healthy despite it all. The answer is- you can! In this episode, I introduce the podcast and tell a little about myself. I define psychology, faith and feminism and what they mean to me within th...

Dr. Zoe, a licensed psychotherapist and relationship coach walks with you on your journey through fixing your difficult relationships, including that sometimes difficult one with yourself. Here, she offers a space where you can look at yourself and your relationship through a lens of psychology, faith and a dash of her own kind of feminism. Stronger in the broken places podcasts hosts guest from a...

To all the women who've been told they are too much- you feel too much, you talk too much, you ask for too much, you are too intimidating, this episode offers some quick words of encouragement to keep being you.   Connect with me: Dr. Zoe Shaw on Instagram Dr. Zoe Shaw on Facebook

It is possible to go through an unwanted divorce and come out on the other side healthy and okay. It is possible to be in an abusive relationship and still achieve all of your goals and raise amazing kids. In this episode, Dr. Imara Moses shares her story as a beacon of hope and light to any woman going through a difficult relationship and especially an unwanted divorce. Get her book Lift Her Up-...

An uncluttered house is great, but you may not realize the stressful effects of emotional clutter or even what it is. What better season than now to tackle it? Dr. Zoe addresses what clutter you could be hiding in your emotional brain and ways that you can declutter it this Spring.   Resources mentioned: New You- New Self Talk Mindshift Program: ENROLL NOW   Connect with me: Dr. Zoe Shaw on Instag...

Have you ever been in a state of panic, fear, sadness or hopelessness and when you sought help were told or it was insulated that your emotional or mental health issues are your own fault? That if you had more faith, if you trusted in God, if you did all the right things, that maybe you wouldn't feel the way you feel? Hi, I'm Dr. Zoe and I'm here to tell you that's hogwash. Your anxiety or depress...

We can get tripped up by capability because it allows us to stay in a zone of competence- sometimes for decades. We can perform well in that zone, but it doesn't always allow us to step out into our zone of genius. Listen in today as I share the ways in which your ultra-capable talents can trip you up and what to do about it.   Connect with me: Dr. Zoe Shaw on Instagram Dr. Zoe Shaw on Facebook

Strong woman. This term is thrown about so much that I'm even a little sick of hearing it. This may sound ironic coming from a woman who touts strength. Yet now, in this modern world, we are "strong" with our words. We use our keyboards and phones. Our fingers touch buttons to get things done for us. Where, in fact, is the strength? Today, I dive into what true strength is and how we can attain it...

Dr. Zoe and Cherylanne Skolnicki highlight ways that women can find a brilliant work/life balance and maintain some sanity in 2021. Addressed in this episode: 1. Three-step ladder for creating a brilliant work/life balance. 2. How to figure out where you should put your focus when you're balancing a million things. 3. How to create space for the time you lose because of life changes. Cherylanne Sk...

It's a new year. It seems we should be celebrating newness, but many are telling me that they felt there was nothing to celebrate on New Year's Eve. So much is uncertain and people are feeling a general funk. When we feel sad, it's a little nudge- sometimes a big proclamation that we need to get deeper into ourselves - maybe pull up a chair, hold our own hand and listen. So how can a strong woman...

How can you accomplish more this year without a resolution by focusing on just one word? Dr. Zoe shares her secret to being more productive and smashing her goals by eliminating resolutions that cause you to feel like a failure by mid January. Listen in and change your goal setting strategy for a killer 2021!   Please send your word for 2021 to: Email: zoe@zoeshaw.com Instagram: @drzoeshaw   Conne...