The Blocked Podcast

In this episode, Carolyn and Chris take on another listener requested topic and discuss accepting criticism without taking it personally. They try to show a deeper understanding of what Criticism is and where it comes from and how can we engage with it from our partners in a way that tries to understand as opposed to responding with defensiveness. Disclaimer: Some details have been edited for priv...

In this episode, Carolyn and Chris take on another listener requested topic and discuss the forgiveness. What it is and what it is not, and how difficult it is. No one can hurt you like the one you are closest to. What do you do when it seems like you are stuck between wanting to forgive and feeling like you aren’t able to. Disclaimer: Some details have been edited for privacy purposes. The views...

In this episode Carolyn and Chris revisit a recent episode. In the last episode on Toxic Masculinity, it may have come across as defending masculinity and describing what toxic masculinity is not. In this episode, Carolyn and Chris wanted to explore more about what women experience and give our audience a different perspective to contrast the last episode. Enjoy! Disclaimer: Some details have been...

In this episode Carolyn and Chris discuss fight or flight reactions in relationship in a listener requested episode. Listeners wanted to know how to overcome our fight or flight reactions and how to respond and not react. They explore recognizing our fear and what we actually need in response to navigate these situations? Apologies in advance as there was an audio issue with the microphones during...

In this episode, Chris and Carolyn take on a listener request and talk about toxic masculinity. What is it, what is it not? How does this show up as a block to connection in relationship. It is a term that is polarizing to many people. Is there an opportunity to see this as an opportunity to be curious about your partner and find connection if this comes up in your relationship? Disclaimer: Some d...

In this episode, Carolyn and Chris talk about Valentines Day. It can be a polarizing holiday for many different reasons. Enjoy a fun episode, talking about the holiday and how for some it can be a block to connection with the one you care about most. The hosts encourage curiosity about your partner’s previous experiences with the holiday and how something that may have been painful for them in the...

In this episode, Carolyn and Chris interview Melana Carbary. The interviews in this series are intended to provide some new perspectives on attachment in the real world. Melana is a financial planner focusing her practice on women’s needs. She gives a fresh perspective on emotion and attachment when it comes to finances. Guest Links: https://burningriverag.com/ https://enlightenher.com/ http://div...

In this episode, Carolyn and Chris begin the first of three interviews to get different perspectives on encountering emotion and attachment in daily life. Shannon Jones joins the show to give the perspective of a family law attorney. They explore the emotions she encounters in her office and how she navigates those emotions and attachment. Guest Links: https://www.shannonjoneslaw.com/ 843-720-3100...

In this episode, Carolyn and Chris discuss their experience with being therapists. They talk about what they like and dislike as therapist and let you in a little to what your therapist may be thinking. Disclaimer: Some details have been edited for privacy purposes. The views and opinions expressed here are for public consumption but are not meant to take the place of therapy and/or medical attent...

In this episode, Carolyn and Chris discuss recovering from an affair. They look at what to expect from the offending and offended partner and how that shows up in therapy. This is a difficult wounding that many couples are not able to recover from even with the assistance of a therapist. This episode, hopefully, if both partners are invested in repair, can create curiosity about what recovery coul...

In this episode, Carolyn and Chris discuss common blocks for couples during the holidays. The holiday season for some is their favorite time of year, for some, it is the most feared time of year. Perhaps you or your partner have some raw spots around the holidays. What would it be like to get curious about those and work to head off some potentially difficult situations? Maybe, you can learn how t...

In this episode Carolyn and Chris discuss the concept of wounded healers. They go more in depth on how their own wounds and experience with attachment led them to become therapist. We all carry our own wounds and we try to apply what we learn from them the best we can, but we don’t always get it right. Even your therapist. Disclaimer: Some details have been edited for privacy purposes. The views a...

In this episode Carolyn and Chris discuss another popular couples therapy approach the Gottman Method. Gottman outlines 4 horseman of the apocalypse that show up in couples relationships that spell disaster for the relationship. Carolyn and Chris break these down and look at what Gottman says and what EFT would say about these 4 horseman that are behaviors that show up in a relationship. This epis...

In this episode Carolyn and Chris discuss another popular couples therapy approach the Gottman Method. Gottman outlines 4 horseman of the apocalypse that show up in couples relationships that spell disaster for the relationship. Carolyn and Chris break these down and look at what Gottman says and what EFT would say about these 4 horseman that are behaviors that show up in a relationship. This epis...

In this Episode, Carolyn and Chris discuss when it may be difficult for you or your partner to take responsibility for their behavior in the negative cycle. They look at the possible reasons this may show up and how it prevents opportunities to connect and overcome your cycle. Disclaimer: Some details have been edited for privacy purposes. The views and opinions expressed here are for public consu...

In this episode, Carolyn and Chris talk about blocks to connection that are seemingly out of your control. How do you respond with something in your relationship is creating distance and disconnection but you have little to now power to change it. Disclaimer: Some details have been edited for privacy purposes. The views and opinions expressed here are for public consumption but are not meant to ta...

Why do we keep secrets? Especially those that have to do with our sexuality or sexual expression? This is our first episode that may not be friendly for the car ride with your kids. We see it so often in our therapy offices, that one or both partners struggle with sexual secrets. We often justify the secret because it protects our partner, but are we really protecting ourselves from expected rejec...

In this episode, Carolyn and Chris address the common myth of “I need to work on myself” before I can do couples counseling. We hear this so often! While it is true that we all have our own issues that likely need to be worked out in therapy. Does that exclude us in benefiting from couples counseling before that happens? Chris and Carolyn try to bring some light to this and maybe bring some curios...

In this episode, Carolyn and Chris return from a summer break to talk about what they do as therapists. Listen to learn more about what process they use for couples therapy in their offices as well as the workshops they offer and the opportunity to do an intensive with Carolyn. The many options for working on your relationship can sometimes be overwhelming or intimidating. Chris and Carolyn aim to...

In this episode Carolyn and Chris look at some blocks that we may not overcome. There are sometimes things that happen where the injury is too great, or trying to overcome the block may not be safe. Disclaimer: Some details have been edited for privacy purposes. The views and opinions expressed here are for public consumption but are not meant to take the place of therapy and/or medical attention....

In this episode Carolyn and Chris look at how validation as a block to connection. Validation is great and most people thrive on having their experience seen and heard. Sometimes giving validation can be difficult, especially when you don’t share the same experience of a situation. Can we be curious about validation and how we can validate another’s experience without invalidating our own? Disclai...

In this episode Carolyn and Chris pay tribute to Sue Johnson, creator of Emotionally Focused Therapy. Sue passed away at the age of 76 on April 23rd, 2024. Sue left an incredible legacy by impacting countless relationships and shaping couples therapy as we know it today. Rest in Peace Sue. Disclaimer: Some details have been edited for privacy purposes. The views and opinions expressed here are for...

In this episode Carolyn and Chris discuss what it means to be curious. You hear us talk about being curious about yourself and your partner all the time. What does that actually look like? Curiosity should be a good thing in relationship, but the way we approach it can sometimes send the wrong message. Are you being curious in your relationship? Has your own curiosity seemed to block connection? L...

In this episode, Carolyn and Chris continue to explore the blocks to connection that show up in parenting. In addition to exploring our own triggers and understanding our past’s affect on our current relationships, this episode focuses on how we had parenting modeled for us and how we can model it for our own children. Disclaimer: Some details have been edited for privacy purposes. The views and o...

In this episode Carolyn and Chris explore common blocks to connection in parenting. This topic is too broad to condense into one episode, so there is a part 2 coming. Often, differences in our parenting style or how we saw it modeled for us can create tension or blocks to connection with our partners. Hopefully, this episode spurs you to be curious about how the important job of parenting children...