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Couples Counseling For Parents

Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP

116 episodes

2 weeks ago

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. The holidays can fill a room with warmth, noise, and nostalgia—and still leave one partner quietly overwhelmed. We dig into the messy middle where alcohol meets family rituals, social anxiety, and the pressure to keep everything magical for kids. Through a candid case study of Heath and Bailey, we unpack why couples get stuck arguing over “how many drinks” while missing the deeper issue: presence and shared resp...

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Self-Improvement,

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All content for Couples Counseling For Parents is the property of Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. The holidays can fill a room with warmth, noise, and nostalgia—and still leave one partner quietly overwhelmed. We dig into the messy middle where alcohol meets family rituals, social anxiety, and the pressure to keep everything magical for kids. Through a candid case study of Heath and Bailey, we unpack why couples get stuck arguing over “how many drinks” while missing the deeper issue: presence and shared resp...

Show more...

Self-Improvement,

Health & Fitness,

Episodes (20/116)

Couples Counseling For Parents

How To Talk About Drinking Before It Derails Your Holiday

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. The holidays can fill a room with warmth, noise, and nostalgia—and still leave one partner quietly overwhelmed. We dig into the messy middle where alcohol meets family rituals, social anxiety, and the pressure to keep everything magical for kids. Through a candid case study of Heath and Bailey, we unpack why couples get stuck arguing over “how many drinks” while missing the deeper issue: presence and shared resp...

2 weeks ago

28 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

Four Practical Ways Couples Can Stay Connected During The Holidays

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. December can be tender and overwhelming at the same time. Between school events, family expectations, travel, and the pressure to make it “special,” even strong couples can feel out of sync. We unpack four practical tools that help partners communicate clearly, share the load, and protect the moments that actually matter—without slipping into blame or burnout. We start with the walkthrough: a simple, proactive ...

3 weeks ago

25 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

Holiday Stress, Family Rules, and What to Do About Them

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Holiday plans rarely fall apart over turkey—they crack at the fault lines of family rules, nervous system triggers, and the pressure to keep traditions intact while raising small kids. We take you inside a relatable case with Hunter and Manu, whose baby’s bedtime collides with Grandma’s set-in-stone dinner time, and show how a small scheduling issue becomes painfully personal. Along the way, we unpack why these ...

1 month ago

30 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

Congratulations, You’re Married—Now Cue The Panic

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Ever feel like you’re having the same fight on repeat—one of you craving more presence at home while the other longs to be seen for carrying the load at work? We dig beneath schedules and sarcasm to the two fears that quietly run many relationships: the fear of abandonment and the fear of rejection. Once those fears are named, the real hopes come into view: being wanted and being accepted by the person who matte...

2 months ago

29 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

Why Quid Pro Quo Love Fails and What Builds Trust Instead

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. We use our boys’ everyday squabbles as a mirror for adult dynamics: both sides telling true events, but interpreting the events completely different. From there, we lay out three lessons that change the tone of a relationship. First, love isn’t a contract (quid pro quo); connection can’t be leveraged without corroding trust. Second, assume your partner’s best and verify the worst with clear questions instead of ...

2 months ago

34 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

When Stress Hijacks Love: Turning Conflict into Connection for Parents

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. When stress shows up in a relationship, it rarely says its name. We dive into the real culprit—nervous system activation—and show how it secretly drives the shutdown–pursuit loop that so many parents know too well. Through the story of Leah and Justine, two working parents navigating new routines and old expectations, we break down the two common stress strategies: going internal to feel safe or going external ...

2 months ago

28 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

Are You a Couple That Never Fights? Why That’s A Problem

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. “We never fight” sounds peaceful, but is it actually connection—or quiet disconnection in disguise? We open up about a small argument over wedding dishes that revealed a much bigger truth: real intimacy requires honest engagement, not appeasing or winning. When one of us began to withdraw and the other escalated, the moment turned on a single request—“engage me so I know I matter.” From there, we unpack how boun...

3 months ago

23 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

Beyond Date Night: Why Physical Closeness and Emotional Responsiveness Matter

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Feeling disconnected from your partner despite regular date nights and check-ins? You're not alone. This raw, insightful episode dives into one of the most common relationship challenges parents face: that persistent feeling that something's missing in your connection. Through the relatable story of Joy and Grant, we unpack why simply spending time together doesn't automatically create meaningful connection. Th...

3 months ago

24 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

The Map to Relationship Renewal: Mindfulness Over Negativity

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Have you ever caught yourself thinking that all your relationship problems are your partner's fault? What if your perspective is actually contributing to the conflict cycle? When we repeatedly focus on negative thoughts about our relationships, those patterns become our default way of seeing our partners. This isn't about blame or shame – it's about understanding how our nervous systems work under stress. As pa...

3 months ago

23 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

"I'm Not Enough" vs "I'm Not Important": The Root of Couple Conflicts

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Shame might be the most misunderstood force in your relationship. Not the obvious kind—but the subtle variety that hijacks conversations without you even realizing it's there. In this revelatory episode, we uncover how shame operates as the hidden engine behind the most common relationship complaints: "My partner is so defensive" or "All they do is criticize me." Through a realistic case study of Brian and Just...

3 months ago

27 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

The Ick Factor: When Your Partner Suddenly Feels Gross

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. That moment when your partner's chewing suddenly sounds like nails on a chalkboard. When their touch makes you cringe instead of melt. When even their kindest gestures somehow feel... gross. Welcome to "the ick" – that mysterious feeling of sudden repulsion that can leave you questioning your entire relationship. On this revealing episode, we dive deep into this common but rarely discussed phenomenon, exploring...

3 months ago

22 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

When Your Partner Isn't Pulling Their Weight

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Feeling like you're carrying the weight of parenting while your partner merely "helps out" when asked? This tension over unbalanced parenting responsibilities ranks among the most relationship-threatening conflicts couples face—often leading to questions about whether you've chosen the right partner. Through the story of Sam and Leah, we explore a scenario that resonates with countless parents: Leah handles 80%...

4 months ago

26 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

Your No and My Yes: How Small Parenting Differences Create Big Tensions

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Ever find yourself locked in a heated argument with your partner over something that seems trivial—like whether your child can ride their bike in the street instead of on the sidewalk? These everyday parenting disagreements can quickly escalate, leaving you both frustrated and disconnected, despite agreeing on your broader parenting philosophy. Today we tackle these seemingly minor differences that create major...

4 months ago

22 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

Since Kids, We Never Have Time for Our Relationship!

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. The back-to-school season brings a whirlwind of activity that can leave even the strongest relationships feeling disconnected. Soccer schedules, school supplies, and new routines create a perfect storm where couples find themselves working efficiently as logistics partners but missing each other as romantic partners. This episode tackles the reality that many parents face during transitional seasons: feeling li...

4 months ago

26 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

When Your Partner Makes Life Harder

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Remember when you first fell in love? That magical feeling of finding someone who didn't trigger your deepest wounds but seemed to heal them instead? Fast forward through careers, kids, and countless responsibilities, and suddenly those same wounds are wide open again – activated by the very person who once soothed them. This episode tackles the universal feeling many couples experience but rarely discuss openl...

4 months ago

24 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

What We've Learned From Couples: The 100th Episode!

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. In this milestone 100th episode of Couples Counseling for Parents, Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP reflect on the transformative relationship wisdom they've gathered over the years of working with couples facing the unique challenges of parenthood. The insights they share are both profound and practical. They discuss how true bravery emerges when couples face their deepest fears and vulnerabilitie...

8 months ago

35 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

When Your Past Lives in Your Parenting

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Remember when you and your partner felt like soulmates, deeply connected and growing stronger together? Then parenthood arrived, and suddenly those old insecurities you thought were healed came rushing back with surprising force. You're not alone, and no—you didn't make a mistake choosing each other. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP state, "What's happening is a normal developmental challenge that ...

8 months ago

36 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

From Shame to Understanding - A 5-Step Guide to Talking About ADHD with Your Partner

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. Navigating the complexities of ADHD in relationships requires more than just understanding the condition—it demands a thoughtful approach to communication, empathy, and mutual support. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP tackle the tough questions head-on: What do you do when your partner acknowledges their ADHD but refuses any support or treatment? How can you communicate the impact ...

9 months ago

21 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

ADHD in Relationships: Navigating the Neurodivergent Disconnect!

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. The complexity of ADHD can transform a loving partnership into a battlefield of misunderstanding, shame, and resentment—especially when children enter the picture. After receiving an overwhelming response to a social media post about ADHD in relationships, we knew we needed to address this increasingly common challenge faced by parenting partners. In this first episode of our two-part series, we explore four sp...

9 months ago

42 minutes

Couples Counseling For Parents

Parenting on Purpose: Moving Beyond Parenting Differences

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text. What happens when two loving parents disagree about how to respond to their child's behavior? This deeply personal episode dives into one of the most challenging conflicts couples face—differing parenting approaches. Through the story of Justin and Lori, we examine how bedtime struggles with their six-year-old son leads to couple conflict. Justin believes in firm boundaries and worries about being manipulated, ...

9 months ago

39 minutes