We’re wrapping up the relationship theme this week with guest Carole Cullen. I specifically wanted to include a guest in this series who was trained from The Gottman Institute and Carole fit the bill and y’all— she is amazing! In this episode, we talk about the seven principles for making relationships work. I took lots of notes while I was interviewing her and I’m sure you’ll get a lot out of this too  

Carole Cullen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, AAMFT Clinical Supervisor and public speaker. She is a Certified Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapist specializing in working with couples in crisis. She has a group practice in Wake Forest, NC where she helps couples learn practical tools to reconnect with their partner and create a lasting love. 

We talked about:

• Carole shares, in detail, the seven principles that make relationships work (4:24)
• Emotionally focused therapy for couples in crisis (32:42)
• Creating a secure attachment with your partner (and realizing your partner is not responsible for healing your childhood wounds) (35:23)

http://andreaowen.com/459

Dr. Elizabeth Cohen is on the podcast this week!  She’s a therapist who helps women maneuver through life’s toughest transitions. Most of us have been through something life-changing, either a breakup or a loss of a job. These changes can kick up complex emotions, and Dr. Cohen joins me to discuss the array of feelings that surface, and how to process them, and eventually heal. 

Dr. Cohen received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Boston University. As part of her graduate training, she treated clients at the world-renowned Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders in Boston, MA.

We talk about:

• Some ways a woman can process her anger following something life-changing like divorce, loss of job, etc (6:58)
• What it means to live by design versus living by default (21:25)
• Dr. Cohen answers, “What is the long-term impact of divorce?” (30:45)
• How to believe in your ability to heal (39:52)
• Letting go of resentment in a broken relationship (40:30)

http://andreaowen.com/458

In this minisode I break down The Four Horsemen, give examples, as well as point to a resource that will help you and possibly your partner learn the antidotes for these common relationship behaviors. It’s simple, yet profound.

http://andreaowen.com/457

Britt Frank, MSW, LSCSW, SEP is a trauma therapist, teacher, and speaker who specializes in the "Science of Stuck." Her work empowers people to understand the inner mechanisms of their brains and bodies. When we know how things work, the capacity for CHOICE is restored and life can and does change. 

In this episode you’ll hear: 

• What is a narcissist and how does someone know they may be in a relationship with someone who is a narcissist? (7:16)
• Britt’s goal is “dismantling the mental health myths that keep us feeling STUCK and SICK”. She shares what she means by that. (14:17)
• Dealing with trauma: Some signs or patterns which signal someone should deal with their trauma. (14:45)
• Why someone may get physically addicted to their narcissist and experience withdrawals. (23:10)
• How someone can begin to heal from a narcissistic relationship. (27:45)
• Mother wounds and grieving our childhoods (the things we didn’t get) or other parts of our lives. (33:06)
• How COVID has affected Britt’s work, including the collective processing of COVID trauma. (40:11)

http://andreaowen.com/456

Danielle is a certified friendship coach and national speaker dedicated to teaching women how to create and maintain meaningful female friendships. She has been featured on NBC News for her expertise, and her advice has been quoted in several other media outlets including Psychology Today, Well + Good, The Tampa Bay Times, and Insider.

“Making friends refers to cultivating something meaningful with another person.” Danielle Bayard Jackson

We talk about:

• Some ways a woman can create (and maintain) friendships (7:18)
• How to approach a friendship that feels one-sided when it comes to being vulnerable or trust (14:17)
• Advice for women who have been hurt before in past female friendships (24:11)
• How long does it take to make friends? (31:28)
• What Danielle would say in response to someone saying, “Women are so catty…” (38:27)

http://andreaowen.com/455

While I’ve changed a lot since the spring of 2009, (I hadn’t had my second baby yet, hadn’t officially launched my business, and sobriety was still two years away!) I do think what I wrote was helpful, but I would give that advice differently than I did back then. 

This mini-sode is a short and sweet one. Basically, I talk about two things that are imperative to know as you’re navigating a broken heart, whether your experience was last week or a decade ago (or more). 

Also, early-bird pricing goes up on June 10th for the Daring Way™ Retreat! Click here to learn more about it and to sign up. 

http://andreaowen.com/454

We are deep in our theme of relationships and I didn’t want to forget about those of you who are single or dating. Lily Womble joins me to talk about relationship with self, your love life, and practicing self-compassion whether you are a single or partnered individual. She also shares how to tap into your own freedom and agency. 

Lily Womble is the founder of Date Brazen where she’s helped hundreds of women around the world build badass dating lives that lead to extraordinary relationships through unconventional coaching and transformative community.

We talk about:

• How women play small in their dating and love lives (7:47)
• What high-achieving women struggle with the most in their love lives (16:19)
• Why Lily believes dating can be an act of self-care (27:28)
• Advice for people who regularly deal with dating anxiety (33:22)
• How self-compassion impacts your love life (33:37)

http://andreaowen.com/453