233: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with Ryan Rana
Release Date: 03/11/2025
245: The Vagina Whisperer and Floored with Dr. Sara Reardon
The Couples Therapist Couch
This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit to learn more Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: In this episode, Shane talks with Dr. Sara Reardon about being The Vagina Whisperer and her new book, Floored. Dr. Sara Reardon is a Board-Certified Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist and Mom of 2. Hear why the pelvic floor can have a big impact on relationships, how to help couples navigate the topic of painful sex, the shame that occurs when you’re having issues with your pelvic floor, why it helps to talk...
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244: The Science of Revenge with James Kimmel, Jr.
The Couples Therapist Couch
This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit to learn more Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: In this episode, Shane talks with James Kimmel, Jr. about The Science of Revenge. James Kimmel, Jr., JD is a violence researcher, psychiatry lecturer, and author who explores the science of revenge, addiction, forgiveness, and violence. He’s the author of 3 books on revenge and forgiveness, the latest being The Science of Revenge. Hear why we naturally want to seek revenge, what goes on in our brain when...
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243: Commitment in Couples Therapy with Shane Birkel
The Couples Therapist Couch
This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit to learn more Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: In this solo episode, Shane explores commitment in couples therapy. Hear how to help couples on the brink of divorce, the challenges of discernment counseling, what to do when one partner is leaning out, why you should talk goals & expectations from the beginning, and how to get some level of commitment from a client.
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242: The Go-To Relationship Guide for Gay Men with Tom Bruett
The Couples Therapist Couch
This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit to learn more Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: In this episode, Shane talks with Tom Bruett about The Go-To Relationship Guide for Gay Men. Tom Bruett, LMFT is a therapist, trainer, consultant, and author who works extensively with the queer community. He is the founder of the Queer Relationship Institute, which provides therapy for queer folx and training for therapists who work with queer relationships. Hear how to be more open & sensitive with...
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241: 'Til Stress Do Us Part with Elizabeth Earnshaw
The Couples Therapist Couch
This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit to learn more Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: In this episode, Shane talks with Elizabeth Earnshaw about the themes from her new book, ‘Til Stress Do Us Part. Elizabeth is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Clinical Fellow of The American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy. She also founded A Better Life Therapy, where she sees couples in her tailored weekend intensives. Over the past 15 years, she’s become one of...
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240: Emotional Abuse with Shane Birkel
The Couples Therapist Couch
This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit to learn more Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: In this solo episode, Shane dives into emotional abuse. Hear why emotional abuse is so complicated, how it compares to physical abuse, how different family environments impact the potential for emotional abuse, examples of boundary violations, and how to stick to the principle of non-violence with your clients and yourself.
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239: Neurodiversity & Relationships with Dr. Matt Zakreski
The Couples Therapist Couch
This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit to learn more Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: In this episode, Shane talks with Dr. Matt Zakreski about neurodiversity & relationships. Dr. Matt is a seasoned clinical psychologist and professional speaker renowned for his expertise in serving neurodivergent individuals (people with different brains such as gifted, ADHD, Autism, and dyslexia), and is the author of Neurodiversity Playbook. Hear how to navigate neurodiversity with your clients, how...
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238: The 3 Situations When Couples Therapy Won’t Work with Shane Birkel
The Couples Therapist Couch
This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit to learn more Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: In this solo episode, Shane explores the 3 situations when couples therapy won’t work: addiction, serious mental health issues, and acting-out behaviors. Hear why couples therapy is not always helpful, the different types of addiction, why you might be a client’s last chance, the one case where you truly can’t do couples therapy, and the difference in abuse in adults and children.
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237: Transformative Couples Therapy (TCT) with Dr. David Mars
The Couples Therapist Couch
This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit to learn more Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: In this episode, Shane talks with Dr. David Mars about Transformative Couples Therapy (TCT). David is the Director of the Transformative Couples Therapy Institute and has presented workshops, courses, webinars, and online supervision worldwide for over 30 years. Hear how he created Transformative Couples Therapy, the issues he saw with traditional couples therapy, how we can improve couples therapy by...
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236: Trauma Bonds with Dr. Laura Copley
The Couples Therapist Couch
This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit to learn more Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: In this episode, Shane talks with Dr. Laura Copley about trauma bonds. Laura is a trauma therapist, international speaker, and author of the relationship self-help book, Loving You Is Hurting Me. Hear the stigma around trauma bonds & toxic relationships, how trauma bonds work, how to help your clients face their fears, the similarities between trauma bonds & addiction, and how to give hope to your...
info_outlineGet the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/
Join the Couples Therapist Inner Circle: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/inner-circle-new
Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295562197518469/
In this episode, Shane talks with Ryan Rana about emotional avoidance & Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Ryan is an ICEEFT certified EFT Trainer, Supervisor, and Therapist and has 25 years of experience in the therapeutic field in many different capacities. Hear how to start off assessing your clients, why EFT is all about risk, why blame is a survival strategy, how to avoid misdiagnosing clients, and why validation is so key.
To learn more about Ryan Rana, visit:
The Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy
Use Coupon Code: CouplesCouch50Off for $50 off membership for a year at SuccessInVulnerability.com
You can also listen to Ryan on Episode 116 of The Couples Therapist Couch