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249: Parents of Teenagers with Marie Vakakis

The Couples Therapist Couch

Release Date: 06/30/2025

252: Trauma & Relationships with Dr. Janina Fisher show art 252: Trauma & Relationships with Dr. Janina Fisher

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. Janina Fisher about trauma & relationships. Janina is an Author, Clinical Psychologist, and Educator on the forefront in the field of trauma. Hear the history of trauma research & trauma therapy, how working with trauma compares to other types of therapy, how to help couples focus on the reactions in their bodies, what the healing process looks like from trauma,...

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251: Compassion in Encounter-centered Transformation (EcT) with Hedy Schleifer show art 251: Compassion in Encounter-centered Transformation (EcT) with Hedy Schleifer

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 Hedy Schleifer about compassion in Encounter-centered Transformation (EcT). Hedy is a Master Relationship Builder, Motivational Speaker, and the Creator of EcT. Hear how to help your clients feel the emotions, how Hedy’s EcT process works, how to think of yourself as a guide, how to embrace fear & compassion, and how to calm your clients’ nervous systems. To learn...

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250: Encounter-centered Transformation (EcT) with Hedy Schleifer show art 250: Encounter-centered Transformation (EcT) with Hedy Schleifer

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 Hedy Schleifer about Encounter-centered Transformation (EcT). Hedy is a Master Relationship Builder, Motivational Speaker, and the Creator of EcT. Hear how EcT was born, how Hedy & Yumi used their relationship as a lab, the unique workshops she’s facilitated around the world, the different types of listening, and EcT-inspired exercises you can do with your clients. To...

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249: Parents of Teenagers with Marie Vakakis show art 249: Parents of Teenagers with Marie Vakakis

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 Marie Vakakis about parents of teenagers. Marie is a Therapist, Mental Health and Relationship Educator, and Host of the This Complex Life podcast. Hear the pros & cons of family therapy vs. couples therapy, how to work through parenting struggles in couples therapy, how to navigate differing parenting styles with clients, the language parents should use when...

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248: Imposter Syndrome with Dr. Jill Stoddard show art 248: Imposter Syndrome with Dr. Jill Stoddard

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. Jill Stoddard about Imposter Syndrome. Jill is a Speaker, Author, Podcaster, Psychologist, and Coach on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Hear what Imposter Syndrome looks like in couples, how to help your clients embrace their authentic emotions, what to do when a client feels insecure, the 5 personas under the Imposter Syndrome umbrella, and the power of...

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247: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Dr. Jill Stoddard show art 247: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Dr. Jill Stoddard

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. Jill Stoddard about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Jill is a Speaker, Author, Podcaster, Psychologist, and Coach on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Hear what ACT is, how to help your clients be their authentic selves, how to practice being uncomfortable, how to give your clients clarity on their thoughts, and how to focus on your message & serving...

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246: PACT Informed Couples Therapy with Michelle Garraway show art 246: PACT Informed Couples Therapy with Michelle Garraway

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 Michelle Garraway about PACT Informed Couples Therapy. Michelle is the Founder & Clinical Director of The Relationship Agency, where she specializes in PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy). Hear what makes the PACT model fun & different, how the PACT process works with couples, what you can learn when couples face towards each other, some of the most...

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245: The Vagina Whisperer and Floored with Dr. Sara Reardon show art 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. show art 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 show art 243: Commitment in Couples Therapy with Shane Birkel

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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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This episode is brought to you by Alma. Visit HelloAlma.com/ATPP to learn more

Get the Couples Therapy 101 course: https://www.couplestherapistcouch.com/

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Join The Couples Therapist Couch Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295562197518469/

In this episode, Shane talks with Marie Vakakis about parents of teenagers. Marie is a Therapist, Mental Health and Relationship Educator, and Host of the This Complex Life podcast. Hear the pros & cons of family therapy vs. couples therapy, how to work through parenting struggles in couples therapy, how to navigate differing parenting styles with clients, the language parents should use when communicating with their teenagers, and whether it’s okay to show vulnerability as a parent.

To learn more about Marie Vakakis & This Complex Life, visit:

MarieVakakis.com.au

This Complex Life podcast

Inside Social Work podcast

Marie Vakakis on LinkedIn