Ever feel stuck in the same relationship patterns—whether in your marriage, parenting, or extended family? In this powerful episode of Marriage IQ, we uncover the hidden forces shaping your relationships through family systems theory with Dr. Kathleen Smith, therapist and author of True to You: A Therapist’s Guide to Stop Pleasing Others and Start Being Yourself.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Family Systems Theory Explains Your Relationship Struggles Dr. Smith breaks down Murray Bowen’s groundbreaking work on how families operate as living, interconnected systems. Discover:

• Why one person’s behavior shift can transform an entire family dynamic

• How deeply ingrained family patterns affect your marriage, parenting, and self-growth

• The power of "zooming out" to see your relationship challenges more clearly
  

✅ Anxiety in Relationships: How It Shapes Your Reactions Are you responding to real threats or just your brain’s anxiety-driven patterns? Learn how to:

• Recognize anxiety’s hidden role in your relationship struggles

• Stop mind-reading and making harmful assumptions about your spouse

• Replace reactive emotions with curiosity and intentionality
  

✅ Over-Functioning vs. Under-Functioning: Are You Doing Too Much? Many couples fall into an imbalance where one partner over-functions (takes on too much responsibility) while the other under-functions (avoids challenges). Dr. Smith shares:

• The telltale signs of these patterns in marriage and parenting

• How they impact intimacy, communication, and emotional connection

• Practical strategies to rebalance your relationship and foster mutual growth
  

Why This Episode Matters By understanding family systems theory, you’ll gain a fresh perspective on why you and your spouse react the way you do—and how to shift your patterns for a healthier, more fulfilling marriage.

Listen now to start breaking free from old dynamics and building stronger, more intentional relationships!

Subscribe to Marriage IQ for more expert-backed insights on relationships, intimacy, and personal growth.

#MarriageIQ #FamilySystemsTheory #RelationshipPatterns #MarriageHelp #EmotionalHealth #SelfGrowth

Ever wonder why you and your partner seem to have the same argument on repeat? Or why small misunderstandings escalate into full-blown conflicts? The answer may be lurking in your mind’s unconscious shortcuts—cognitive biases that silently shape your marriage.

In this eye-opening episode of Marriage IQ, we uncover six powerful biases that influence how you see, interpret, and react to your partner—including the self-serving bias (where we magnify our own good intentions but fixate on our spouse’s mistakes) and the confirmation bias (where we unknowingly seek proof that we’re right—even when we’re not).

We start with a raw, real-life moment from our own marriage—an airport miscommunication that turned into unexpected tension—before breaking down:

🧠 The 6 Hidden Biases in Marriage 1️⃣ Implicit Bias – The “default settings” you bring into love 2️⃣ Perceptual Bias – How your “marriage glasses” distort reality 3️⃣ Self-Serving Bias – Why we see ourselves as the hero of the story 4️⃣ Attribution Bias – Assuming the worst about your partner’s intentions 5️⃣ Confirmation Bias – Why we seek proof that supports our beliefs (for better or worse) 6️⃣ Expectation Bias – The “Disney effect” of unrealistic relationship ideals

🔥 How to Break Free from These Biases: ✅ Reprogram your mental defaults to stop destructive patterns ✅ Shift your perspective and practice curiosity over assumption ✅ Balance self-reflection with genuine empathy for your partner ✅ Reframe negative attributions and give your spouse the benefit of the doubt ✅ Challenge assumptions and seek the whole truth—not just the parts that confirm your fears ✅ Communicate openly about expectations (and ditch the fairy tale scripts)

We also bust common myths—like the idea that happy couples are immune to bias or that these mental shortcuts are impossible to change. Spoiler: They’re not!

If you’re ready to see your marriage through clearer, more compassionate eyes, this episode is your guide to breaking free from destructive biases and building a smarter, stronger, and more connected partnership.

🎧 Tune in now and start seeing your relationship in a whole new light!

In this powerful episode of Marriage IQ, we dive deep into how limiting beliefs and past traumas unknowingly impact relationships. Joining us is Jenn Pinkerton, a psychotherapist and clinical sexologist, who unpacks how childhood experiences shape adult behavior—especially in love and intimacy.

Jenn reveals how attachment styles, self-awareness, and communication patterns can either strengthen or sabotage your marriage. She shares practical strategies for creating emotional safety, regulating your nervous system, and using reflection as a tool for transformation.

If you've ever wondered why you react the way you do in relationships—or how to break free from old wounds—this episode is for you. Tune in for expert insights and actionable steps to heal, connect, and build a thriving partnership.