532: The Shadow Cycle

532: The Shadow Cycle

Author: Cloud10 February 20, 2026 Duration: 30:10
In today's episode we are exploring the shadow cycle; how our partner's experience often mirrors ours in a different cycle. Join hosts Laurie and George as they walk listeners through the five steps to explore and understand the shadow cycle. This key exercise can help bring awareness to each partner's perspective, slow down the negative cycles and use curiosity rather than defensiveness. If you and your partner keep getting stuck, make sure to listen and share to learn how to tap into each other's worlds through a different and healthier lens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a world where conversations about intimacy often get reduced to cliches or awkward silence, Brave Love Great Sex-Couples Therapy Podcast offers a different space. Hosted by certified sex therapist Dr. Laurie Watson and renowned couples therapist George Faller, LMFT, this is a dialogue that goes beyond simple advice. Each episode is built on a foundation of professional expertise and compassionate honesty, tackling the real, sometimes messy, intersections of emotional connection and physical desire. You'll hear frank discussions that demystify therapy, explore relationship dynamics, and address the challenges and joys of maintaining a vibrant, erotic bond within a committed partnership. The conversations are designed to be both fascinating and practical, moving from broader concepts of love and trust to specific discussions about sexual intimacy and technique. This isn't about quick fixes; it's about providing hope and actionable insights for couples who want to deepen their understanding of each other. By listening to this podcast, you gain access to a rare combination of perspectives, where a focus on sexual health and a focus on relational fitness come together. It’s for anyone in a long-term relationship seeking to nurture both the brave love and the great sex that can sustain it for the long haul.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Brave Love Great Sex – Couples Therapy Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Foreplay Replay - Can You Become Addicted to Viagra? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:36
Welcome listeners! This episode centers on using Viagra or other medication to help with erectile dysfunction and if they are addictive. Join George and Laurie as they discuss the prescription medication, the reasons beh…
535: I Never Want to Have Sex Again [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:32
Greetings Brave Lovers! Have you or your partner ever uttered this statement? This definitive declaration has been shared in our therapy offices many times and we are bringing it to today's episode to explore the reasons…
Foreplay Replay - Oral Sex Do's and Dont's [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:04
Grab your pen and notebook for this, you're going to want ALL the notes from this episode! George and Dr. Laurie answer a mailbag question from a longtime listener about bl*w jobs. More specifically, wanting to know how…
534: The Unconscious Life of Sexuality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:00
Welcome Brave Lovers! In this week's episode, Laurie is joined by guest Juliane Maxwald. Juliane is a psychotherapist based in NYC and shares with us great insight from her book; Psychoanalytic Sex Therapy: Exploring the…
Foreplay Replay - Dirty Talk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:16
Warning this episode is NSFW and you might want to sit down for this one! Is dirty talk part of your love making repertoire? Dirty talk is defined as talking explicitly about sex with your partner. These explicit words r…
533: Healing The Political Divide in Couples [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:30
In today's episode, we are joined by Dr. James Hawkins, certified EFT couples therapist and trainer from The Joshua Center in Arkansas. Listen in as we tackle the tough topic of how to bridge the current political divide…
Foreplay Replay - Sex Life a Snoozefest? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:29
Boring is a signal and it's a sign that something needs to change! A complaint about monogamy is that the line between responsibility and desire often gets blurred and it is responsibility and safety that win out. Long-t…
Foreplay Replay - Alcohol -- Gas Pedal or Brake? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:14
"Sometimes popping two gummies on vacation helps us have really great sex!" "I really need that glass of wine to get me in the mood!" "Smelling alcohol on your breath is such a turnoff!" As couples and sex therapists, we…
531: Want Better Sex? Be a Better Caregiver [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:13
In today's episode, Laurie and George discuss how improving caretaking in your relationship can lead to better sex. If you've felt bogged down by the mental load or have heard your partner make complaints about it this i…