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!

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