The Parenthood and Relationship Podcast | Matrescence | Relationship after baby | Motherhood life Podcast By Markella Kaplani - Clinical-Counseling Psychologist | Parenthood & Relationship Coach | Matrescence Expert cover art

The Parenthood and Relationship Podcast | Matrescence | Relationship after baby | Motherhood life

The Parenthood and Relationship Podcast | Matrescence | Relationship after baby | Motherhood life

By: Markella Kaplani - Clinical-Counseling Psychologist | Parenthood & Relationship Coach | Matrescence Expert
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Parenthood and maintaining a healthy relationship are ambitious endeavors. Being fully aware, you armed yourself with all the latest books, articles, podcasts, and resources, committed to being present and strong for your family. Yet, despite embracing every piece of advice and strategy in your search for reassurance, there are times you find yourself wondering why the harmony, connection, and closeness you envisioned seem out of reach. If this rings true, let me tell you: it’s not you! It’s what they didn’t tell you. The parenting guidance and strategies we read online lack depth. They hardly ever address the transition into parenthood and the profound impact this has on our identity, partnerships, and ability to show up as the parent we wish to be for our children. But guess what? We’re about to turn that around. Hi there, I’m Markella Kaplani. A clinical-counseling psychologist, a parenthood and relationship Coach, a matrescence coach and facilitator, a former special educator, and a parent myself. In my 15+ years in counseling and coaching, I know this to be true: once a parent is truly supported, not only through being given techniques to overcome parenting challenges, but on a personal and relational level, then the entire family can thrive. So, welcome to the Parenthood and Relationship Podcast! Here, we learn to grow individually, normalizing and validating the processes of matrescence and patrescence (i.e. struggling with identity, mom guilt, dad guilt, postpartum rage, work-life balance, etc). We also grow together by unraveling how parenthood affects marriage and what stands in the way of following the actionable parenting strategies that we know are helpful. So, if you’re feeling ready, let me hold your hand while we tackle intriguing, yet difficult topics, with compassion and curiosity. Interested to know more? - Reach out via email at info@markellakaplani.com with your questions, and - Visit www.markellakaplani.com to access FREE resources and check out ways to work with me personally. Let’s do this! --- 🔎 Is Parenthood Making or Breaking Your Relationship? FIND OUT NOW! https://www.markellakaplani.com/couplesquiz 🖥 Reconcile the ’old’ identity with the ’new’ Grab your FREE Matrescence Mini-Course https://www.markellakaplani.com/videoseries 👥 Join our Circle: www.facebook.com/groups/parenthoodandrelationship/ 🤝 Would you like a more personalized touch? I can offer Parenthood and Relationship Coaching. info@markellakaplani.com www.markellakaplani.com Book an introductory session to explore our chemistry and whether I am the right fit for you: http://tidycal.com/markellakaplani/intro-sessionCopyright 2024 All rights reserved. Hygiene & Healthy Living Parenting & Families Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Overstimulation in Parenthood: Strategies for Better Connection with Sara Sandland | Ep. 67

    Overstimulation in Parenthood: Strategies for Better Connection with Sara Sandland | Ep. 67
    Jul 20 2025

    Is overstimulation quietly unraveling your relationship?

    In this vulnerable and illuminating conversation with certified Health & Wellness Coach Sara Sandland, we peel back the layers of what’s really happening when moms feel “touched out,” irritable, or emotionally distant from their partners - and why it’s not a personality flaw, but a physiological reality with deep relational consequences.

    Sara and I unpack:

    1. The daily signs of sensory and emotional overload that most moms dismiss
    2. Why postpartum depletion can last for years
    3. The ripple effect of overstimulation on physical intimacy and emotional closeness
    4. Why couples often want the same thing — to feel connected again — but keep missing each other
    5. And what proactive conversations and micro-changes can rekindle that lost bond.

    This episode will leave you feeling seen, empowered, and supported — whether you’re the parent who feels overwhelmed or the partner who feels left behind.

    💌 SIGN UP: This week’s loveletter includes 1 insight, 1 exclusive tool, as well as 1 three-minute reset to help you track small emotional wins. Get it at markellakaplani.com/newsletter.

    —

    Who is Sara Sandland?

    Sara Sandland is a Certified Health & Wellness Coach who specializes in maternal well-being and the motherhood experience. As the Founder & Owner of Notably Well, Sara helps moms improve their energy, overstimulation, overwhelm, fulfillment, relationships, and more through feasible and sustainable adjustments in their lifestyle, behaviors, and mindset so they can feel and function like themselves again and experience the very best of motherhood.

    As a mom herself, she understands how postpartum shifts in the body’s functioning, coupled with the life changes that come with motherhood can affect maternal health and wellness in many ways. She also understands how difficult it can be for moms to find the time and energy to navigate the journey involved in addressing these impacts. She is passionate about supporting moms in identifying and addressing their roadblocks and empowering them to take their health and wellness journey into their own hands so they can thrive in motherhood.

    Free Guide: The Overstimulated Mom's 3-Step Guide to Reclaim Resilience in Moments of Overwhelm (https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/1035554/sites/149340687669658892/Sp0CeU)

    Free Discovery Call with Sara (https://my.practicebetter.io/#/67170c18c96165ff776acfc6/bookings?s=67171180b5183f8a5001aff6&step=date)

    Website: www.notablywell.com

    Instagram: www.instagram.com/notablywell

    Facebook: www.facebook.com/notablywell

    --- Full Transcript HERE. — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉 GET THE FREE INTIMACY in 5 MINUTE GUIDE! 👉Here are my top Resources 👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Join the Reconnect with Your Partner Challenge

    📩 Get in touch with me (Instagram @markella.kaplani; website; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! ---

    Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com
    Show more Show less
    49 mins
  • Reactive vs Relational Communication | Why Your Partner Still Doesn’t Get You | Marriage after Baby | Ep. 66

    Reactive vs Relational Communication | Why Your Partner Still Doesn’t Get You | Marriage after Baby | Ep. 66
    Jul 13 2025

    GET THE INTIMACY in 5 MINUTE GUIDE!

    Ever walked away from a heartfelt conversation feeling more alone than before you spoke? You thought you said it right. You were calm. You had a point. But somehow, your partner shut down, got defensive, or brought up the dishwasher from last week. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

    In this week’s episode, we’re diving into the often-missed difference between reactive and relational communication. It's not about perfect phrasing. It's about the place inside of you that you’re speaking from and whether that place is trying to connect… or trying to protect.

    I share a powerful story from my couples practice and breaks down my Trigger to Truth model, a four-step process that helps you shift out of automatic reactions and into meaningful connection.

    Whether you’re the one who gets quiet or the one who spirals into logic, this conversation will give you the tools to spot your own protective strategies and choose a more authentic, present path forward; one that leads to intimacy, not just talking.

    This episode is especially relevant for parents navigating the mental load, emotional fatigue, and shifting identities post-baby. When communication falters, it’s rarely about what was said and more often about what was left unhealed.

    💡 Today we explore:

    • Why “being calm” isn’t enough in conflict
    • The three voices of the protector: blame, withdrawal, and over-rationalizing
    • What relational communication looks, sounds, and feels like
    • The powerful reframe that turns tension into closeness

    This is the third episode in the July communication series. If you missed episodes 64 and episode 65, go back for a full foundation.

    🎁 GET THE INTIMACY in 5 MINUTE GUIDE!

    💌 Don’t forget: This week’s newsletter includes an exclusive tool to help you track small emotional wins get it at markellakaplani.com/newsletter.

    --

    Full Transcript HERE.

    — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉Here are my top Resources 👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Join the Reconnect with Your Partner Challenge

    📩 Get in touch with me Instagram @markella.kaplani; website: https://markellakaplani.com; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! https://podcasts.apple.com/gr/podcast/the-parenthood-and-relationship-podcast/id1739098480 Your support means the world!

    ---

    Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com
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    10 mins
  • Transform Couple Fighting Styles Into Healthy Conflict Resolution | Marriage After Kids | Ep. 65

    Transform Couple Fighting Styles Into Healthy Conflict Resolution | Marriage After Kids | Ep. 65
    Jul 6 2025
    What if the fights that feel like they're tearing you apart could actually bring you closer together? In this transformative episode, we're diving deep into the hidden world of couple fighting styles and healthy conflict resolution that can revolutionize your relationship. If you're a parent feeling caught in endless cycles of marriage conflict patterns, this episode is your roadmap to freedom. We explore why happy couples don't avoid conflict... they transform it! From the pursuer-withdrawer dance to the protective parts that hijack our conversations, you'll discover the relationship communication skills that actually work when emotions run high. Through real case studies and practical tools, we unpack how your childhood experiences shape your adult couple therapy techniques and why understanding your nervous system responses is crucial for relationship repair techniques. Whether you're dealing with parenting relationship challenges or struggling to maintain intimacy in your marriage after kids, this episode offers hope and actionable strategies. You'll learn the powerful "Conflict Reset" method that helps you pause destructive patterns and choose connection over being right. We explore how emotional regulation couples can master together, turning conflict from a threat into a doorway for deeper understanding. Today we discuss: 🔍 The four main conflict styles and how to identify yours 💬 Why your nervous system hijacks arguments and how to reclaim control 🧠 The Conflict Reset technique that transforms fights into connection opportunities ❤️ How to treat conflict as a mirror that reveals unmet needs and hidden fears Perfect for couples navigating the complexities of parenthood, this episode bridges psychological insight with practical tools you can use tonight.

    ---

    GET THE INTIMACY in 5 MINUTE GUIDE!

    💌 Don’t forget: This week’s newsletter includes an exclusive tool to help you track small emotional wins get it at markellakaplani.com/newsletter.

    —

    👉 Full Transcript HERE.

    — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉Here are my top Resources 👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Join the Reconnect with Your Partner Challenge

    📩 Get in touch with me Instagram @markella.kaplani; website: https://markellakaplani.com; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! https://podcasts.apple.com/gr/podcast/the-parenthood-and-relationship-podcast/id1739098480 Your support means the world!

    ---

    Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com
    Show more Show less
    10 mins
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