Did you know that nearly half of adults are part of a stepfamily relationship? Ron Deal, a licensed marriage and family therapist and one of the most recognized experts on stepfamily dynamics, joins us to share practical strategies for co-parenting, blending relationships, and creating harmony in your home. With insights from his book The Smart Stepfamily, Ron offers wisdom on building respect across households, supporting children through transitions, and fostering unity in blended families. Whether you’re navigating co-parenting challenges or looking to strengthen your stepfamily bond, this episode is packed with helpful advice and encouragement.

Anxiety is a heavy word. Saying it out loud can invoke strong emotions, and dealing with it as an individual can be challenging enough. So how do you navigate through seasons of anxiety in your marriage? In this episode of The WinShape Marriage Podcast, Marlee Arnold sits down with Monique Wells, a licensed professional counselor with over 25 years of experience. They navigate this important conversation answering questions like, “How can I support my spouse if they’re dealing with anxiety?”; “What can we do if we’re both walking through an anxious season?”; and “How can we stay connected amidst it all?” Hear practical ways you can show up for your spouse and strategies to manage this season as a team.

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Time Stamps:

(1:50) What does anxiety look like and how do you pay attention to it

(4:47) If you’re noticing signs of generalized anxiety for yourself, how do you let your spouse into how you’re feeling

(8:45) How to support your spouse if they’re experiencing stress and anxiety

(14:39) How to navigate a stressful or anxious season together, if you’re both experiencing it

(21:03) How to recognize if generalized anxiety is moving into more chronic anxiety

(26:53) How to approach anxiety from a biblical perspective

(33:12) How important is it to maintain connection and intimacy during seasons of anxiety

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Links:

2 Corinthians 10:5-6 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2010%3A%205-6&version=ESV

Philippians 4:8 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204%3A8&version=ESV

John 10:10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2010%3A10&version=ESV

WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/

WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/

WinShape Marriage Retreats https://marriage.winshape.org/retreats/

Pastor & Ministry Leader Retreats https://marriage.winshape.org/ministry-retreats/

Spark deeper conversation with your spouse related to the episode with our free discussion questions. https://marriage.winshape.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/WSMPodcastDiscussionQuestions-S2Ep8.pdf

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Relevant Resources:

“How To Find a Marriage Counselor” https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/how-to-find-a-marriage-counselor/

There is so much more to intimacy with your spouse than just physical intimacy. In fact, Dr. Juli Slattery says there’s a difference between being sexually active and sexually intimate. So, how do you tap into deeper intimacy in your marriage? Dr. Slattery is back on The WinShape Marriage Podcast talking about just this with Rob Philo and Marlee Arnold. They discuss practical ways you can engage with your spouse outside the bedroom that will impact intimacy in the bedroom and even ways you might be sabotaging intimacy without realizing it.

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Time Stamps:

(1:12) How intimacy extends beyond the bedroom

(3:10) How does intimacy outside the bedroom impact intimacy in the bedroom

(4:56) What are some practical things you can do outside the bedroom that will impact intimacy in the bedroom

(8:14) How “talking” can fail to build intimacy at times

(11:28) How you might be sabotaging intimacy without realizing it

(21:06) How to work toward recovering intimacy after a breach of trust in marriage

(24:28) How to develop intimacy in your marriage when there are walls built up

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Links:

Authentic Intimacy https://www.authenticintimacy.com/

“God, Sex, and Your Marriage” https://shop.authenticintimacy.com/products/god-sex-and-your-marriage

Faithful & True https://www.faithfulandtrue.com/

Be Broken https://www.bebroken.org/

WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/

WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/

WinShape Marriage Intensives https://marriage.winshape.org/intensives/

The Journey https://marriage.winshape.org/journey/

260 Free Printable Conversation Starters for Couples https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/conversation-starters-for-date-night/

Spark deeper conversation with your spouse related to the episode with our free discussion questions. https://marriage.winshape.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/WSMPodcastDiscussionQuestions-S2Ep7.pdf

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Relevant Resources:

“90 Date Ideas for Couples” https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/90-date-ideas-for-couples/
“How To Find a Marriage Counselor” https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/how-to-find-a-marriage-counselor/

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Relevant Episodes:

God’s Design for Sex in Marriage | Dr. Juli Slattery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY5u0EL6HzI&t=1797s