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Life in the sandwich generation isn’t for the faint of heart—juggling aging parents, growing kids, and, oh yes, trying to nurture your own relationship amidst the chaos. That’s why I’m thrilled to introduce you to Marianne Marlow, a couples therapist and founder of This Love Works1.
What stood out about Marianne wasn’t just her expertise but her approach: meeting people exactly where they are, even if therapy feels like uncharted waters. She gets it—and makes the process less intimidating and more collaborative. Today, she’s sharing her invaluable insights, including how to gently encourage someone into therapy and navigate the challenges with grace and humor.
Let’s dive into a conversation that just might inspire you to rethink how we show up for our relationships—and ourselves.
About Marianne and This Love Works
After 15 years working with the largest tech companies in the country on corporate team development, Marianne wanted to really understand what makes great relationships work. Now, as a relationship therapist for more than 20 years, she sits with couples during the most challenging times in their relationships. Marianne asks questions that facilitate understanding, healing, and change.
She has studied with the foremost relationship coaches, researchers, and trauma experts to learn how to heal the nervous system and start the process of healing relationships. Marianne personally studies and implements the most proven, the most lasting, and the most secure psychological and spiritual relationship practices.
Major Topics Covered
Healing from Childhood Trauma in Adulthood
Burnout and Apathy: Recognizing the Signs
The Importance of Novelty in Relationships
Intimacy and Aging: Navigating Changes Together
Political Divides: Keeping Love Alive
Encouraging Partners to Embrace Therapy
Dating After Divorce: Breaking Old Patterns
Quick Takeaways
Marianne: Contempt is the most dangerous of ‘The Four Horsemen’ and when you’ve hit that point with your partner, it’s probably time to get in with a therapist who can help you. Apathy in a relationship can also masquerade as depression.
Jill: It’s important to be aware of how early childhood trauma can manifest itself in relationships later in life. Understanding that is crucial for personal growth.
Books Mentioned During the Show
Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
Wired for Love by Stan Tatkin2
Us: Getting Past You & Me To Build A More Loving Relationship by Terrence Real
How to Find a Couples Therapist
The PACT Institute: https://thepactinstitute.wildapricot.org/
Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/
Ways to Connect with Marianne
Website: https://thisloveworks.com/
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Go Long recommends listening to the entire podcast for context, but knows you are all busy people so below you will see timestamps. This episode is also available on YouTube.
Ready to establish some sustainable habits in 2025 and move past making New Year’s Resolutions that fizzle out by the end of January?
Timestamps
00:00: Introduction to Marianne Marlow and Her Journey
07:24: The Importance of Trust in Counseling
12:11: Navigating Social Media Influencers in Therapy
16:31: Understanding Qualifications for Couples Therapists
22:09: Impact of COVID-19 on Relationships
27:05: Recognizing When to Seek Counseling
32:45: The Four Horsemen of Relationship Conflict
36:08: Understanding the Impact of Early Childhood Trauma
39:00: Navigating Burnout and Apathy in Relationships
45:34: The Role of Novelty in Intimacy and Connection
46:58: Exploring Sex and Intimacy as We Age
54:17: Managing Political Differences in Relationships
1:01:14: Encouraging Reluctant Partners to Seek Therapy
1:07:55: Re-entering the Dating Scene After Divorce
NOTE: Marianne was the couples therapist for the hubs and me. We have since graduated. We do not receive any referral bonuses or compensation of any kind as a result of this interview.
This book was recommended to the hubs and I to read while we were working with Marianne. Highly recommended from my point of view.
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