This is a wrap on Season One, but we're working on Season Two and looking for dating, engaged or newly married couples who would like to talk to our experts. Please complete the form on the PracticallyMarried.net/podcast if you and your partner are interested.

Thanks for listening and we'll talk to you in the fall!

Get in touch!

• Follow us on Instagram @getpracticallymarried
• Visit PracticallyMarried.net for more info and to check out our free conversation-starting resources!
• Email us at podcast@practicallymarried.net

Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Sage Holt-Hall

Having a child is a joyous yet extremely stressful experience for most couples. So, this week I’m talking to Nikki Lively, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) about some of the conversations couples should begin having years before starting a family.

We cover a wide range of topics including:

• Deciding if and when to have children
• Fertility issues
• Considerations for how many kids to have
• Gender & personality preferences
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Parental roles & expectations
• Division of labor
• Boundaries with extended family
• Culture, religion & community
• Childcare choices

Nikki Lively, LCSW is the Clinical Director of the Transitions to Parenthood Program at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. To learn more about Nikki's work, visit:

• NikkiLively.com
• Nikki Lively at The Family Institute

Additional resources:

• The Family Institute Resource Library
• The Fair Play Method
• Get Ready to Say "I Do" (the FREE Practically Married mini-course)

Get in touch!

• Follow us on Instagram @getpracticallymarried
• Visit PracticallyMarried.net for more info and to check out our free conversation-starting resources!
• Email us at podcast@practicallymarried.net

Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Sage Holt-Hall

Today, we welcome therapist and author Shemiah Derrick, LCPC, CADC back to the show to discuss the role conflict plays in your relationship. Shemiah brings her Gottman Method training and extensive experience working with couples to our conversation covering:

• How conflict presents an opportunity
• Why we shouldn't avoid conflict
• Perpetual and solvable problems
• How to apologize
• Forgiveness

To learn more about Shemiah’s work, visit:

• ShemiahDerrick.com
• shemiahderrick on Instagram
• Amazon author page
• Shemiah's "The Words Between Us" couples journals (Use promo code PMPOD20 for 20% discount for Practically Married listeners)

Resources referenced:

• Robert Taibi, LCSW
• Emotional disconnection (The Gottman Institute)
• Perpetual and solvable problems (The Gottman Institute)
• Gentle start-up (The Gottman Institute)
• Aftermath of a regrettable incident (The Gottman Institute)
• Marlene Chism
• Dr. Alexandra Solomon
• Get Ready to Say "I Do" (the FREE Practically Married mini-course)

Get in touch!

• Follow us on Instagram @getpracticallymarried
• Visit PracticallyMarried.net for more info and to check out our free conversation-starting resources!
• Email us at podcast@practicallymarried.net

Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Sage Holt-Hall