Brave Love Great Sex – Couples Therapy Podcast
Episodes
299: Vulnerability Can Spice Up A Boring Marriage
10 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Couples who find themselves stuck in the boring and mundane are often couples who have failed to be vulnerable. George uses a three-road analogy to e...
298: Frustrated Pursuers–The Pain of Rejection
03 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We always talk about sexual Pursuers and Withdrawers—those who seek sex and those who withdraw from it. Because sexual Pursuers are usually the sex...
297: When Does Sex Become Compulsive?
27 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It is believed that 3-6% of people in the U.S. struggle with sexual compulsion, all genders can be affected. Sometimes sexual activities become compul...
296: 4 Steps To Romantic Sex!
20 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We talk a lot about romance outside of the bedroom, but what does a romantic interlude look like? “I wish my partner were more romantic in bed” is...
295: How To Talk About Sex While Grieving
13 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore grief through the lens of sexual intimacy... For many couples, sexual intercourse is a safe space where they can be vulner...
294: Red HOT—The Color of Attraction
06 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Q&A episode!!! We're answering a bunch of different questions from our listeners about the science of attraction, faking it, and how to bring sexy bac...
293: It Takes Two to Tango!
30 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We often use the word "tango" in EFT in context of the cycles, patterns, or feedback loop that couples can get stuck in. How do you change that dynami...
292: Healing After An Affair
23 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Affairs devastate the trust and connection in a committed relationship… Although healing after an affair is a delicate process and can feel impossib...
291: What Turns Men On?
16 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve talked about what turns women on… let’s hear about men!! It might not be what you expect... We’re borrowing from Michael Castleman’s ...
290: Turnons and Turnoffs
09 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
All gas, no brakes!! We're using our acronym B.E.S.T. sex to talk about turn ons and turn offs. What works, and what doesn't work. Body, Emotional, Sp...
289: Strengthen Your Erotic Mind
02 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How can you develop your erotic mind? The BRAIN is the best sexual organ we have! Engagement of the mind is important and developing eroticism can bri...
288: New Moves—For Pursuers and Withdrawers
25 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you feel stuck in the negative cycle? What's not working? Couples usually understand what’s not working, but not what they could do differently....
287: Hope For A Sexless Marriage?
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When someone is committed to fidelity and their partner absolutely does not want sex—is there any hope? Technically, sexless is considered less tha...
286: What Turns Women On? Female Sexual Cues
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What sexual cues turn women on? Here’s a hint—interest is sexy! 32% of women lack sexual interest, according to a research study by Meston & McCal...
285: Q&A: Sexual Crossroads—Breakthrough Or Breakup?
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we’re answering YOUR questions!! We find that the questions can be repetitive because couples are struggling with the same sexual a...
284: 3 Tools for Better Communication—Reflect, Evocative Response, Validate
28 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How can you better approach and communicate with your partner about your feelings and needs? Reflect, Evocative Response, Validate... In this week's ...
283: Finding A Sexual Flow State—Merging As One
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you experienced a state of “flow” during sex? What is the correlation between flow and sexual satisfaction? A new research study by Jamea, E....
282: 4 Hot Techniques for Female Pleasure—OMGYES Research
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We are keeping HOT this week! Real talk about female pleasure and the clitoris… Discover new techniques to increase pleasure during sexual intercou...
281: Anal Play - It's Okay If You Want It; It's Okay If You Don't
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Anal play, anal penetration, prostate stimulation or anal sex. While we may feel squeamish about this subject - the anus IS an erogenous zone charge...
280: My Partner Won’t Go Down—How Do We Go On?
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Maybe you or your partner is uninterested in or uncomfortable with certain acts, such as oral sex. Both men and women can resist oral sex. What’s ...
279: 5 Erotic Blueprints—What's Your Sexual Style?
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week we’re talking about erotic blueprints. Like the 5 love languages—but all about sex! We all have different ways that we get turned on… ...
278: Erectile Dysfunction—Overcoming Anxiety with Vulnerability
16 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Erectile dysfunction is a common issue and can be caused by a number of reasons such as anxiety, age, medication, and physiological issues. The good t...
277: Overcoming Sexual and Emotional Blocks
08 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What are the blocks that keep us from each other? Withdrawer blocks might look like taking space through laughing, walking away, or being too positi...
276: Longings Fulfilled—When Your Lover Loves You Back
02 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Does your partner feel just outside of your grasp? Are you longing for a deeper physical and emotional connection? Pursuers and withdrawers have diffe...
275: Online Dating—Finding Connection Beyond the Profile
26 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How can you navigate the world of online dating and find a partner with the qualities you’re looking for? How can you avoid wasting time on drama an...
274: How to Have Hot Makeup Sex—Minus the Fight!
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why is makeup sex so hot?! Emotions are so raw in the moment… and anger can be arousing! The passion is mutual and therefore, even hotter! Energy is...
273: Stop the Fight—How to Break the Negative Cycle
12 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are you always having what feels like the same fight? Does the negative cycle leave you feeling frustrated and angry? Or misunderstood and like you're...
272: Secrets of Her Erotic Mind
04 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s open the door to the erotic mind of a female…What do women fantasize about? What gets them hot? Not just fantasizing in the moment—but ev...
271: Vulnerability—Why Do Men Have a Hard Time Expressing Emotions?
26 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why do men struggle with expressing their emotions? Often they’ve spent much of their lives learning how to avoid feeling vulnerable at all costs—...
270: 4 Female Inhibitions in Bed – How to Overcome Them
19 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What are some of the common sexual "blocks" that women experience? Reservations around the idea of sex can come from a number of things – religious ...
269: 5 Ways for Men to Get Their Mojo Back
12 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Pursuers become burned out after being turned down time and time again... This rejection causes them to lose their confidence and be more cautious. Ho...
268: Sex on the Table: How to Respond to a Pursuer's Request
05 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When sexual pursuers make attempts to initiate sex, they are coming from a good place-- but their method of delivery may not be the best. When ...
267: The Gleam in Their Eye Makes Us Hot
29 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In early dating years our partner’s face lights up at the thought of sex, they tell us with their eyes that we make them hot. The gleam in their eye...
266: Anxiety is a Sex Killer - Gain Confidence with Playfulness
22 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you lost your confidence in bed? Anxiety is a sex killer. Whether it’s anxiety over your performance, being vulnerable, being naked, expectatio...
265: Do You Have Sex on Her Period?
15 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do you feel about having sex during your/her period? There can be a negative connotation to intercourse during a woman's menstrual cycle that goe...
264: Premature Ejaculation - How to Last Longer
08 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Premature ejaculation is very common, but also very treatable. It can be caused by a number of things such as performance anxiety, biological factors,...
263: Sizzling Resolutions
01 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jump into 2021 with a sense of direction for your relationship! Join sex therapist Laurie Watson and couples therapist George Faller as they talk abou...
262: Making the Most of the Holidays
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The point of the holidays is to share love and connection! It's also a great time to spur meaningful conversations! Set aside time to ask each other ...
261: The 5 Love Languages of Christmas
18 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The holidays are busy for everyone! But you can't forget to make time for your partner... Let's talk about the 5 love languages and ways to express yo...
260: The Madonna/Whore Split
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Originally identified by Freud, the “madonna/whore complex” is the inability to maintain sexual arousal in committed, long-term relationships. It ...
259: What To Do With A Hot-Tempered Man
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Women who have felt or seen their partner’s anger will not be able to feel his erotic vibe. Sexual pursuers can become demanding when their partne...
258: Variety - To Spice Up The Bedroom
27 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This one comes at you fast! George and Laurie talk through a variety of sex acts that couples choose to liven things up. No judgements just a curious ...
257: Intersection of Emotional and Sexual Cycles
20 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How can you and your partner align your emotional and sexual cycles? We can be on different planets sometimes when it comes to these cycles, but wh...
256: Desire versus Willingness
13 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Can willingness replace desire? Are you wanting or just willing to have sex? Sometimes willingness can mean being vulnerable and communicating with yo...
255: Mailbag! Unrequited Sexual Fantasies, When to Compromise and Being Vulnerable
06 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Mailbag!! George and Laurie answer questions from the Foreplay Fam in this week’s episode! They’re talking all about unrequited fantasies, comprom...
254: Low Libido Joe
30 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What should a woman think about a man who doesn't initiate sex much and doesn't even seem to want it? She wonders if he's even attracted to her. Lau...
253: Resilient Sex - The Female Sexual Pursuer
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What does resilient sex look like in a female? George and Laurie take another look at how a different woman - a sexual pursuer - might answer question...
252: Sex During COVID (Still)
16 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sex during COVID (still!) - while kids are home, while we're stir-crazy, closeness is feeling claustrophobic; and we've got the big sex killer - stres...
251: Setting Up An Early Relationship for Sex Success
09 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Thinking about getting married and want to make sure sex is good and you stay emotionally connected? Never had these important conversations about bas...
250: Do Creams, Meds, Pills, Gadgets, and Toys Really Help Her in Bed?
02 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
George and Laurie talk with Dr. Polly Watson, MD (no relation!) about all the new exciting advances in sex medicine to find out what helps. We discuss...
249: Closing the Arousal Gap
25 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With the average Joe and average Jane so different in their approach to sex and the ways and timing of arousal, what can a couple do to close the arou...
248: Sexual Self Improvement Plan for Her
18 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week it is Average Jane's turn! Join sex therapist and author Dr. Laurie Watson and couples therapist George Faller as they talk about what the s...
247: 12 Ways To Get Better In Bed For Guys
11 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
George wants men to have a method to improve their sexual game in 3 zones—pre-sex, during sex and post-sex in 4 different areas: heart, mind, body, ...
246: Ask a Sexual Question and Get "I don't know" For An Answer - What to Do?
04 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As a sexual pursuer, how can you open a conversation with your sexually withdrawing partner? What are some typical questions that pursuers ask and how...
245: The Killjoy Cycle
28 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Let's talk about “killjoy” – the negative cycle that squashes the love life is so many millions of couples out there and how we can name it, not...
244: Orgasm Gap and How Big is Big Enough?
21 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Is the orgasm gap fair? Laurie and George don't think so. But it's so natural to feel criticized when your partner tries to tell you what they need; h...
243: Why Do YOU Want To Have Sex? Five Motives For Sex!
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why do YOU want to have sex? George and I talk about the 5 most frequent motives to get it on! Pleasure, Intimacy, Approval, Coping and Procreation. E...
242: Come as you are with Emily Nogaski
07 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome Dr. Emily Nagoski, PhD, fellow podcaster and award-winning author of the New York Times bestseller, Come As You Are: the surprising new scienc...
241: What Withdrawers Can Do Besides Walking Away
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Knowing that their withdrawal triggers their partner, what can someone who feels attacked or criticized do - other than walking away? Wrestling with t...
240: Do Men Really Want Directions In Bed?
24 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Men want an engaged partner and frequently ask for communication in bed. Yet, how can a women ask for what she wants without sending the message tha...
239: Two Ways Pursuers Can Calm Down & Love Their Withdrawing Partner
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Pursuers have beautiful motives to push toward their partners - wanting more connection, more intimacy and more sex. But they often feel rejected and ...
238: Four Sexy Questions
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's so hard to ask for what I want in bed or how to answer what do you want me to do to you sexually. Why? George says we either want to protect our ...
237: 49 Year-Old Virgin and Other Mailbag Questions
03 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Mailbag! - A 49 year-old virgin wonders if it too late for love or if she has lost her mojo. George and Laurie discuss having hard conversations about...
236: You Excite Me -- Seeing Your Partner as Sexy
26 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When we are falling in love, we notice all the positive attractors in our partner. Over time, the inevitable negatives which were there all along beco...
235: I'm Too Sexy For My Shirt -- Getting Sexual Confidence
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We all resonate with how sexy confidence is in the bedroom. But how do we get it back when we've been repeatedly rejected? Or how do we love ourselves...
234: Rooting Out Racism
11 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
George and Laurie add their hearts to the conversation about racism. We need to have the conversations that are uncomfortable. If we're marginalized, ...
233: She Only Wants Sex to Keep Him Happy
04 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a sample conversation with "Eleanor" who is always anxious about sex, preoccupied with whether or not she is pleasing her husband, but una...
232: Talking to a Man About His Sex Life
28 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Conversation is the best foreplay. But to have a deeper, more satisfying relationship you must ask deeper, specific questions. Have you ever wanted to...
231: Sharing Your Sexual History - Assessment Part 2
21 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In therapy and in our partnerships, sharing our sexual histories takes vulnerability and courage. Have you told your partner about your sexual develop...
230: How to Assess Your Present Sexual Relationship
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We invite you into a thoughtful reflection about what is happening in YOUR sex life. Bring your spirit of curiosity and stay with us in the discovery ...
229: Sex During Hunkering Down
07 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The stay-at-home orders across the country because of the Covid-19 Pandemic has increased the economic and health security. Dealing with feelings of h...
228: Male Arousal -- What Turns Him On
30 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What turns him on? Visual stimulation is very important. Seeing his partner naked works if women can let go of their insecurity. Join sex therapist ...
227: Overcoming Shame in Sex
23 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A married woman listener asks George and Laurie about how to overcome 15 years of shame regarding her thoughts about the 'right kind of sex to have', ...
226: Do Women Enjoy Sex?
17 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this Mailbag episode, a listener raises a question about given the difficulty many women have in orgasming through intercourse, why would women wan...
225: De-escalating Conflicts
09 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Pursuer - Withdrawer dance can escalate negative emotions and lead to misunderstanding what each partner is wanting, thinking, and feeling. Join s...
224: Connecting During Covid
02 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
STAY CONNECTED! - our most important mission during the COVID-19 outbreak! In times of stress we need to turn to each other. George and Laurie talk ab...
223: I'm a Burned-out Pursuer
26 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Pursuers get exhausted. After trying everything... talking, begging, holding back their needs, getting angry... sometimes they just give up. When ...
222: Let's Talk About Sex, Baby!
19 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Laurie and George demonstrate best ways to initiate a conversation to get your partner to open up about sex. And secondly, they talk about how to chan...
221: Do 2 Withdrawers Ever Get Together?
12 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Do 2 withdrawers ever get together? They do but when there is little conflict there is usually little sex. Both people are so intent on being nice...
220: Affairs - Different Reasons Pursuers/Withdrawers Cheat
06 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why would a withdrawer have an affair when their partner is begging them for more connection? How can a pursuer get over their shame to see their part...
219: Forgiveness After an Affair
28 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Affairs devastate the trust and connection in a committed relationship. Recovery and reconnection is possible. Join sex therapist and author Laurie Wa...
218: Stress and Sex
21 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nothing more sexy than talking about stress! How we perceive stress is how it impacts our body and which makes it inseparable from sex. Connection wit...
217: Men Who Don't Go Down
14 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
One of the big disappointments for some women is when their partners don't want to do cunnilingus with them and they do. Join sex therapist and author...
216: Masturbation -- We All Do It
07 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Masturbation is a topic few couples are comfortable talking about; yet it is something that we all do. Join sex therapist and author Laurie Watson and...
215: Sexual Fantasies - What Do You Want?
31 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Most fantasies have the theme of someone being so into you. In our fantasy, our partner is showing high levels of engagement, high levels of passion a...
214: Healing Childhood Sexual Trauma
24 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sexual trauma in childhood can wreak havoc on adult emotional and sexual relationships. While challenging, traumas of this gravity can be healed. Join...
213: Overcoming Trauma for a Great Sex Life
17 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Trauma, PTSD, and other troubling experiences can invade and derail your relationship. Join sex therapist Laurie Watson and marriage therapist George ...
212: Redeeming Sexual Problems Brings Closeness
10 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sexual problems are opportunities to actually get deeper with each other. Cohosts talk about a man with ED and how he feels alone, alienated from his ...
211: Great Sex - Connecting Brains, Hearts and Bodies
03 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When our hearts are connected, we can lose ourselves sexually in one another. Great sex requires a bit of knowledge, a lot of vulnerability and a will...
210: His Porn Use - Man with ED Fears Rejection, Q&A Mailbag
27 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Q&A for a woman, who's husband prefers porn and a man struggling with ED. George says, "When I think about porn, I don't come at it from a moralistic ...
209: He Wants You Not Just Sex
20 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Men who feel sex as their primary path to connection are often told "all they want is sex." Indeed, sex is exciting and pleasurable to them but al...
208: Women Who Want It
13 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Women who feel sexually alive and use sex as a pathway for connection can feel out of place in a society that tells them - women don't/shouldn't want ...
207: Why He Doesn't Want It
05 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We think men always want sex. But some of them don't chase their partners. How can we understand this phenomenon? Laurie and Geoge talk about one issu...
206: Why She Doesn't Want Sex
29 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sounds pretty discouraging if your partner says she'd be fine never having sex again. Laurie and George discuss how to get to the root of what she's s...
205: Pursuer Pain and Frustration
22 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Pursuers' frustrations -- what's it like when you want more and you can't get it? What's it like to work so hard and see your partner walking away fro...
204: How to Understand Your Emotional Withdrawer
15 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Learn why your withdrawing partner feels they are keeping you safer by shutting down. Understand what is good and useful about withdrawing behavior. H...
203: Laurie's Story
08 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Laurie tells George her own story of why she became a sex therapist. Hear about her moment of decision when she stopped the negative pursuing cycle an...
202: Foreplay Meet Faller
01 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Foreplay - meet my new podcast cohost, George Faller, LMFT - a global leader in couples therapy! George debuts and tells his story of trauma to transf...
201: Goodbye to Adam (Bloopers Included)
25 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The sad day is here when we say goodbye to Dr. Adam Mathews. Join Laurie and Adam as they share their fond memories of working together. Listen throug...
200: For Richer and Poorer
18 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Money is one of the Big 3 -- along with Time and Energy. Negotiating the issues around money impacts a couple's capacity for intimacy. Join sex therap...