comfy office with a leather couch
the Podcast

The Couples
Therapist Couch

2.8 Million Downloads. Weekly Conversations
About What Actually Creates Change.

Since 2017, this has been the podcast where therapists come to think more deeply about couples work, and where anyone in a relationship can start to understand what's really going on underneath the surface.

2.8M+

podcast downloads

200K+

social followers

2017

The Beginning of the Journey

280+

episodes

Not Sure Where to Start?

280+ episodes is a lot. Here are a few good entry points depending on what you're looking for.

If you're new to the podcast:

Ep. 274

7 Steps to Move Beyond Your Painful Past with Katherine Woodward Thomas

How we stay stuck in patterns from our past, what it takes to actually move through them, and what this has to do with love.

Ep. 276

The Myth of Effortless Connection

How couples lose connection over time, what the healthiest relationships actually do, and how to create real safety, accessible for anyone, therapist or not.

If you're a therapist learning couples work:

Ep. 278

When Weekly Couples Therapy Isn't Enough

The case for intensive formats, why 50-minute sessions have limits, how to get to what actually matters, and how to think about session length with your clients.

Ep. 275

Internal Family Systems (IFS) & Couples with Liz Phillips

How IFS applies to couples work, why helping partners focus on themselves first changes everything, and why every therapist should be doing their own work.

If you're working on your own relationship:

Ep. 279

Why Do I Keep Doing This? with Kati Morton

Why we get stuck in the same patterns, how to actually get unstuck, and the difference between real love and codependence.

Ep. 277

When Work Stress Impacts the Relationship with Guy Winch

Why it's so hard to leave work stress at the door, how it damages the relationship, and what to actually do about it.

The 4C's Framework

Everything on this podcast runs through the same methodology: Consciousness, Compassion, Connection, Curiosity. I think of it as a way of understanding what's really keeping people stuck, and what it takes to create space for something to change. This is a good place to start.

Ep. 280

The 4 C's in Relationships

Ep. 281

Consciousness

Ep. 282

Curiosity

Ep. 283

Compassion

Ep. 284

Connection

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Ready to Go Deeper?

The podcast is where a lot of people start. When you're ready for more, here's where to go next.

I'm a therapist who wants to learn this methodology

We're a couple ready for real work

Get in touch

Still have questions? Reach out directly

© 2026 Shane Birkel | All rights reserved.

Get in touch

Still have questions? Reach out directly

© 2026 Shane Birkel | All rights reserved.

Get in touch

Still have questions? Reach out directly

© 2026 Shane Birkel | All rights reserved.