The 5 Situations that a Couples Therapist Can’t Really Help

A Couple's Guide to Surviving the World Cup

The World Cup is coming — and if one of you is a die-hard fan and the other is just trying to get through the month, this episode is for you. Rachel brought in her husband Stephen (a former college soccer coach and certified soccer obsessive) to talk through what it actually looks like to navigate a big sports season — or any major time commitment — without resentment building up on either side. Whether you're the one counting down the days until kickoff or the one quietly wondering how long this whole thing lasts, you'll walk away with practical tools, honest conversation starters, and a game plan you can both feel good about. In this episode: * Why the World Cup is genuinely different from other sports events — and why that matters to your spouse * What the sports-loving partner actually needs (hint: it's not just permission to watch) * How to renegotiate household rhythms so one person isn't carrying the full load * The role of symbolic reciprocity — and why it matters more than perfect division of labor * How to handle the emotional fallout when your spouse's team loses

I Just Caught My Husband Using Porn. Now What? (with Cori L. Page, IMFT, CSAT)

You didn't expect to find it. And now you can't stop thinking about it. If you've just discovered your husband is using porn, you're probably feeling betrayed, confused, and unsure what to do next. In this episode, I sit down with Cori Page, licensed Independent Marriage and Family Therapist (IMFT) and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT), to bring you the clarity and compassion you need right now. We talk about why this hits so hard, how to tell the difference between occasional use and something compulsive or addictive, what you actually need to know, and the next steps for rebuilding trust. We also cover something important: this is not your fault — and his porn use may not even be about what you think it's about. If you're trying to find your footing after a painful discovery, this episode is for you.

The 5 Situations that a Couples Therapist Can’t Really Help

Some marriage problems aren't fixed by better communication skills or a good therapist — they require something else entirely first. In this episode, Rachel gets honest about the five situations where couples therapy either won't work or isn't the right first step: domestic violence, unresolved infidelity, active addiction, personality disorders, and complex trauma. You'll learn why jumping straight into couples work in these situations can actually make things worse — and what needs to happen instead. Whether you're in the thick of one of these situations yourself or watching someone you love struggle, this episode will help you name what you're dealing with and find the right kind of help. Resources and hotlines mentioned in this episode are listed at vibrantmarriage.co/podcast - look for Episode 18.

The Real Reason Marriage is So Hard: A Biblical Look at Brokenness, Redemption & What Marriage Can Really Be

Have you ever wondered why marriage is so much harder than you expected — even when you love your person? In Episode 17, Rachel puts on her armchair theologian hat to explore the real reason marriage is hard: not compatibility issues or unmet expectations, but the comprehensive brokenness that touches every corner of life and every human relationship. She walks through the four key themes of the biblical story — Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Consummation — and unpacks what they mean for the day-to-day realities of married life. Why did intimacy become so scary? Why do we wound the people we love most? Why does marriage feel lonely when it was supposed to feel like home? But this episode doesn't stop at the hard stuff. Rachel also shares the hopeful, redemptive vision for what marriage can be — drawing on Paul David Tripp's What Did You Expect? and a stunning passage from Tim Keller's The Meaning of Marriage that just might give you goosebumps. Books mentioned: The True Story of the Whole World (Bartholomew & Goheen), What Did You Expect? (Paul David Tripp), The Meaning of Marriage (Tim Keller).

Why Your Marriage Feels Like a Business Partnership (and How to Get the Friendship Back)

Does your marriage feel more like a business partnership than a friendship lately? You're not alone — and it doesn't have to stay that way. In Episode 16, therapist and relationship coach Rachel Engels unpacks the four most common reasons couples drift toward the "roommate dynamic," including the neuroscience behind why the butterflies fade, the survival-mode trap, the imbalance of who's actually doing the relationship work, and the fear of being real with your spouse. But here's the good news: you don't have to overhaul everything at once. Rachel shares four simple, practical ways to start putting some fun and friendship back into your relationship — starting this week. Plus, grab Rachel's free 30-Day Relationship Reboot Challenge by finding her post on Instagram @vibrantmarriagepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/vibrantmarriagepodcast/] and leaving a comment!