Modern Couples

Are You Jealous? And Is It a Problem?

Jealousy can show up in the smallest moments and suddenly take over your nervous system, your thoughts, and the way you relate to your partner. In this episode, Rick and Lilian help you get clear on what your jealousy is actually trying to tell you and how to respond without turning it into a fight, a spiral, or a “prove it” dynamic. You’ll leave with practical ways to calm yourself in the moment, start the conversation in a way your partner can actually hear, and make requests that build safety instead of control. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re overreacting, whether your partner is dismissing your feelings, or why certain situations hit you so hard, this episode gives you a grounded framework to understand what’s happening and what to do next.

Thinking About an Open Relationship? Here's What to Discuss First

Open relationships can work, and they can also create problems fast when couples rush in without clarity. In this episode of Modern Couples: What Your Therapist Never Told You, Rick and Lilian talk through what it really means to “open up” and the questions that matter before anything changes. They cover common motivations, what tends to go wrong when couples use non-monogamy as a fix for conflict, and how to set boundaries that protect the partnership. The conversation also explores practical realities like rules around emotional connection, privacy, home logistics, jealousy, and sexual health.

Signs Your Partner Is Cheating: What Couples Need to Know

Cheating is one of the most painful and confusing crises a couple can face. But suspicion and secrecy don’t always tell the whole story. In this episode of Modern Couples: What Your Therapist Never Told You, Rick and Lilian break down the real signs of cheating, why partners become suspicious even when no betrayal has happened, and how infidelity affects relationships far beyond the act itself. This conversation looks at cheating through a realistic clinical lens: what leads to it, how partners discover it, and what healing actually requires. Whether rebuilding trust or facing hard truths, couples have more options than they realize.

Holiday Drama: How Couples Can Survive Family, Traditions, and Stress

The holidays are supposed to bring joy, but for many couples, they bring tension instead. Deciding where to spend the holidays, whose traditions to follow, and how to manage family expectations can quickly turn into emotional minefields. In this episode of Modern Couples: What Your Therapist Never Told You, Rick and Lilian explore why holiday planning often sparks conflict, how family dynamics shape these decisions, and what couples can do to set boundaries, blend traditions, and actually enjoy the season. They also discuss tricky topics like divided families, politics at the dinner table, and the financial stress that can make the holidays feel more chaotic than cozy.

The Truth About Toxic Relationships... and When to Walk Away

What really defines a toxic relationship? Is it the yelling, the control, the quiet dismissals, or the moments that leave you doubting your own reality? In this episode, therapists Rick Miller and Lillian Borges dig deep into one of the most difficult subjects for any couple: the fine line between normal relationship conflict and the kind of emotional damage that chips away at your sense of self. Rick and Lillian explore what “toxic” truly means, why some people can’t see their own harmful behavior, and how others end up shrinking themselves to survive in a painful dynamic. They unpack common patterns like gaslighting, power struggles, and codependence. There’s a world of difference between being human and being destructive, and recognizing that difference can be life-changing. Whether you’re questioning your own relationship or simply curious about how toxicity takes hold, this conversation will help you understand what’s healthy, what’s not, and how to begin reclaiming your well-being. Subscribe to Modern Couples: What Your Therapist Never Told You and keep exploring the deeper truths behind love, conflict, and connection.