In Service To Love

What is good sex and how do you know if you're having it? Is sex required to have a healthy, successful relationship?  Are there other forms of intimacy?    This is a juicy one today folks and you won't want to miss it! I'm welcoming Michelle Vogel, a fellow marriage and family therapist, on the show today to talk ALL things sex.    If you're wondering if you need sex to be happy, listen up! If you're curious about polyamorous relationships, tune in!  Are you feeling unfulfilled sexually in your monogamous or open relationship, then come join the conversation!    Michelle has so much expertise to help YOU get your groove back, so let's get into it!   We're diving into:  Consent culture & sex positivity: Where have they helped and where do they fall short? How to begin to access vulnerability & why it's important What to ask yourself before exploring new sexual avenues  Polyamory & ethical non-monogamy: Do we really know what those are? How to engage in sexual media with a critical eye & what tools can be useful Why consent doesn't mean the sex will be good And so much more with Michelle!    Read more about Michelle's work: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/michelle-vogel-valley-village-ca/746675 Email Michelle:  [email protected]   Connect with me: Website: https://www.randedorncoachingcreatives.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/RandeDornTherapyLA/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/randedorntherapy Email: [email protected]

How can you enter into and continue to show up in your multicultural or multiracial relationship?    How can you approach your partner's culture & background with curiosity and love?    If you're in this type of relationship (or you just want to be!), listen up!    I'm going over 5 questions to ask yourself so you can honor your background as well as your partner's. I'm getting into how you can support your children in their experience and how you can stay curious and learn to love the diversity that your relationship holds. This is important stuff and you chose your partner on purpose! So, let's dive in!    I'm diving into:  If opposites really do attract & how this usually plays out  How you can blend the cultures you each bring & start new traditions together Why finding core values within the diversity is crucial  My background & how it's informed my work as a therapist supporting blended families If diversity allows for more assumptions or less Why we all need to broaden how we define culture And much more!  Connect with me: Website: https://www.randedorncoachingcreatives.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/RandeDornTherapyLA/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/randedorntherapy Email: [email protected]

Are you taking steps to deal with it or release it? Or has it taken over?    In today's episode I'm getting into why we feel stress and anxiety, what's happening in our body when we do, and what we can do about it moving forward. And you're not alone, I feel it too.    But we don't have to live in a constant state of stress or panic. I repeat - You DON'T have to live in a constant state of stress or panic.    Stress has its purpose in our life at times and I won't even say anxiety is bad, but it shouldn't be with you all day, everyday. So, join me for today's episode and let's learn what stress and anxiety can teach us about ourselves. Let's learn how to be present, find safety within, and start living with less stress, less anxiety, and a lot more joy & pleasure!    I'm diving into:  Fight, flight, freeze, fawn: What they are & how they show up The difference between stress & anxiety Why rest, breath, & grounding exercises can help (Plus easy ways to ground yourself!) My experience with anxiety & hypervigilance  What anxiety is telling you & what happens when you ignore the message When anxiety shows up as drive & the need to achieve (But when is it enough?)  My advice with anxiety medication How to find your peace, your balance, & your limits And much more!    Connect with me: Website: https://www.randedorncoachingcreatives.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/RandeDornTherapyLA/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/randedorntherapy Email: [email protected]

Are you struggling to set boundaries in your life - in your partnerships, your friendships, your family, or maybe at work?   Are you stuck in a pattern of people pleasing thinking that if you're just good enough, people will respect you and boundaries won't be an issue?    Listen friend, the rules of engagement must be set. And YOU have to set them.  Yes, it's hard. Yes, it's uncomfortable. But, it's SO worth it and it DOES get easier.    Join me today as we look at boundaries: why they're necessary, how to define them, where to set them, and what it looks like when we don't. I'm walking you through ALL of it because I want you to feel safe and confident. I want you to step into your power and draw the lines and I want you to enjoy your life! So, let's get into it!   I'm diving into: What to do with boundary crossers Guilt around boundaries: Why do you feel bad defining them?  What needs to happen BEFORE consent can be given  Why defining consequences of broken boundaries is just as important Examples of boundaries at home, at work, at play, with visitors & friends Why establishing the rules helps build trust in yourself And much more!    Connect with me: Website: https://www.randedorncoachingcreatives.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/RandeDornTherapyLA/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/randedorntherapy Email: [email protected]

How can you know if it's time to separate, get divorced, or recommit to working on your partnership? How can you know if you need to change or if they do?   Tricky questions, right? But, I can help!   Today's episode is all about the process of making these decisions. I'm walking you through how I knew it was time to separate from my Ex and how you can decide for yourself. I'm breaking it down into a few simple steps and they're packed full of practical questions so you can better know what it is you want and how to get it. As 2022 ended and your New Year began, were you taking stock of your relationship? Were you questioning if your partnership was worth committing to still? If so, this episode is for you! Let's get into it.    I'm diving into:  Why I suggest you talk to a lawyer and how soon (It doesn't have to break the bank!) Questions to ask yourself to evaluate your relationship & your role within it Abusive relationships: Why separation is key even if hope for change exists  Why you deserve time apart from your relationship in your life NOW How to accept your ex-partner's new life & my take on my Ex getting remarried Why intimacy is a MUST in your relationship How to decide what's worth fighting for in YOUR life And much more!   Connect with me: Website: https://www.randedorncoachingcreatives.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/RandeDornTherapyLA/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/randedorntherapy Email: [email protected]

Are you feeling the urge to make some resolutions? Feeling the pressure to set some new goals? Really wanting to kick 2022 to the curb and start over?    I bet you are, because it's that time of year! Happy New Year friends!    BUT before you rush into it, before you end up with the same 10 resolutions as last year, let's take a moment. Let's take a pause and really think about this. On today's episode I'm walking you through a different process for setting those resolutions. I'm breaking it down into 5 easy, but thoughtful steps so you can end up with a list of goals that's doable, meaningful, and deeply connected to what it is that you really want. Let's get into it!   I'm diving into:  Why resolutions are actually commitments & how to set yourself up for success Releasing what's no longer needed & making space for what you want 2023 to hold Some of the most common resolutions & what's beneath them Deciphering what's at the root of our goals & addressing that instead Why those weight loss goals don't typically stick around  How to know if your goals align with your priorities & what to do if they don't Why you NEED a clean slate before starting in on 2023 How to unlink your goals so you can experience more freedom & lightness And much more!    Connect with me: Website: https://www.randedorncoachingcreatives.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/RandeDornTherapyLA/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/randedorntherapy Email: [email protected]

Where do you turn to in moments of grief and in seasons of loss? What or who do you look to for guidance when you don't know the way forward?    On today's holiday episode, I invite you into a vulnerable and honest exploration. We all face loss at some point in our lives and we all want to be carried through it. But what can tether us? What can hold us as we grieve and mourn what no longer is? Faith looks different for everyone and I won't tell you what or who to believe in, but the message remains the same: we all need something. We all desire love and connection through our grief. We all want grace to be extended. We all want to be cared for without judgement. But, how do we get there? Let's get into it, so you can find out how your answers come to you.    I'm diving into: How grief has showed up for me: the loss of my mother & marriage What I'm searching for: my history of exploration with faith Why it's GOOD to challenge your belief system How grief grows our faith & provides us with freedom When bad things happen to good people & how faith gets shattered How grief can wake you up to life & abundance  And much more   Get caught up on the episode with my brother, Christ, Crystals, and Siblings, OH MY!: A Conversation About Christianity HERE.   Connect with me: Website: https://www.randedorncoachingcreatives.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/RandeDornTherapyLA/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/randedorntherapy Email: [email protected]

Frustrated with dating? Tired of trying to navigate single life, only to be let down again?    I get it!   The world of dating can often feel full of pressure, rejection, and disappointment. All you want is love and connection, but it never seems to work out. But, WHY?    It might be that you're following the WRONG rules!   But not anymore! Today, I'm excited to welcome Chris Calandra to the show to discuss ALL things dating and relationships. Chris is a marriage and family therapist, life and dating coach, and most recently, the founder of The Therapy Bro, a platform for helping men educate themselves and connect with their emotions. We're not wasting any time getting into what is going wrong for so many of us. Should you make the first move? Is it OK to have a type? Is there really just one person out there? And, to what degree should you give someone a chance when that attraction isn't there? Let's find out!    We're diving into:  Which dating rules are detrimental & which one is MOST important Why you shouldn't be looking for "your other half" & what to look for instead Chris' journey from addiction to therapist & how he found his way to Los Angeles Why an abundance mindset is crucial for the dating scene How Disney screwed us when it comes to relationship expectations Why being different is often misunderstood as "crazy" Boundary setting: Why it's necessary & when to set them Why he thinks statistically, it will work out for you And much more with The Therapy Bro!   Connect with Chris:  https://www.thetherapybro.com/ Instagram: the_therapy_bro   Connect with me: Website: https://www.randedorncoachingcreatives.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/RandeDornTherapyLA/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/randedorntherapy Email: [email protected]

As an artist, it can be hard to separate work from life, creating from being, in order to leave room for relationships and love. Inspiration is all around and the drive to create is ever present! But sometimes it overpowers everything else.    So, what can you do about it? How can you work through it? What can you be mindful of so your relationships don't take a back seat to your art? And how can you make room (not leave room) for love before love decides to leave you?   This is what I'm diving into today and I'm honored to be joined by Melissa Shepherd-Williams. Melissa is a former colleague at CalArts, a fellow marriage and family therapist, author, and teacher. She is here to share her wisdom and experience with us from working with artists and being a creative herself. This is such a rich conversation, full of insight and warmth and I hope you'll join us, listen in, and then leave inspired to love while you create.    We're diving into:  The uniqueness & depth that comes from working with artists Why it can be hard for young artists to say no (But why it's necessary!) The tortured artist: Myth or reality? Does it have to be a struggle to be good? What's driving artists to seek therapy Can two artists make it work together? Is there hope for these relationships?  How to develop an intimate relationship with rest Art as an expression of you, not ALL of you Melissa's books, Living Deliciously & From Burnout to Bliss (linked below!) And SO much more   Connect with Melissa:  https://www.melissamshepherd.com/   Check out Melissa's books! Living Deliciously: https://www.melissamshepherd.com/shop/p/living-deliciously-recipes-to-welcome-joy-into-our-lives From Burnout to Bliss: https://www.melissamshepherd.com/shop/p/living-deliciously-recipes-to-welcome-joy-into-our-lives-l2ct5-5njpz-n5jj7-zldwk   Connect with me: Website: https://www.randedorncoachingcreatives.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/RandeDornTherapyLA/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/randedorntherapy Email: [email protected]

Do you know what's on your relationship menu? Are the options different if you're dating someone, getting exclusive with them, or married? Should they be different?    Have you thought about your values and boundaries within your relationships? What you're planning to say Yes to and what will get a No?    It's time my friends. No matter what stage your relationship is in, and especially if you're not in one at all, it's time to figure out what you want, what you're willing to offer, and how that will change as the relationship evolves.     And I can help you do it!    Today, on In Service To Love, I'm getting into an exploration of roles in relationships and specifically how our role changes between phases: from dating to becoming exclusive to then committing long-term to each other, often through marriage. I'm talking about intentions. I'm talking about expectations. I'm talking about values. These things matter! So, let's get into it!   I'm diving into:    An easy exercise in deciding what your top values are The difficulty of dating outside of your own faith group, is there room for compromise?  Why I encourage everyone, especially women, to date more than one person at a time How you can date from a place of intention, no matter what your values are  A look at the structure within relationships The different levels of commitment between men and women  Why exclusivity should look vastly different from dating And more!   Connect with me: Website: https://www.randedorncoachingcreatives.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/RandeDornTherapyLA/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/randedorntherapy Email: [email protected]