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Ep 357 Terry Real and Belinda Berman-Real

An episode of the Marriage Therapy Radio podcast, hosted by MTR, titled "Ep 357 Terry Real and Belinda Berman-Real" was published on January 29, 2025 and runs 53 minutes.

January 29, 2025 ·53m · Marriage Therapy Radio

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Zach and Laura interview Terry and Belinda Berman-Real, diving deep into their personal relationship dynamics and the lessons learned through years of couples therapy and individual healing. The conversation touches on themes of sobriety, trauma, recovery, and the power of relational healing. Zach starts by sharing his journey through recovery and how it has influenced his marriage, while Belinda and Terry provide insights into their own marriage, particularly how they overcame significant challenges stemming from trauma and emotional reactivity. They discuss the importance of repairing relationships through honest, sometimes painful, confrontation and how they’ve evolved from fighting for survival to fighting for love and connection. One of the major takeaways is Terry’s explanation of the concept of "harmony, disharmony, and repair," emphasizing that no relationship is free from conflict, but the key lies in learning how to repair after the inevitable disruptions. Belinda adds that their journey has been one of learning to regulate themselves and each other in ways that foster love and security, rather than reactivity and defense. They reflect on the impact of their trauma histories and how these experiences not only shaped their early relationship struggles but also led them to profound personal growth. Throughout the episode, Terry and Belinda share real-life stories, making this episode a rich blend of personal insight and professional expertise. Episode Highlights: Sobriety and Growth: Zach reflects on his sobriety journey and how it has paralleled his growth as a partner, highlighting the importance of personal transformation in maintaining a healthy relationship. Trauma and Its Lasting Effects: Terry and Belinda share how their childhood trauma impacted their early relationship, focusing on the process of moving from emotional reactivity to emotional regulation. The Art of Repair: Terry introduces the idea of "harmony, disharmony, and repair," explaining that relationships aren't about avoiding conflict but learning to repair after conflict in order to strengthen connection. Partners in Recovery: Belinda and Terry discuss how they see themselves as "partners in recovery," constantly working on themselves and their relationship to break free from their old patterns and build something stronger. Fighting for Connection, Not Survival: The couple explains how their marriage has transitioned from fighting for survival to fighting for love, and the role that therapy, honesty, and self-awareness have played in that shift. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Zach and Laura interview Terry and Belinda Berman-Real, diving deep into their personal relationship dynamics and the lessons learned through years of couples therapy and individual healing. The conversation touches on themes of sobriety, trauma, recovery, and the power of relational healing.


Zach starts by sharing his journey through recovery and how it has influenced his marriage, while Belinda and Terry provide insights into their own marriage, particularly how they overcame significant challenges stemming from trauma and emotional reactivity. They discuss the importance of repairing relationships through honest, sometimes painful, confrontation and how they’ve evolved from fighting for survival to fighting for love and connection.


One of the major takeaways is Terry’s explanation of the concept of "harmony, disharmony, and repair," emphasizing that no relationship is free from conflict, but the key lies in learning how to repair after the inevitable disruptions. Belinda adds that their journey has been one of learning to regulate themselves and each other in ways that foster love and security, rather than reactivity and defense.


They reflect on the impact of their trauma histories and how these experiences not only shaped their early relationship struggles but also led them to profound personal growth. Throughout the episode, Terry and Belinda share real-life stories, making this episode a rich blend of personal insight and professional expertise.


Episode Highlights:
  • Sobriety and Growth: Zach reflects on his sobriety journey and how it has paralleled his growth as a partner, highlighting the importance of personal transformation in maintaining a healthy relationship.
  • Trauma and Its Lasting Effects: Terry and Belinda share how their childhood trauma impacted their early relationship, focusing on the process of moving from emotional reactivity to emotional regulation.
  • The Art of Repair: Terry introduces the idea of "harmony, disharmony, and repair," explaining that relationships aren't about avoiding conflict but learning to repair after conflict in order to strengthen connection.
  • Partners in Recovery: Belinda and Terry discuss how they see themselves as "partners in recovery," constantly working on themselves and their relationship to break free from their old patterns and build something stronger.
  • Fighting for Connection, Not Survival: The couple explains how their marriage has transitioned from fighting for survival to fighting for love, and the role that therapy, honesty, and self-awareness have played in that shift.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Patricia Bay - Therapy in a Nutshell Dr. Patricia Bay Dr. Patricia Bay, "Dr. Patty," has created a radio show based on her 35+ years of experience as a Marriage, Family Therapist and on her book entitled THERAPY IN A NUTSHELL. You may listen to the show on her podcast to help with challenges we all face in this world. She will help you with your own personal growth, your relationships, families and friends. Join Dr. Patty and help her heal the world one hour at a time. Black Marriage Therapy Black Marriage Therapy This show provides tools and resources for marriage improvement, hosted by Marriage Educator + Mental Health Advocate Christ-Lynn Smith, MA. She discusses various topics in marriage like communication, sex, intimacy, finances, commitment, and many more. This podcast is a bridge between the everyday couple and therapist & current love experts. Open Mind Narrow Conviction Patricia Green A husband & wife sharing what they have learned and are learning while raising our four children and getting our doctorates in marriage & family therapy. Faith based DreamLife Recovery Matthew D. Staniszewski, MBA, EDFP The goal of this podcast is to showcase the recovery environment and offer support tools for people looking for help and those continuing to work on their sobriety. We will showcase guest speakers, therapist discussions, guided meditations, alumni success stories, and a general platform for people to share their experience, strength, and hope in recovery. DreamLife Recovery, located in Donegal, Pennsylvania, serves clients from throughout the United States offering customized detox, residential, transition, and aftercare treatment. Using individualized treatment plans, clients can address addiction along with other common co-occurring conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bi-polar. DreamLife provides a resort-style retreat offering amenities including animal-assisted therapy, art therapy, biofeedback, EMDR, CBT/DBT, energy healing, equine-assisted therapy (seasonal), hydrotherapy, hypnotherapy, marriage & family therapy, massage therapy, meditation therapy, private bath
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