2 Moms on The Couch

For maybe the first time in history, there are currently four generations sharing the workplace. No matter what generation you belong to, the other ones can be so ANNOYING! Come sit with Dana and Amy as we crack the code of how to get along with EVERY generation and how to understand their weird behaviors! You’ll get some hints about why we’re practically hard-wired to find “those young whippersnappers” annoying and why they’re just as programmed to find us clueless. At the end of the episode, whether you’re a Gen X’er or a millennial, Gen Z or a Boomer, we hope you’ll look at your next inter-generational irritation in a new and more productive light!

LATE BLOOMERS: Get Going with Your Life! If you didn’t peak in high school, college, your 20’s, 30’s, or 40’s, this episode is for you! Find out why "mid-life" is such a fork in the road, and how to decide which way to go. Dana offers three useful strategies to approach this sometimes-complex time of life, derived from her extensive experience as a clinician. Also, get surprising (and happy!) news about what often happens to relationships that may have been "stuck" for decades as we hit these new thresholds of development.

Amy and Dana ALMOST argue about whether being "book-smart" is more valuable than other types of intelligence. They discuss how their parents shaped their early views of smarts and how their perspectives on the topic continue to evolve as they "mature." Dana gives three useful approaches for thinking about intelligence in a more productive way. (That's a fancy way of saying she helps us be less judgey!) Visit www.2momsonthecouch.com/episodes to learn about the pangs of remorse Amy had after recording this episode, and weigh in yourself!

Let's be real: we don't want our kids to be either victims or perpetrators of sexual harassment or assault. But is there a conversation we can have with them to keep them safer? Dr. Dana Dorfman uses her professional expertise and experience as mother to both a daughter and a son to help us navigate this potentially thorny topic. And Amy brings several difficult personal and parenting experiences to the couch to illustrate the murkiness of dealing with other people in the real world, which sometimes feels more complicated than just saying "no," even if you're a strong, confident woman. We touch on the impacts of porn, what boys are taught about "masculinity," and how raising girls to always be accommodating to others might have unforeseen costs. After bringing up all that messy stuff, we won't just leave you hanging! Listen to the end for three useful strategies for raising more emotionally attuned kids. Lastly, listen for our "No, You Have To!" recommendations to hear about Amy's weird new life-changing piece of furniture, and a book that validates Dana's parenting values. Please let us know what you think, especially if you try any of these strategies with your own kids. And please rate us, review us, subscribe to us, and share us! Thanks!

You might have figured out that the title "2 Moms on The Couch" is referring to "the therapy couch," as well as the ones we like to laze about on. In NYC where Amy and Dana live, people talk about therapy a lot, and Dana is a therapist herself, but we realize that not everyone feels comfortable with starting stories at brunch with, "My therapist says...". In this episode, we answer pressing questions about what therapy is, when it can be useful, and we dispel a few myths along the way. Aside from explaining a few different types of therapy and how to find a therapist who's right for you, we tackle some questions people might be afraid to ask a real therapist: "What's the difference between a therapist and a paid friend?" "Is there a therapy for people who don't want to talk about their childhoods?" "Will I lose my edge?" "Can't I just ignore my problems?" and MORE! ***If you know someone who is thinking about suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Amy fesses to a parenting fail that inspired the episode topic. Dana explores the pitfalls of the question, "To push or not to push," and offers a great alternative. Hear their different approaches to the same parenting challenge—and how their mothers would have handled it! *Sorry about a few minutes of buzzy sound this episode. Hang on and things get clear again!

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Dana and Amy dish out strategies for thriving--or at least doing okay--during the holiday season. This week, the focus is less on parenting and more on mere survival and emotional health in a season that demands a lot of us as mothers, daughters, and humans. Amy shares her weird dietary hang-ups, which only seem weird when she's with other people, you know, LIKE DURING THANKSGIVING! Dana prescribes moderate alcohol consumption as a possible stress-reliever, which is something you can do when you're not giving actual therapy. Together, they delve into the meaning of the phrase "zero-sum game," and give 3 practical tips to make sure your holidays won't be one. Everyone can win!

Even though Dana is a psychotherapist, her own daughter's imminent departure for college is bringing up a lot of STUFF. Amy is rewarded handsomely for making the difficult decision to let her teenage daughter go to a truly scary Halloween party. At the end of this episode, you'll have 3 useful ideas to help you help your kids launch into the world in a way that's healthy for both of you!

Dana and Amy talk about what really keeps them up at night, and it's much more existential than spiders.... Dana, a therapist, lets us in on what a "Happiness Attack" is, and tries to figure out why they're so awful. Amy confessed her fear to her dad before a big performance; her dad then gave her the best advice she ever got to reduce anxiety. It will probably work for you, too. In the section, "No, you HAVE to...," Dana & Amy recommend products that have improved their lives and will save you time and money, even though nobody paid them to.(But they should!)

Dana and Amy discuss confidence. Things get meta when their own confidence sometimes appears to flag... or is that just a ruse to get you not to hate them? They truly don't know. They have practical tips, as well as book and video recommendations to help you get more confident. If that doesn't work, they have pant recommendations. Oh, and serious ideas to engender confidence in your kids.

Join Dana and Amy on the therapy/ friend/ family couch as they get real about money, admitting what so few of their friends do—they sometimes skate perilously close to the edge. They both talk about how their ideas of "success" and "enough" have evolved over time... but are still works-in-progress. Best of all, hear Dana invent a brand new savings vehicle, and listen to Amy tease her about it—as only an almost-cousin can.