080: Navigating Faith Crisis in Marriage
Podcast Guest: Carly LeBaron
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In this Episode
In this insightful episode of "Stronger Marriage Connection," hosts Liz Hale and Dave Schramm engage in a powerful discussion with Dr. Carly LeBaron about the complexities of and navigational strategies for couples facing faith crises and faith transitions in their marriage. Dr. LeBaron, an active marriage and family therapist, sheds light on the emotional and relational dynamics of mixed-faith marriages, and faith transitions in marriage, offering valuable advice for couples to maintain harmony and understanding despite differing faith perspectives.
Time Markers
00:00 - Introduction: Dave Schramm introduces the episode's focus on faith differences and transitions in marriage, highlighting Dr. Carly LeBaron's expertise in the area.01:27 - Liz Hale's Welcome: Liz Hale emphasizes the impact of faith crises on marriages and introduces Dr. Carly LeBaron.
02:33 - Defining Faith Crisis and Transition: Dr. LeBaron explains the distinctions between a faith crisis, faith transition, and mixed-faith marriages.
03:48 - Impact of Mixed Faith on Marital Foundations: Dr. LeBaron discusses how the timing of faith differences affects the foundational expectations of a marriage.
05:11 - Common Challenges in Mixed Faith Marriages: The conversation shifts to the unique challenges faced by couples in mixed faith or interfaith marriages.
07:40 - The Aftermath of Faith Transitions: Dr. LeBaron talks about the significant impact on marriages when a faith transition occurs after the marriage has been established.
09:07 - Updating the Marital Contract: Strategies for couples to renegotiate their marital expectations amidst faith transitions.
10:36 - Common Mistakes in Navigating Mixed Faith Relationships: Dr. LeBaron outlines typical errors couples make and emphasizes the importance of flexibility and understanding.
14:57 - Success Stories: Dr. LeBaron shares an inspiring success story of a couple who navigated their faith transition, resulting in a stronger marriage.
18:55 - Navigating Religious Practices and Raising Children: The discussion covers how couples manage religious practices and raising children in mixed-faith environments.
24:21 - External Influences on the Couple: Dicussing how to deal with pressures and opinions from family and community regarding the couple's faith differences.
27:40 - Advice for Engaged Couples: Dr. LeBaron offers guidance for couples entering marriage with different faith backgrounds.
29:21 - Key to a Stronger Marriage Connection: Dr. LeBaron shares her perspective on the essential element for a strong marriage connection.
36:33 - Closing Remarks: The hosts wrap up the episode, encouraging listeners to engage with the show's content and share their insights.
Insights and Invites
Insights
Carly’s
Keep in mind that you're suffering in your own way, and your partner’s suffering may be in a different way. So, if you’re able to kind of create a space where it's okay for both of you to be hurting at the same time. It opens up a lot of conversations instead of shutting things down with defensiveness.
Dave’s
Even if we have differences, we can still be kind. We can still choose to be kind to each other It's challenging but, be respectful of each other and even negotiate when you're negotiating with kids and practices and things. Kindness, kindness. Above all, through this, through the challenges you can still choose to be kind.
Liz’s
I love that whole idea that validation doesn't necessarily mean agreement. It really just means your perspective matters to me, which really means you matter to me.
About Carly LeBaron:
Dr. Carly LeBaron has a MS and PhD degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy and is a practicing therapist in Logan, Utah. She owns New Beginnings Therapy, a group private practice in Logan, where she specializes in women's mental, emotional, and relational health, faith crisis/faith transition, perfectionism and people-pleasing, eating disorders and body image, couples therapy, and more. She has authored two self-help books, "Shattering the Porcelain: Overcoming Perfectionism and People-Pleasing and Becoming the Real You," and "Some Body to Love: 12 Weeks to a Better Body Image" and offers online courses in mental health through therapyinanutshell.com. In her spare time, she loves to write, read, garden, create, camp, and spend time with friends and family. She is married to her best friend, has three amazing sons, and a Shih Tzu named Bandit who is in training to become a therapy animal.
Dr. Carly LeBaron Link:
https://www.newbeginningstherapy.net/
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