This Complex Life

Marie Vakakis
  • 5.0 (47)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Got questions about parenting, teenagers, or relationships? Ever wonder why your teen won’t talk to you, or why your relationship feels like hard work lately? Hi, I’m Marie Vakakis—a therapist, mental health educator, and someone who’s been behind the scenes with countless families and couples navigating the ups and downs of real life. This Complex Life is your go-to for relatable insights, practical advice, and real talk about parenting, raising teenagers, and navigating relationships. I’ll share what I’ve learned from years of sitting in the therapist’s chair—helping parents understand their teens, supporting couples through tough times, and figuring out what actually works when life feels overwhelming. Whether it’s understanding your teen’s moods, handling family drama, or reconnecting in your relationship, I’m here to give you practical advice, relatable insights and a little humour to keep it real. Parenting and relationships aren’t easy, but they don’t have to feel impossible. Subscribe to This Complex Life for honest advice and actionable tips to make life’s messiness more manageable.

  1. Why Won’t My Partner Communicate With Me

    3 DAYS AGO

    Why Won’t My Partner Communicate With Me

    Why won’t my partner communicate with me It’s one of the most common questions I hear in the therapy room and it’s usually coming from someone who feels shut out, unheard or like they’re carrying the emotional load on their own. In this episode of This Complex Life, I’ll share what’s often really going on when communication feels blocked, when you keep fighting or arguing. Because most of the time, it’s not about a lack of words. It’s about emotional safety, overwhelm and patterns that quietly shut conversations down. I talk about emotional flooding, the communication patterns that make things worse instead of better, and how the way conversations start can set them up to fail before they even begin. I also explore how what we learned about conflict growing up still shapes how we show up in our relationships today. You’ll also hear practical questions you can ask that invite reflection instead of defensiveness, and small shifts that can help you feel more connected without escalating into another fight. In this episode, we explore Why communication problems are rarely just about talkingEmotional flooding and shutdown and why it feels impossible to stay presentThe Gottman Four Horsemen and how they show up in everyday conversationsHow criticism, defensiveness and stonewalling block connectionWhy timing and tone matter more than being rightHow family of origin shapes your comfort with conflictQuestions that help you understand each other instead of escalating If you’ve ever thought we just don’t communicate anymore, this episode is for you. ENROL NOW Relationship New Year RESET 2026 https://marievakakis.com.au/relationship-new-year-reset-2026/ Connect with Marie https://thetherapyhub.com.au/ https://marievakakis.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/ Submit a question to the Podcast https://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6

    19 min
  2. Soulmates Or More Like Roommates?

    22/12/2025

    Soulmates Or More Like Roommates?

    Do you want to feel closer to your partner, but feel unsure how to bring it up? Many couples care deeply about each other and still drift apart. Life gets busy. Conversations become practical. Emotional connection fades quietly. Not because people stop trying, but because the harder conversations get avoided. In this episode, I talk about why relationships drift even when there is love and good intention. I explore why low conflict is often mistaken for connection, and why avoiding check ins can slowly create distance. I also share three simple questions I use with couples that help change the tone of conversations. These questions focus on understanding rather than blame and can be used straight away. If you are feeling disconnected and do not know where to start, this episode offers a calm and practical place to begin. In this episodeWhy couples drift without realising itWhy love alone is not enough to stay connectedHow avoidance shows up in well intentioned relationshipsThree questions that help couples check in and reconnect ENROL NOW Relationship New Year RESET 2026 https://marievakakis.com.au/relationship-new-year-reset-2026/ Connect with Marie https://thetherapyhub.com.au/ https://marievakakis.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/ Submit a question to the Podcast https://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6

    15 min
  3. They Should Just Know and Other Ways Relationships Get Hard

    15/12/2025

    They Should Just Know and Other Ways Relationships Get Hard

    Have you ever found yourself thinking my partner is not the same person I fell in love with. Maybe you still care deeply but something feels off. Conversations go in circles. You keep fighting about the same things Or you feel lonely even though you are still together. This is a pattern I see often in my work as a couples therapist. Most couples want the same things. Connection. Safety. Feeling valued. Where they get stuck is in how they try to get there. In this episode of This Complex Life, I walk you through five common patterns that show up when couples feel disconnected over time.  This is not about fixing your partner. It is about understanding what is actually happening underneath the surface when two people who care start missing each other. Feeling disconnected does not automatically mean you have outgrown each other or chosen the wrong person. Often it means the relationship has not been updated to match how life and people have changed. In this episode, I share the 5 common mistakes I see people make.  • Why relationships can feel harder as life gets fuller • How unmet expectations quietly create distance • What happens when both people are trying but still missing each other • Why assuming they should just know leads to resentment • How criticism and contempt creep in without you noticing If you are feeling stuck, confused, or wondering what happened to the closeness you once had, you are not alone in this. Some of this is uncomfortable and that is okay.  Understanding the pattern is often the first step towards repair. Tired of going round in circles with your partner? Relationship Refresh is a practical couples program that helps you stop the blame game, communicate better and feel like a team again. 👉 marievakakis.com.au/for-couples If things feel more stuck and you need deeper support, you can book an Intensive Couples Therapy session with me through The Therapy Hub 👉 thetherapyhub.com.au Struggling to talk about sex, desire or intimacy without it getting weird or shutting down? Download my free guide How to talk about sex, desire and connection: https://mailchi.mp/marievakakis/a-guide-to-talking-about-sex-and-intimacy Connected Teens https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/ Connect with Marie https://thetherapyhub.com.au/ https://marievakakis.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/ Submit a question to the Podcast https://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6 Mentioned in this episode: Join me live Jan 28th for the Relationship New Year Reset https://marievakakis.com.au/relationship-new-year-reset-2026/

    21 min
  4. Is This Anxiety or Is My Brain Just Freaking Out

    08/12/2025

    Is This Anxiety or Is My Brain Just Freaking Out

    Anxiety can feel confusing and overwhelming, especially when your brain reacts faster than you can make sense of it. In this episode, I talk with Dr Jodi Richardson about the difference between everyday stress, overwhelming worry and anxiety that needs more support. We explore why anxiety shows up in the body, why discomfort often feels unsafe and how childhood patterns can affect the way we manage emotions as adults. Jodi shares practical, compassionate ways to understand your anxiety and feel more grounded when your mind starts spiralling. In this episode we cover: • The difference between stress, overwhelm and anxiety • Why anxiety activates the stress response • How childhood emotional patterns shape anxiety • Why discomfort often feels dangerous • What helps when anxiety feels big • How to support someone with anxiety without fixing • When to seek professional help Your brain is not broken. It is responding to something that feels uncertain or overwhelming, and you can support it in ways that actually work. Connect with Dr Jodi Richardson: https://drjodirichardson.com.au/  Resources: 📕Daily Stoic Well Hello Anxiety Podcast Connected Teens https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/ Connect with Marie https://thetherapyhub.com.au/ https://marievakakis.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/ Submit a question to the Podcast https://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6 Mentioned in this episode: Join me live Jan 28th for the Relationship New Year Reset https://marievakakis.com.au/relationship-new-year-reset-2026/

    42 min
  5. Breakups, Masculinity and Men’s Mental Health

    01/12/2025

    Breakups, Masculinity and Men’s Mental Health

    Breakups can be hard on all of us, they can shake our sense of self in ways we don't expect. For men, the emotional impact is not something that's often spoken about. They’re taught to suck it up and get on with it.  In this episode of This Complex Life, I sit down with  Michael Wilson, a Research Fellow focused on men’s mental health and suicide prevention to talk about why men often struggle silently during breakups and how society’s ideas about masculinity shape the way they cope. We explore how shame, identity loss and isolation can build after a relationship ends, and why many men do not seek help until they reach a crisis point. There is another way to move through it. Understanding, connection and emotional honesty can help men rebuild their sense of self with more clarity and confidence. In this conversation, we talk about • Why breakups can shake men’s identity • How conditioning around masculinity affects emotional expression • The role shame plays in silence • What men wish they could say but feel they cannot • How to support men without jumping into solutions • Ways to rebuild confidence after a relationship ends If you are working through a breakup or navigating a season of change, you do not have to do it alone. Connect with Michael Wilson:  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-wilson-4b2090164/  Michael Wilson is a Research Fellow focused on men’s mental health and suicide prevention, based with Orygen at the University of Melbourne. Since 2018, Michael has published and presented research both nationally and internationally across a range of subjects, including healthy masculinities and mental health in young men, improving training for mental health practitioners around engaging and responding to help-seeking men, and understanding risk and protective factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviours in men. His research currently focuses on men's mental health and suicide risk in the context of intimate partner relationship breakdown. Resources:  Main paper: https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2026-40673-001.html Other research: https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=avSkawsAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&authuser=1&sortby=pubdate Mental Health Academy course on understanding men's suicide risk post breakup: https://www.mentalhealthacademy.com.au/catalogue/courses/breaking-up-breaking-down-understanding-and-addressing-mens-suicide-risk-in-the-context-of-intimate-relationship-breakdown Connected Teens https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/ Connect with Marie https://thetherapyhub.com.au/ https://marievakakis.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/ Submit a question to the Podcast a...

    40 min
  6. Rethinking Who You Are After Having Kids with Bronte Taylor

    24/11/2025

    Rethinking Who You Are After Having Kids with Bronte Taylor

    People often imagine that parenthood clicks into place the moment a baby arrives. For many, the emotional changes, the exhaustion and the adjustment to a new sense of self are far more complex than expected. In this episode, I speak with Accredited Mental Health Social Worker Bronte Taylor about what it really feels like to lose and rebuild parts of yourself after becoming a parent. We talk about how motherhood can bring joy and pride while also bringing grief, disorientation and a sense of invisibility. Bronte shares her own experience, the concept of matrescence, and why mums often feel guilty when they try to meet their own needs. We explore: What matrescence is and why more people need to know about itWhy motherhood can shake your sense of identityHow childhood and family patterns show up in parentingWhy mums struggle to put themselves firstHow to start setting boundaries without drowning in guiltThe power of being seen, heard and validated instead of being fixed Connect with Bronte Instagram: @bronte_heartfelttherapyCentre Self CollectiveHeartfelt Therapy Resources mentioned If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon BlackieDr Sophie Brock’s Motherhood StudiesMotherkind  Book by Zoe Blaskeyhttps://www.heartfelttherapy.com.au/https://centreself.com.au/ Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood Book by Lucy Joneshttps://self-compassion.org/ Connected Teens https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/ Connect with Marie https://thetherapyhub.com.au/ https://marievakakis.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/ Submit a question to the Podcast https://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6 Mentioned in this episode: Join me live Jan 28th for the Relationship New Year Reset https://marievakakis.com.au/relationship-new-year-reset-2026/

    39 min
  7. Making Sense of ADHD in Therapy

    17/11/2025

    Making Sense of ADHD in Therapy

    ADHD is often misunderstood, especially in therapy. In this episode of This Complex Life, I talk with ADHD coach Ron Souers about what happens when therapy meets the realities of living with ADHD. We explore what it means to understand ADHD beyond the label, how it impacts emotions, relationships, and self-worth, and why self-compassion and curiosity make all the difference. You’ll hear about: The emotional side of ADHD (and how grief can show up after diagnosis)Common misconceptions in therapy and how to address themThe importance of validation, empathy, and communicationHow to support emotional regulation and connectionWhy therapy needs to focus on skills, not just medication Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. Resources: Listen to previous ADHD episode: Turning ADHD Struggles into Strengths:  How understanding your ADHD brain and practicing self-compassion can help you thrive. Connect with Ron Souers: Don’t Mind Me, I Just Have ADHD Podcast Connected Teens https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/ Connect with Marie https://thetherapyhub.com.au/ https://marievakakis.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/ Submit a question to the Podcast https://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6 Mentioned in this episode: Join me live Jan 28th for the Relationship New Year Reset https://marievakakis.com.au/relationship-new-year-reset-2026/

    44 min
  8. Turning ADHD Struggles into Strengths

    10/11/2025

    Turning ADHD Struggles into Strengths

    ADHD can bring creativity, energy, and passion, but it can also make everyday life feel chaotic or overwhelming. In this episode of This Complex Life, I talk with Ron Souers, ADHD coach and host of Don’t Mind Me, I Just Have ADHD. We explore how understanding your ADHD brain can turn struggle into strength, and how self-compassion plays a huge role in that process. You’ll hear about: Why ADHD is more than distraction or forgetfulnessThe emotional side of ADHD (and why self-blame makes it worse)What happens when we stop trying to “fix” ourselvesPractical ways to work with your brain, not against itHow support, structure, and self-understanding build confidence Whether you’ve been recently diagnosed or you’ve always suspected your brain works a bit differently, this episode will help you feel seen, supported, and hopeful. Resources: Ron Souers – https://dadhdwss.com/Don’t Mind Me, I Just Have ADHD podcast Connected Teens https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/ Connect with Marie https://thetherapyhub.com.au/ https://marievakakis.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/ Submit a question to the Podcast https://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6 Mentioned in this episode: Join me live Jan 28th for the Relationship New Year Reset https://marievakakis.com.au/relationship-new-year-reset-2026/

    30 min
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5
out of 5
47 Ratings

About

Got questions about parenting, teenagers, or relationships? Ever wonder why your teen won’t talk to you, or why your relationship feels like hard work lately? Hi, I’m Marie Vakakis—a therapist, mental health educator, and someone who’s been behind the scenes with countless families and couples navigating the ups and downs of real life. This Complex Life is your go-to for relatable insights, practical advice, and real talk about parenting, raising teenagers, and navigating relationships. I’ll share what I’ve learned from years of sitting in the therapist’s chair—helping parents understand their teens, supporting couples through tough times, and figuring out what actually works when life feels overwhelming. Whether it’s understanding your teen’s moods, handling family drama, or reconnecting in your relationship, I’m here to give you practical advice, relatable insights and a little humour to keep it real. Parenting and relationships aren’t easy, but they don’t have to feel impossible. Subscribe to This Complex Life for honest advice and actionable tips to make life’s messiness more manageable.

Information

  • Creator
    Marie Vakakis
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Marie Vakakis
  • Show Website
    This Complex Life

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