272 episodes
Conversations with Dr. Jennifer Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife
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- Education
Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife is a sex and relationship expert who has been interviewed for hundreds of podcasts. You can access all the amazing content covering issues of faith, sexuality, integrity, belonging, and more right here on the interview archive! Dr. Finlayson-Fife is an LDS relationship and sexuality coach as well as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois. Dr. Finlayson-Fife also has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. The advice offered through any and all podcasts in which she is featured is educational and informational in nature and is provided only as general information. It is not meant to establish a therapist-patient relationship or offer therapeutic advice, opinion, diagnosis treatment or to establish a standard of care. The information contained in these communications is not comprehensive and does not include all the potential information regarding the subject matter, but is merely intended to serve as one resource for general and educational purposes.
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Do Teens Map Our Minds?
**JOIN Dr. Finlayson-Fife at the 2024 Restore Conference -- Get Your Ticket HERE!**
We are all pretty open books, whether or not we want to be.
Those around us, including our children, have an incredible ability to map our minds. They “track” our actions, body language, facial expressions, and tone to understand our emotions, beliefs, and values, including our investment in them. In fact, the majority of our communication happens at this non-verbal level.
What we say matters, of course, but the meaning of what we are saying comes from far more than just the words we speak.
In this new episode, Dr. Finlayson-Fife joins Heidi Benjaminson of the Confidence Coaching podcast to discuss mind mapping in parent-child relationships. They explore what our kids are mapping about us, how these mapped messages influence their perceptions and behaviors, and what we can do if course correction is needed. -
The Gift of Men's Sexuality [Q&A Discussion]
**FATHER'S DAY SALE! | Save 20% on The Art of Loving**
In celebration of Father's Day, we are re-releasing this popular episode from the archive!
During this Q&A discussion, Dr. Jennifer discusses the complexities of men's sexuality, particularly within the context of LDS cultural dynamics. The discussion, driven by questions submitted by our Facebook Group members, highlights the pressures and expectations men face, the importance of seeing men's sexuality as a positive force rather than a problematic one, and how couples can create real intimacy in their marriages.
Listen to the full episode to learn more about:
* Masculine and Feminine Energies
* Sexuality and Morality
* Intimacy in Marriage
* Challenges in Emotional Connection
* Navigating Sexual Desire Discrepancies
* The Impact of Pornography on Relationships
*Self-Respect and Intimacy
If you found this podcast episode helpful, you would LOVE taking Dr. Finlayson-Fife's The Art of Loving course for men! In this course, Dr. Finlayson-Fife will be unpacking the damaging messages our culture has offered to men about masculinity and sexuality and then discussing how men can move forward and create a healthier relationship with themselves, a more balanced relationship with their sexuality, and a more fulfilling sexual connection with their spouse. You can learn more about this course HERE.
To participate in future Q&A sessions, join our Facebook Group HERE.
Want to come and learn The Art of Loving in person? Join us in St. George this fall! Click HERE for information. -
Help! I'm Not Attracted to My Spouse!
In this NEW episode, Dr. Finlayson-Fife takes questions from her Facebook Group members on the nuanced and delicate topic of loss of attraction in marriage. In the discussion, Dr. Finlayson-Fife discusses how habituation, boredom, and resentment can undermine attraction, and how gratitude, appreciation, and novelty can foster it.
She also expertly responds to questions like:
* What can I do if I was never attracted to my spouse?
* My spouse has developed self-destructive habits that are impacting my attraction, how can I address this?
* I am disappointed by certain aspects of my spouse's appearance, what can I do?
* I am physically attracted to my spouse, but their personality is unappealing, what can I do?
* My spouse is apathetic about their health / hygeine, how can I address this?
* Can I rekindle the attraction for my spouse that I once had?
You can watch the recording of this conversation HERE! -
How Can I Claim My Sexuality?
In this conversation, Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife joins Dr. Julie Hanks to discuss her dissertation research, the ways that church culture has shaped women's sexuality, and how women can create a healthier relationship with desire, embodiment, and sexuality (no matter what stage of life they are in).
Listen to the full episode to learn more about:
* The importance of agency and self-definition in sexual relationships
* Characteristics of fulfilling sexual relationships
* Balancing personal desires with cultural expectations
*The relationship between agency and desire
* Encouraging self-definition in our children
* The effects of childhood sexual abuse on adult sexuality
If you would like to learn more about these topics, consider enrolling in Dr. Finlayson-Fife's Art of Desire course for women!
You can watch the video of this conversation HERE. -
Parenting Neurodivergent Children
It’s tempting for us to use our children’s successes or failures to measure OUR success as parents.
But tangling ourselves up with our children this way is not only a recipe for disappointment and frustration (on both sides), it also stands in the way of REALLY loving and accepting our children for who they are.
The sooner we recognize how little control we actually have over our children, the sooner we can let go of the fantasy that they prove or disprove our sufficiency (and the sooner we can get to work ACTUALLY loving them). To love our children is to see and value them for the unique individuals they are and offer our best to them.
As humbling and refining of a practice parenting is, it is even more so for those who face the unique challenges and gifts of raising a child with special needs.
In this NEW episode of Navigating the Spectrum, Dr. Finlayson-Fife joins Michelle Portlock to discuss her personal experience with parenting a neurodivergent child. The discussion covers the importance of compassion (for yourself, your spouse, your child, and your circumstances), and thoughts about how parents can work together to reduce anxiety / stress, improve communication, and foster a nurturing, supportive relationship with each other and their child(ren).
**You can learn more about Dr. Finlayson-Fife's How to Talk To Your Kids About Sex Course HERE** -
Emotional Infidelity
In this NEW episode, Dr. Finlayson-Finlayson-Fife uses questions from her Facebook Group members to drive an important discussion about emotional infidelity. During the conversation, Dr. Finlayson-Fife explains why emotional affairs are so compelling, the impact they have on relationships, and how those who have experienced emotional infidelity can navigate forward wisely.
Listen to the full episode to learn more about:
* Intimacy Avoidance
* Self-Deception
* Intimacy vs Closeness
* Important considerations post-disclosure
* Trust vs Trustworthiness
If you are interested in learning more about this topic, consider enrolling in Dr. Finlayson-Fife's newest mini-course Understanding Intimate Deception.