We're diving into one of the most common struggles playing out in relationships right now: wanting more from your partner and being met with defensiveness, resistance, and minimization.
Feeling unsafe in a relationship isn’t always about danger—sometimes it’s about discomfort. Learn the common protection strategies couples use in conflict and the relational skills that build deeper trust and resilience.
After a year-long pause, Sharon returns to the podcast with a deeper perspective on relationships, growth, and the often-overlooked role of grief in relational change. In this episode, she shares what the past year has brought personally and professionally—from leaving her full-time career and becoming certified in Relational Life Therapy to navigating unexpected challenges in her family and relationships. Along the way, she explores a powerful truth many couples eventually face: when you begin to see relationship patterns more clearly, it can bring both freedom and grief. This conversation introduces the idea of a **relational reckoning**—the moment when we must honestly ask whether a relationship is giving us enough to grieve what it may never be. Sharon also reflects on over-functioning, breaking generational cycles, and the deeper purpose behind doing difficult relationship work. If you've ever felt both hopeful and heartbroken while trying to grow in your relationships, this episode will likely feel very familiar.
In this reflective episode of Respected & Connected, Sharon Costanzo announces that the podcast will be going on hold and shares powerful lessons she’s learned along the way.