Feeling Lonely in a Relationship and How to Fix It
From ShrinkChicks by Jennifer Chaiken, LMFT and Emmalee Bierly, LMFT
May 18, 2026 · 42 min · Season 8 · Episode 20
About this episode
The episode discusses the feelings of loneliness in relationships and offers practical advice on how to reconnect with partners.
This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk about feeling lonely in a relationship: why it happens, how common it is, and what actually helps you reconnect. They explore loneliness during different life stages, especially after having kids, why expecting one partner to meet every emotional need is a recipe for failure, and how differences in emotional depth or love languages can contribute to disconnection. Listener questions cover the “roommate phase,” busy seasons of life, mismatched hobbies, and how to bring back playfulness and excitement in long-term relationships. Their conversation focuses on practical ways to rebuild connection through curiosity, communication, and creating moments of aliveness, even when life feels full. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 4:15 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. Get Matched With One of Our Therapists at The Therapy Group! ShrinkChicks on Instagram Our Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal !! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We…
People in this episode
Hosts: Jennifer Chaiken, Emmalee Bierly
Topics covered
- loneliness in relationships
- emotional needs
- communication
- reconnection
- life stages
- love languages
- long-term relationships
Keywords
- loneliness
- relationships
- emotional connection
- communication
- love languages
- parenting
- reconnection
Sponsors
Boll & Branch, Skims
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