
037: Relationship Dynamics: Creating Secure, Connected Partnerships by Breaking Unhealthy Patterns
From The Shift Show by ShiftGrit Psychology & Counselling
February 9, 2026 · 1h 10m · Episode 37
About this episode
This episode explores the underlying emotional and nervous-system patterns that affect relationship dynamics and how partners connect and resolve conflicts.
Relationship struggles aren’t really about communication. They’re about the patterns running underneath. In this episode of The Shift Show, Andrea McTague is joined by Geneviève Malena, Registered Social Worker at ShiftGrit, to explore relationship dynamics — the emotional and nervous-system patterns that shape how partners connect, argue, withdraw, pursue, and repair. Many couples believe they’re fighting about chores, parenting, intimacy, time, or effort. But as this conversation unpacks, t...
People in this episode
Host: Andrea McTague
Guest: Geneviève Malena
Topics covered
- relationship dynamics
- emotional patterns
- nervous-system patterns
- couples therapy
- communication issues
Keywords
- relationship struggles
- communication
- couples
- intimacy
- emotional patterns
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: ShiftGrit, ShiftGrit Psychology & Counselling
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