Ep. 068 – Flashback Friday | Wholeness in Marriage: From Codependence to Christ-Dependence with Erin Smalley
What if conflict wasn’t the enemy of marriage, but the doorway to deeper intimacy? In this powerful Flashback Friday episode, Dr. Barbara revisits a 2020 conversation with Erin Smalley, marriage counselor, nurse, and daughter-in-law of the late Dr. Gary Smalley.
Together,they explore what truly creates wholeness in marriage, not control, not avoidance, but healing the heart beneath the conflict.
This episode walks listeners through the emotional, neurological, and spiritual dynamics beneath marital triggers, defensiveness, and relational shutdown. You’ll learn how unresolved childhood wounds surface in adult relationships, why conflict escalates so quickly, and how couples can move from reactive codependence to Christ-centered maturity. Whether you’re married, single, divorced, or discerning your future, this conversation offers tools for healthier relationships rooted in truth, courage, and spiritual formation.
Related Episodes
Ep. 086 – Stop Striving. Start Enjoying | Sandra McCollom
Ep. 086 - Stop Striving. Start Enjoying | Sandra McCollomYou’re not alone if you feel exhausted from trying to “get it right.” In this Flashback Friday episode, Dr. Barbara shares an archived conversation with Sandra McCollom on how beholding Jesus (2 Corinthians...
Ep. 085 – From Codependence to Christ-Dependence | Part 19: What Does Relationship Repair ACTUALLY Feel Like?
Ep. 085 - From Codependence to Christ-Dependence | Part 19: What Does Relationship Repair ACTUALLY Feel Like?Why does “I’m sorry” sometimes fall flat while true repair restores safety and wholeness? In this Heart Journey Podcast episode, Dr. Barbara Jean Sauvé...
Ep. 084 – Are You Fighting Evil… or Absorbing It? w/ Dr. Michelle Pearce
Ep. 084 - Are You Fighting Evil… or Absorbing It? w/ Dr. Michelle PearceIn a rage-fueled and disillusioning time, it’s easy to “drink the Kool-Aid” of anger and fear—even when the issue itself is real and unjust. But what if the very spirit we oppose begins to live...
Ep. 083 – Flashback Friday: What’s REALLY Behind Your Marriage Tension w/ Shaunti Feldhahn
Ep. 083 - Flashback Friday: What's REALLY Behind Your Marriage Tension w/ Shaunti FeldhahnWhat if the tension around money in your relationship isn’t about numbers at all, but about fear, trust, and the heart? In this powerful Flashback Friday episode, Dr. Barbara...
Ep. 082 – From Codependence to Christ-Dependence | Part 18: Betrayal — When “Sorry” Isn’t Enough
Ep. 082 - From Codependence to Christ-Dependence | Part 18: Betrayal — When “Sorry” Isn’t EnoughRepair isn’t optional, it’s the skill that keeps love alive. In this solo episode, Dr. Barbara Jean Lowe Sauvé unpacks repair and amends as both a Christian spiritual...
Ep. 081 – Can We Forgive the Unforgivable? Dr. Everette Worthington on Finding God Again
Ep. 081 - Can We Forgive the Unforgivable? Dr. Everette Worthington on Finding God AgainIn this episode, Dr. Barbara Jean Sauvé welcomes back Dr. Everett Worthington for a sacred and deeply personal conversation about suicide loss in their immediate families and the...