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The Virtual Couch

The Virtual Couch is a mental health podcast hosted by Tony Overbay, a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than two decades of experience who works with individuals and couples. Through relatable stories, practical psychology, and evidence-based tools, Tony helps listeners better understand relationships, parenting, addiction, emotional maturity, and personal growth, while also supporting those navigating faith crises and deconstruction from high-demand religions. The podcast offers clear strategies to break unhealthy patterns, improve communication, and build a more grounded sense of self while approaching life’s challenges with insight, clarity, and humor.

They Said All the Right Things (and Nothing Changed): The Anxious-Avoidant Trap w/Mackie Overbay

31 mins; March 31, 2026

You're Not Bad. You're Carrying the Problem: Shame, Triggers, and Healing

54 mins; March 07, 2026

Why "Me Too" Feels Like "Not You": Stop Fixing, Start Staying

52 mins; March 03, 2026

Validation, Co-regulation, and Emotional Immaturity (with a Hint of Spirituality) w/Angela De Hoyos, ALC

52 mins; February 17, 2026

Duty vs. Desire: The Hidden War Inside Your Marriage

58 mins; February 02, 2026

The Power (and Struggle) of Honest Communication in Relationships - Tony Answers Your Questions

31 mins; January 13, 2026

Your Goals Aren't Yours—That's Why They Don't Stick (ACT for Lasting Change)

73 hours 37 mins; December 31, 2025

The Family Butterfly Effect: How Your Uncle Ray Changed Everything—And How You Can Change It Back

64 hours 58 mins; December 11, 2025

Stop Managing Your Partner's Emotions: How One Couple Broke Free From the Anxious-Avoidant Trap

48 mins; November 21, 2025

Why You Fell for Your Partner (and Why You Keep Fighting Them) — Part 2

72 hours 13 mins; November 04, 2025

Why You Fell for Your Partner (and Why You Keep Fighting Them) pt. 1

33 mins; October 29, 2025

Why You're Actually Fighting With Yourself (And Blaming Your Partner)—The Psychology of Projection

56 mins; October 17, 2025

On the Other Side of the Couch: What I Learned Losing My Mom

60 hours 11 mins; September 23, 2025

Would You Rather Be Liked—or True to Yourself? The High Cost of Integrity in Marriage, Parenting, Faith, and Work

71 hours 22 mins; September 16, 2025

How Can Change Be Funny, Scary, and Uncomfortable… and Still Be Necessary for Growth? (with Mackie Overbay)

58 mins; September 08, 2025

Turning Negativity Into Insight: Julie De Jesus on Interviewing Kevin Franke and What the Comments Reveal About Us

60 hours 39 mins; August 22, 2025

Blinded by Belief: How Your Brain Defends Its Favorite Story - Even When It's Wrong!

64 hours 45 mins; August 07, 2025

Live Q&A with Sydney Overbay: Perception vs. Reality, Emotional Immaturity and Growth, Faith Deconstruction, ADHD & More

74 hours 11 mins; July 28, 2025

The Emotional Immaturity Epidemic with Steph and Craig: Why Adults Are Stuck in Childhood Patterns

89 hours 19 mins; July 04, 2025

Genuine Curiosity: Not All Questions Are Equal – Are You Trying to Understand, Defend, Manipulate, or Control?

69 hours 0 mins; June 26, 2025

Shift: Managing Your Emotions So They Don’t Manage You by Ethan Kross - Virtual Couch Book Club w/Marla Christiansen, APCC

23 mins; June 03, 2025

Childhood Survival Skills That Sabotage Your Adult Relationships - Part 2: The Path to Emotional Maturity - The Climb Out

86 hours 20 mins; May 27, 2025

Trapped by Trauma Bonds: A Guide for Those Suffering and Those Watching from the Outside

22 mins; May 15, 2025

Pick Me Behaviors, Emotional Immaturity, and the Cost of Not Knowing Yourself: Is True Honesty in Relationships Possible? Tony and Mackie Overbay Live QA

27 mins; May 06, 2025

Childhood Survival Skills That Sabotage Your Adult Relationships: The Path to Emotional Maturity

69 hours 44 mins; April 25, 2025

Learning to Life Without Training Wheels: Exploring Faith, Identity, and Emotional Maturity

67 hours 26 mins; April 03, 2025

Mental Health Unplugged: From Narcissism to Personal Growth - Mackie Joins Tony for a TikTok Live QA

66 hours 54 mins; March 18, 2025

Universal Lessons from Grief: Ashlee Boyson, Author of One Day - A Child’s Journey Through Grief and Loss

50 mins; March 12, 2025

Taking the Scenic Route to Connection: Steph and Craig Salazar on How to Heal Individually Together

52 mins; March 01, 2025

From Fairy Tale to Real Life: A Marriage Therapist's Raw Take on the Journey from "I Do" to "What Now?"

48 mins; February 20, 2025

The Self-Care Paradox: Why Putting Yourself First Isn't Selfish and Is “Healthy Narcissism” a Thing? Live QA w/Tony and Mackie Overbay

81 hours 39 mins; February 17, 2025

Breaking Social Barriers: Enhancing Confidence with Autism Support - w/Karla Gragg and Sarah Bailey

45 mins; February 15, 2025

The Evolutionary Superpower of Highly Sensitive People: How HSP Differs from Autism (and Does it Matter?)

70 hours 0 mins; February 11, 2025

Trisha Jamison, host of the Q&A Files Podcast on Overcoming Emotional Immaturity for Better Relationships

51 mins; February 04, 2025

Anxious or Avoidant? Why Your Relationship Patterns Repeat & How to Change Them (Part 1)

46 mins; January 30, 2025

Live Q&A with Tony and Sydney - Navigating Mental Health: Highly Sensitive People, Narcissism, Emotional Immaturity, ADHD, and “Good Therapy”

81 hours 39 mins; January 20, 2025

I Feel Like... No, Wait, Actually I Think That… The Hidden Language of Emotions

42 mins; December 12, 2024

The Balancing Act: Self-Esteem vs. Self-Compassion

47 mins; December 06, 2024

Smiling But Sad: Decoding Persistent Depressive Disorder, Dysthymia, “Eeyore Syndrome” w/BONUS Medication Analogy and Thanksgiving Talk Topics

53 mins; November 28, 2024

From Self-Judgment to Self-Compassion: A Guide to Emotional Resilience w/Nate and Marla Christensen

52 mins; November 14, 2024

Anxiety, Aging, and Emotional Autonomy: I Was "This Many Years Old" When I Learned My Parents Were Regular People

48 mins; October 28, 2024

Navigating Societal Expectations, Faith Crisis and Personal Growth - the Allegory “Off the Beaten Path”

35 mins; October 23, 2024

Navigating Life's Curveballs: Mackie Overbay on Hashimoto's, Health Challenges, and Embracing Uncertainty

65 hours 52 mins; September 23, 2024

Pathological Kindness: When Caring, Trying, and Empathizing Too Much Can Be Bad For Your Health

49 mins; September 11, 2024

Finding Harmony in Uncertainty: Musician Ian McConnell on Navigating a Faith Transition, Acceptance, and Self-Discover

54 mins; August 14, 2024

Shame: The Self-Absorbed, Selfish, Uninvited Guest at Your Self-Esteem Party (and how to get them to leave!)

47 mins; August 07, 2024

Breaking Free from the Mirror: Developing a Secure Sense of Sel

49 mins; July 12, 2024

Shame, Certainty, Memory and Healing: An Updated Approach to Treating Betrayal Trauma

44 mins; June 05, 2024

Expectations and Emotions: A Ballet of Balance and Bliss

47 mins; May 28, 2024

Having the Courage to Connect: How to Develop Independence Within a Relationship

50 mins; April 24, 2024

From Therapy Couch to Moving Trucks: A Tale of Change Through ALL the Uncomfortable Feelings!

51 mins; April 12, 2024

Death By a Thousand Cuts VII - The Rise of the Emotionally Mature!

75 hours 3 mins; March 20, 2024

The Therapist's Guide to Strengthening Relationships Through Self-Discovery (Differentiation) and Connection (EFT/4 PIllars)

73 hours 11 mins; March 14, 2024

Spoiler Alert: “NO!” to the question “Is God Disappointed in Me?” — Author Kurt Francom’s New Book!

53 mins; March 05, 2024

Understanding Grief, Loss, Growth, and Rebuilding w/Marla Christensen, AMFT

40 mins; February 28, 2024

A New Perspective on Modern Parenting: Living in the Present (aka Herding Cats)

43 mins; February 20, 2024

Live Relationship QA w/Sydney Overbay II

72 hours 16 mins; February 16, 2024

Unraveling, Unpacking, Understanding The Purpose of Therapy – When to Begin and Is There an End?

47 mins; February 14, 2024

Why We Care What Other People Think: Unraveling Our Need for Approval and Validation

46 mins; February 07, 2024

Live Relationship QA w/Sydney Overbay I

54 mins; February 01, 2024

Tackling Marriage Challenges Head-On - Understanding Relationship Dynamics and Emotional Growth

49 mins; January 29, 2024

Rewiring Emotions: From Humor to Honesty in Therapy

49 mins; January 15, 2024

"Sacred Rest” Author Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: How to Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, and Restore Your Sanity

74 hours 9 mins; January 04, 2024

Yes, We're Talking New Year’s Resolutions (and Goals, and Kale) – But Stick with Me, It's Not What You Think!

48 mins; December 28, 2023

24 Life Lessons From 24 Years: Mackie Overbay's Special Birthday Episode

41 mins; December 24, 2023

Does a Partner's Sadness Cast a Shadow on Your Joy Over Time?

30 mins; December 19, 2023

Embracing Your Unique Self: Making Peace with Imperfection

29 mins; December 07, 2023

Self-Awareness: 95% Of People Think They Are, But Only 15% Actually Are - Unveiling Emotional Intelligence

44 mins; November 28, 2023

It’s a Me Thing, Dang It! - Strengthening Parent-Child Relationships From Changing Their Diapers to (Hopefully!) Them Changing Yours

70 hours 32 mins; November 13, 2023

Processing the Unthinkable: Hours After Lewiston, Maine Neighborhood Mass Murder

61 hours 25 mins; October 30, 2023

When Therapy/Coaching Does More Harm Than Good - The Destructive Nature of Shame and Blame

37 mins; October 23, 2023

Worry Less, Live More: How to Hit the Happiness Jackpot by Letting Go

38 mins; October 11, 2023

Wounded by Words? Healing the Scars of Internal Negativity

53 mins; October 05, 2023

Do Babies and Robots Dream? How Dreams Improve Mental Health!

25 mins; September 28, 2023

Julie Lee on Losing Her Sister, Navigating Divorce, Embracing ADHD - Using Humor to Heal

51 mins; September 20, 2023

Discovering Self-Assured Motherhood with Rachel Nielson, Host of 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms

55 mins; September 13, 2023

Balancing Heartbeats, Hashtags and Postpartum Depression: Modern-Day Motherhood w/Gayane Aramyan, LMFT

50 mins; September 07, 2023

Differentiation for Dummies: Finding Your Voice in the Relationship Choir

41 mins; August 31, 2023

Why We Misunderstand Each Other: An Exploration of Relational Frames

48 mins; August 24, 2023

Introducing The Mind, The Mirror & Me: Be Afraid and Do It Anyway

39 mins; August 21, 2023

Every, and I Mean EVERY Conversation Can Help You Grow - Holding the “Assertive Frame”

54 mins; August 16, 2023

Exploring the Enneagram, Mental Health and Self-Discovery with Artist Mikenzi Mitchell

60 hours 19 mins; August 09, 2023

Embracing Change, Discomfort, and Connection in Parenting w/Mackie Overbay

55 mins; August 02, 2023

You're Not Broken, You're Human: Exploring Rising Depression Rates w/Nate Christensen, APCC

52 mins; July 27, 2023

Grief to Growth: Aurora Florence and Jeff Dickamore on their Movie ‘Too Soon’

67 hours 50 mins; July 19, 2023

Building Bridges, Not Walls: Exploring the Four Pillars of Connected Conversations

64 hours 44 mins; July 13, 2023

Unearthing Emotional Scars: Director Reed Harkness Discusses 'Sam Now' and the Impacts of Discomfort and Childhood Abandonment

61 hours 18 mins; July 06, 2023

Beyond the Comfort Zone: Unmasking True Feelings - A Dive into Anxiety's Root Causes (Part 2)

51 mins; June 28, 2023

Craig Perra - Strength Over Disease: Challenging Traditional Models of Pornography Addiction Recovery

56 mins; June 21, 2023

Navigating Challenges: Lessons of Love and Resilience from Emma's Story

104 hours 27 mins; June 14, 2023

Beyond the Comfort Zone: The Brain's Belief About Discomfort, Memory, and Certainty (1 of 2)

46 mins; June 07, 2023

Shauna Roberts, LMFT on Anger, Therapy, and the "Tale of Pierre Santray!"

49 mins; May 31, 2023

The Trust Fall: Catching Hope in Relationships Again

50 mins; May 24, 2023

Love's Rough Draft: Rewriting Unhappy Marriages (aka Relationships Shouldn't Suck!)

50 mins; May 17, 2023

Making Sense of the Senseless: Unveiling the World of Apophenia

50 mins; May 10, 2023

Simple Phrases that Indicate the Health of your Relationship PLUS Murder on the Couch Preview!

61 hours 26 mins; May 03, 2023

Pain is Unavoidable - Suffering...Not So Much (aka Optional)

48 mins; April 26, 2023

Introducing "Murder on the Couch" - True Crime Meets Therapy...Follow Today!

56 secs; April 25, 2023

All These Fears Will Be For Your Good - Facing the Fear Trap

40 mins; April 19, 2023

Intimacy (aka S-E-X) w/Dan Purcell of "Get Your Marriage On!"

53 mins; April 12, 2023

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