Seven Year Switch - Identifying and Aligning With Relationship Struggles

As I safely tuck away the memories...good and bad of 2016, I resolve to live, laugh, love and learn more in 2017. I resolve to be a better wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend...and blogger. 

As a lifelong learner, I continually seek ways to gain knowledge. Through it's innovative and inventive programming, production company Kinetic Content provides me the opportunity to grow in my relationships while getting my reality TV fix. Watching "Seven Year Switch" on FYI is one of those opportunities. 

In this docu-series, eight people agree to pair up with experimental spouses and participate for an intense two weeks in a series of expert guided activities and exercises called switch therapy...and it's not what you think it is. 

In switch therapy, clinical psychologist, Dr. Jill Griffin and relationship expert Charles J. Orlando, work with the experimental couples to figure out changes they need to make to save their real marriages. And the beauty is, I as a viewer can identify potential areas of difficulty that align with the couples and learn ways to address them.

Challenges with communication, finances, commitment, compatibility, trust and respect are threaded through every relationship. Watching the introduction of the couples and what they struggle with is indeed a reality check. I see pieces of my own marriage, past, present and future. 


Tony and Liliya

Photo credit: FYI

• Finding more of a balance is important to this relationship. If Tony continues to do the majority of the giving and Liliya the taking, resentment will build.
• Both people need to feel listened to and valued. Silence is not always golden. 

Dustin and Jaclyn

Photo credit: FYI

• The parent/child dynamic is not working in this marriage. 
• Dustin has to be equally invested in what it takes to fix their marriage. That may take him giving up the single life he's living.  

James and Kelsey

Photo credit: FYI

• Money is one of the major causes of discourse with James and Kelsey. A mutually agreeable financial plan needs to be developed and adhered to.
• Kelsey has made several attempts to let James know her needs are not being met. If James doesn't take her seriously, someone else may. 

Aaron and Heather 

Photo credit: FYI

• Aaron needs to designate time to communicate with Heather each day without the distraction of phones or computers. 
• Sharing of responsibilities is critical for this couple. Heather needs to stand up for herself and not continue to give in. 

The first opportunity to see these brave individuals interact was, shall we say... enlightening. As a strong and confident woman, I began to wonder...is there a healthy balance in my marriage? Does my husband feel he has an equal voice? Are there times I fall into the dreaded mother roll?

For this is not about solely analyzing and critiquing the individuals participating in switch therapy. It's about analyzing and critiquing myself. Here's to more living, laughing, loving and learning in 2017! 

Follow me on Twitter @realitvwithbee and live tweet using #SevenYearSwitch