Are You on Relationship Autopilot? Break Out of Autopilot Mode and Into Connection
Do you ever feel like you’re just going through the motions in your relationship—managing, reacting, doing, but not truly connecting? In this candid conversation, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish and her husband Greg explore what it means to slip into autopilot mode—that state where we function out of habit rather than intention. They unpack the science and psychology behind it, revealing how early experiences and nervous system responses shape the ways we disconnect from ourselves and our partners.
Together, they share real-life examples and practical exercises to help you become more present, rebuild emotional attunement, and reignite connection—one small, conscious shift at a time. Whether you’re stuck in the same arguments, feeling like roommates, or simply moving through your days on repeat, this episode will help you slow down, tune in, and show up differently. Tune in to feel seen, supported, and equipped to reconnect—with yourself and your partner.
Grab my new book You, Your Husband, and His Mother!! Available on all formats
RESOURCES:
Want your questions answered on the show? Submit them here!
Discover your relationship negative cycle with my free quiz: Take it here
Ready to deepen your connection? Download my 100 Questions
Build better connection and feel close starting today. Join the 30 Days to Us Challenge
LINKS:
Factor Meals: Save 50% off your first box and get free breakfast for a year. Use code TRACY50OFF at factormeals.com/TRACY50OFF
Rula: Get the support you need with rula.com/Tracy
Calm: Save 40% off at calm.com/Tracy
KiwiCo: Save 50% off with code TRACY KiwiCo.Com
Better Help: Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/TRACYK12 Powered Schools: Learn more at k12.com/TRACY
Keywords: relationship autopilot, emotional connection, relationship patterns, mindfulness in relationships, couples communication, relationship awareness, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, Be Connected
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Dr. Tracy Answers: How to Navigate a Difficult Sister-in-Law
In this From the Couch episode, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish answers a listener’s question about navigating conflict with a sister-in-law. Using her expertise as a psychologist and couples therapist, she unpacks toxic family patterns, explores loyalty binds within families, and shares practical strategies to help couples stay united when extended-family dynamics create tension. Learn how to set boundaries, communicate effectively, and protect your marriage from outside drama.
Keywords: sister-in-law conflict, toxic family dynamics, mother-in-law, boundaries, marriage advice, family relationships, couples therapy.
Order my new book! You, Your Husband, and His Mother
RESOURCES:
Want your questions answered on the show? Submit them here!
Discover your relationship negative cycle with my free quiz: Take it here
Ready to deepen your connection? Download my 100 Questions
Build better connection and feel close starting today. Join the 30 Days to Us Challenge
LINKS:
Calm: Save 40% off at calm.com/Tracy
Factor Meals: Save 50% off your first box and get free breakfast for a year. Use code TRACY50OFF at factormeals.com/TRACY50OFF
Rula: Get the support you need with rula.com/Tracy
KiwiCo: Save 50% off with code TRACY KiwiCo.ComVionic Shoes: Use code TRACY for 15% off at https://www.vionicshoes.com
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From Helpless to Hopeful in Your In-Law Dynamic: Inside the Making of You, Your Husband, and His Mother
Have you ever felt caught between your partner and his mother—or wondered how a whole book on that exact dynamic comes to life?
In this cozy, behind-the-scenes conversation, Dr. Tracy sits down with her husband Greg to share the real story of writing You, Your Husband, and His Mother—from 4:30 a.m. writing sessions and walking voice notes, to landing a Big 5 book deal and holding the finished book in her hands. They talk honestly about what it takes to build something big while raising kids, running a practice, and still trying to have a real life together.
Together, they unpack why the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship is so charged, how triangles quietly pull couples into painful patterns, and why the VAULT Method is designed to move you out of the victim–villain trap and into “we’re a team” energy. You’ll hear about inner child patterns, feeling “in the middle,” and the deep relief so many women describe when they finally feel seen instead of “crazy” for struggling with in-laws. Tune in to feel understood, hopeful, and equipped with a new way to think about your marriage, your in-laws, and the small steps that can help you become a stronger, more aligned couple.
Grab my new book You, Your Husband, and His Mother!! Available on all formats
RESOURCES:
Want your questions answered on the show? Submit them here!
Discover your relationship negative cycle with my free quiz: Take it here
Ready to deepen your connection? Download my 100 Questions
Build better connection and feel close starting today. Join the 30 Days to Us Challenge
LINKS:
Factor Meals: Save 50% off your first box and get free breakfast for a year. Use code TRACY50OFF at factormeals.com/TRACY50OFF
Rula: Get the support you need with rula.com/Tracy
Calm: Save 40% off at calm.com/Tracy
KiwiCo: Save 50% off with code TRACY KiwiCo.Com
Better Help: Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/TRACYK12 Powered Schools: Learn more at k12.com/TRACY
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Nobody Wants This Season 2: The Mother-in-Law Power Struggle and What Healthy Boundaries Really Look Like
In Season 2, Episode 2 of Nobody Wants This, Joanne delivers the now-viral line: “Mothers have been hating their son’s girlfriends since the beginning of time…” — and it’s the ultimate masterclass in boundaries. Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, clinical psychologist and author of You, Your Husband, and His Mother, unpacks why Bina’s behavior is a textbook case of enmeshment, guilt, and control disguised as care.
From secret keys to guilt trips and emotional manipulation, Dr. Tracy breaks down what happens when families don’t update their roles — and how couples can stay united through it. Learn the key therapy concepts of enmeshment, triangulation, differentiation, and boundary-setting, and walk away knowing how to protect your peace without losing compassion.
Order my new book! You, Your Husband, and His Mother
RESOURCES:
Want your questions answered on the show? Submit them here!
Discover your relationship negative cycle with my free quiz: Take it here
Ready to deepen your connection? Download my 100 Questions
Build better connection and feel close starting today. Join the 30 Days to Us Challenge
LINKS:
Calm: Save 40% off at calm.com/Tracy
Rula: Get the support you need with rula.com/Tracy
KiwiCo: Save 50% off with code TRACY KiwiCo.ComVionic Shoes: Use code TRACY for 15% off at https://www.vionicshoes.com
Keywords
Nobody Wants This; emotional intelligence, family dynamics, mother-in-law, boundaries, communication, repair, autonomy, differentiation, relationships, parenting
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Breaking Family Cycles: The Traits of Emotionally Intelligent Mothers-in-Law (and Why It Matters for Your Marriage)
In this final episode of the series, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, psychologist and relationship expert, discusses the importance of emotional intelligence in family dynamics, particularly focusing on the role of mothers-in-law. She outlines key behaviors that emotionally intelligent mothers-in-law exhibit, such as protecting the couple unit, communicating effectively, owning their impact, including without enmeshment, and practicing differentiation.
The episode emphasizes the need for self-awareness, empathy, and the ability to navigate complex family relationships while maintaining healthy boundaries.
Preorder my new book! You, Your Husband, and His Mother
RESOURCES:
Want your questions answered on the show? Submit them here!
Discover your relationship negative cycle with my free quiz: Take it here
Ready to deepen your connection? Download my 100 Questions
Build better connection and feel close starting today. Join the 30 Days to Us Challenge
LINKS:
Calm: Save 40% off at calm.com/Tracy
Rula: Get the support you need with rula.com/Tracy
KiwiCo: Save 50% off with code TRACY KiwiCo.ComVionic Shoes: Use code TRACY for 15% off at https://www.vionicshoes.com
Keywords
emotional intelligence, family dynamics, mother-in-law, boundaries, communication, repair, autonomy, differentiation, relationships, parenting
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Dear Dr. Tracy, the podcast that helps you navigate the everyday challenges of relationships, marriage, and parenting with expert advice and real, relatable conversations. Hosted by clinical psychologist and relationship expert Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, this podcast is your place for honest, no-nonsense guidance on love, intimacy, boundaries, and communication. With over 18 years of experience, Dr. Tracy brings a mix of clinical expertise, evidence-based research, and personal insights as a wife and mother to help you break unhealthy patterns and build stronger connections. Each week, Dr. Tracy answers the questions so many of us have but don’t always know how to ask—about resentment, desire, mental load, and how to truly feel like a team with your partner. She’s joined by fellow experts, real couples, and her husband Greg, who offers a down-to-earth perspective on the struggles so many relationships face. If you’re ready for actionable tools and heartfelt conversations that will help you create a relationship that feels fulfilling, this podcast is for you.
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