Are you dating someone’s potential instead of the reality sitting across from you? In this episode of Love, Unboxed, Dr. Colleen Mullen unpacks why smart, high-achieving women get stuck in “relationship mud,” holding out hope for partners who can’t or won’t meet them halfway. With personal stories, client insights, and five practical strategies, you’ll learn how to stop chasing potential and start building love on solid ground.

🧠💛 Loving Someone with ADHD isn’t about fixing them — it’s about understanding them. In this episode of Love, Unboxed, Dr. Colleen breaks down what it looks like to love and support a partner with ADHD. She shares her own late diagnosis and how treatment helped her reframe shame into strategy — a powerful reminder that ADHD doesn’t mean broken. It just means different. All of a sudden, there was a reason for the clumsiness, always running late, taking things too personally, or never really hitting the mark of her goals. She realized life could be different. She tells how the symptoms can present through the story of Ellen and Justin, and shares how you can support your partner with ADHD. In this episode, we explore the misunderstood symptoms, emotional toll, and what it means to show up with empathy without losing yourself in the process. 🎧 If you’ve ever felt unseen in your relationship — or wondered why your partner’s attention, follow-through, or emotional regulation seems unpredictable — this episode is for you. 👉 Subscribe now so you never miss an episode, and leave your relationship dilemma or drama as a voicemail at loveunboxedpodcast.com. Your story might inspire the next episode.

What do you do when your partner’s longtime friend seems to hate you—and your partner doesn’t see the problem? In this episode, I break down the subtle but exhausting tension that can come from navigating a strained relationship with your partner’s close friend. Learn the psychology behind it, why it happens more than we admit, and five tools to protect your peace, set boundaries, and talk to your partner without blame. It’s time to unbox this quiet relationship dilemma—together. Join me, licensed therapist & fellow Hopeful Romantic, Dr. Colleen Mullen on another unboxing journey! Leave me your relationship questions at oveunboxedpodcast.com

Have you ever caught feelings for someone so early on in the relationship that you questioned your own judgment? Join Dr. Colleen as she explores what happens to our brains when we believe we are in love, but we haven't gotten to know our new love so well yet. Did you know that parts of our brain that can protect us and help us regulate emotions shut down when we are in love? If you have fallen hard and fast for someone and it didn't work out, listen to this episode so you can understand what's happening in the future. This is the path to getting more of the love you want in your life. Leave your love & dating questions for dr Colleen at LoveUnboxedPodcast.com

Feeling emotionally distant from your partner amid daily chaos? In this episode of Love Unboxed, Dr. Colleen Mullen addresses the subtle yet pervasive "invisible drift" that can erode intimacy in busy relationships. Through relatable scenarios and actionable strategies, she offers guidance on rekindling connection, even when time and energy are scarce. Learn how to implement meaningful rituals and small gestures that can make a significant impact on your relationship.​ Key Topics: Understanding emotional drift in relationships Implementing the "10-minute bridge" communication ritual The significance of small gestures, like love notes Redefining date nights for busy couples Utilizing weekends for intentional connection Insights from Dr. John Gottman's research on emotional bids​ Whether you're navigating the challenges of parenthood, demanding careers, or both, this episode provides actionable advice to help you and your partner stay connected and nurture your bond.​

S1, Ep 7 The Love Unboxed Relationship Mini-Playbook -In this episode of Love, Unboxed, licensed therapist, Dr. Colleen Mullen, answers a listener’s question about making a great relationship even better. If your relationship is already thriving—strong communication, no arguments, and mutual respect—this episode is for you! Learn actionable, research-backed tips to deepen emotional intimacy, create new experiences together, build connection through rituals, and celebrate each other's wins. Whether you’re in a long-term partnership or just starting out, these simple strategies will help you keep growing and strengthening your bond. Tune in for expert advice on how to nurture lasting love!

This is the first in an intermittent series on how to support your partner with several mental health struggles, including depression, ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Anxiety, and many more. This episode begins with the story of Sally and Johnny and how depression affects their relationship. As always, Dr. Colleen unboxes the topic and provides clear and actionable things you can do to support your partner when they have depression.

How do you know if you are Ready to date after your divorce? Relationship therapist, Dr. Colleen Mullen unboxes the topic and spells out what you need to know to decide you are ready to start dating again.

What do you think about sharing your location with your partner? Dr. Colleen addresses the pros and cons of location sharing wiht your parner. She answers the Hopeful Romantic Question of the Week who struggles when their partner struggles with trust and relies on location sharing and it backfires.

Hopeful Romantic relationship therapist Dr. Colleen tackles the question: "Should you solve your partner's problems for them? " She unboxes the topic and explains what happens when you solve your partner's problems for them. The result may not be what you might think. Listen to a case example and then get practical advice that anyone can apply in their relationship. S1, E 03

In this engaging episode of "Love Unboxed," host Dr. Colleen dives deep into the commonly misunderstood phrase, "Relationships are a lot of work." She shares her personal insights and professional experiences to reframe this idea, emphasizing that while sustainable relationships can require effort, it's essential to recognize when that work is productive versus when it leads to distress. By the end of the episode, audiences are left with actionable insights and a clearer perspective on fostering healthy, sustainable relationships. Listeners are invited to engage with the show by submitting questions or sharing their thoughts at loveunboxpodcast.com. Join Dr. Colleen in this hopeful exploration of love, and let's keep the conversation alive!

Leave Dr. Colleen a voicemail with your relationship questions at LoveUnboxedPodcast.com. Have you ever loved a birdie with a broken wing? Are you a Wing Whisperer?? Listen in as Dr. Colleen Mullen unboxes the topic of the (totally made up) Broken Wing Syndrome. She tells the story of Jenny & Jack, two people who come together at an opportune time to meet each other's needs. When there is a bird with a broken wing in the relationship and a wing whisperer who wants to nurse them back to emotional health, this becomes more toxic than it is helpful. You deserve better than to be an empty nester in your own relationship. Love, Unboxed: The Podcast for the Hopeful Romantic is your place for keeping hope alive when it comes to having more of the love you want in your life.

This is the introduction to the new podcast, Love Unboxed, hosted by Dr. Colleen Mullen. Dr. Colleen wants to share what she knows about relationship with you. Ask your quesdtions at loveunboxedpodcast.com

New Show: " Love, Unboxed: For the Hopeful Romantic". Licensed therapist and fellow Hopeful Romantic, Dr. Colleen Mullen, introduces herself and her newest passion project designed to help her audience navigate the complexities of their relationships. You'll also hear how you can participate and get your relationship questions answered on this weekly podcast.