What happens when a singer-songwriter becomes a relationship therapist? In this illuminating conversation, Katherine Petzold shares her fascinating journey from performing worldwide to helping couples transform their relationships through Relational Life Therapy (RLT).
Katherine reveals why conventional communication advice fails most couples – it's not that we don't know how to communicate, but that we lose this ability when emotionally triggered. Through vivid examples (including a memorable story about losing it in a Target parking lot), she explains RLT's three-part system: the wounded child who feels hurt, the adaptive child who protects through problematic behaviors, and the wise adult who can choose healthier responses.
The most powerful revelation? You are part of the problem in your relationship difficulties – and that's actually good news. As Katherine explains, "Only you can change you, and that's worth it regardless of whether your partner changes." This accountability is the doorway to genuine connection.
Whether you're in a decades-long marriage, just starting to date, or working through a breakup, the upcoming RLT workshop (September 20-21 in Annapolis) offers transformative tools for creating healthier patterns. Surprisingly, it's often the reluctant participants – those "dragged" to the workshop – who become its biggest advocates afterward.
Beyond romantic relationships, these skills ripple outward to improve all your connections. As Terry Real says, "Family dysfunction rolls from generation to generation like a fire in the woods until somebody turns and faces the flames." Will you be the one to face those flames?
Register for the workshop by August 31 for early pricing and join Katherine and Risa Ganel for a weekend that participants consistently describe as life-changing. Your future self – and everyone who loves you – will thank you.

Support the show

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide!

💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com

📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe!

📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom

🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!

🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist

🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!