Show Details

Biography

DR. BETH ERICKSON

… could tell you that she:

• completed her Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota in 1976;
• then completed two years’ post-doctoral training in marriage and family therapy at The Family Institute, which is part of Northwestern University;
• has practiced marriage and family therapy for over three decades;
• is an executive and life coach, media host, and professional speaker;
• authored three books, the most recent of which is Marriage Isn’t For Sissies: 7 Simple Keys to Unlocking the Best Part of Your Life, as well as a dozen juried articles for professional publications;
• has developed a teleseminar series to accompany Marriage Isn’t for Sissies;
• previously was host of “Mirrors of the Soul,” on which she interviewed bestselling authors, women movers and shakers, and ordinary people doing extraordinary things;
• has been sought for interviews on NBC Chicago, Voice of America, Cosmopolitan, USA Today, Better Homes and Gardens, and The Miami Herald, among others;
• makes her home in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.

But those aren’t her real qualifications for hosting a show on relationships. Dr. Beth is a proud wife, stepmother of 3, mother-in-law, grandmother of 5, great-grandmother of 1, aunt, great aunt, sister, sister-in-law, cousin, cat and dog mother, friend, coach, and mentor.

That’s good to know. Because she will be talking about the importance of our connections with people to our quality of life and own survival as individuals, and to the continuation of us as a people and even as a civilization. Along the way, she’ll offer tools for evaluating, maintaining, strengthening, and ending relationships of all kinds.

Dr. Beth is a regular columnist for Womens Online Marketing and is known as “The Best Part of Your Life” Doctor.

Archived Shows

• Relationships 101 – : Giving Birth to a “Savior Child,” and Complementarity in Intimate Relationships

  I spoke with Beth Whitehouse, an award winning journalist at Newsday who wrote The Match: “Savior Siblings” and One Family’s Battle to Heal Their Daughter. It details a couple’s heart wrenching journey to save their child’s life. Then I spoke with Dr. Barry Ginsberg about how people are attracted to each other in complementary ways and how to maintain their attraction and attachment later on, rather than insisting they change.

• Relationships 101 – Parenting Grown Kids Who Go Sideways, & Mother/Daughter Business Collaboration

  Collaboration Elle Mansfield, co-author of Cutting the Cord, discussed how and why some parents inadvertently enable their adult kids to remain irresponsible and stuck. Christine Marie Peters and her daughter, Julie, described how they happily share their business and their lives. At first, Dr. Beth was a bit skeptical that things may not have been as copasetic as they seemed, but after challenging them, it became apparent theirs was the real deal.

• Relationships 101 – From Failure to Fearless, and Clergy Killers

  Killers I talked with Susanna Abbott about the skills and mindset required to move from being undone by life’s setbacks to making lemonade from them. People need to learn to use their feelings as a data source for sound decision making. In the news, there are a plethora of articles about clergy abuse of congregants. But Rev. Jackie O’Neal talked with us about the abuse of spiritual leaders by their flock. A clergyperson is forced out of the ministry every 6 minutes in the U.S.

• Relationships 101 – How the Internet Is Restructuring Our Brains and End of Life Ethical Dilemmas

  I spoke with Dr. Madelyn Blair, author of Riding the Current, about what is happening to America’s creativity and how TV and Internet use are diminishing our creativity and sense of community. Deb Savage, R.N. then spoke with me about the increasing ethical dilemmas that families and health care providers experience because of modern medical miracles that treatment advances provide. I asked when is enough enough?

• Relationships 101 – Marital Arguments and Advocating for a Child with ADHD

  Sharon Rivkin, marriage and family therapist and author of two books on managing marital arguments where one or both spouses has gotten hooked into old or painful material was my first guest. Then Karen Lowry, a pediatric nurse whose son has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder which makes it very difficult for him to learn, talked about strategies parents can use to help their child receive appropriate education to help them achieve their full potential

• Relationships 101 – : Why Long Term Marriages End, and Marital Conflict Sparked by Sibling Positions of Spouses

  Spouses Dr. B. Janet Hibbs, author of Try to See It My Way, and I spoke on why couples who have managed to stay together for a long time end their marriage. Then marriage and family therapist, Dr. Karen Gail Lewis, shared how spouses’ sibling positions can work for or against couples, particularly when conflict arises. Non-complementary sibling positions with their unconscious roles can be a major source of marital conflict.

• Relationships 101 – Toxic and Great Parenting

  Diane Tegarden did a “parentectomy” of her father who was verbally and physically abusive. Her first memory of being hit with a closed fist was when she was 5 or 6, after she expressed her opinion in response to his question. I offered multiple strategies for healing those wounds. Then Tracy DeGraaf, mother of 5 sons, has written Laugh Anyway Mom. Her kids have taken her to hospital emergency rooms 21 times. She shares her philosophy of parenting in a nutshell in a fun conversation.

• Relationships 101 – A Cultural Critique and Life-Changing Events

  Marla Martenson, author of Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, was back by popular demand to dish with me about the shallowness of people who only seek mates who are arm candy and American Express cards. Then brain tumor survivor Bob Gibbs spoke with me about his 6-year battle with brain cancer, his son’s being diagnosed with a brain tumor, and the foundation he started, milesforhope.org, to offer help and hope to others facing their own battle with cancer.

• Relationships 101 – Sex Addiction and Care for Caregivers

  Recent stories about philandering husbands has brought the subject of sex addiction to the fore. Alex Katahakis, author of Erotic Intelligence, and I discussed what makes a sex addict and how to help them and their partners. Then Chris Tatevosian, author of Life Interrupted – It’s Not All about You, shared what he learned the hard way about how his MS and his attitude toward it destroyed his first marriage. Instead of self-pity, he now experiences and expresses grace to his second wife.

• Relationships 101 – Replacement and Returning Children

  Judy Mandel’s memoir Replacement Child tells of her parents’ decision to have a replacement child when her older sister was killed in a plane crash. Living with a phantom sister overshadowed her existence and made Judy invisible as an individual. Maggie and Gary Stevens shared their experience of living with their adult son and his wife, providing a home for them while their son was in graduate school. We discussed potential pitfalls of multi-generational living and ways to avoid them.

• Relationships 101 – Cures for Loneliness

  Howard Eisenberg and Shirley Friedenthal met online after their spouses died in their 70’s. Each other’s One and Only, they collaborated on a book It’s Never Too Late to Date written for the over-50 set. Marla Martenson, author of Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, discussed matchmaking for wealthy men and beautiful women who also are searching for a cure for their loneliness. But when women seek only rich men and men seek superficial beauty, they remain lonely because of their shallowness.

• Relationships 101 – Ed and Eddie Rinehardt talked about Ed’s 32-year search for his father who abandoned the family when Ed was 9.

  Despite this, Ed played a pivotal role in Eddie’s recovery when he was brain injured on the football field. These journeys are detailed in You’re OK, Kid. Dr. Jacqueline Olds, co-author of  The Lonely American, spoke about the loneliness woven into the fabric of the American psyche from our cult of busyness and belief in rugged individualism. These accentuate individuals’ personal loneliness and aloneness.

• Relationships 101 – Difficult Father’s Days and Family Conflict around Weddings

  Not everyone is privileged to have a healthy relationship with their father. Kelly Meister discussed her long journey of healing from her father’s molestation and her stepfather’s verbal and physical abuse of her, in the context of Father’s Day. Then Samantha Goldberg, a celebrity wedding planner, and I discussed the conflicts that can arise between brides and their mother or mother-in-law, and strategies to keep them from overshadowing the couple’s special day.

• Relationships 101 – Fatherless Adult Children and Women Leading for a Change

  Change Dr. Richard Horowitz spoke with me about the dramatic impact of fathers’ absence on their children’s lives. It leaves a hole in their soul that is extremely difficult to fill, and they carry this father hunger into adulthood until they deal with it. Then Stephanie Marohn, editor of a volume called Goddess Shift: Women Leading for a Change. We explored the new era of women’s leadership that is emerging, and the role of the feminism of 40 years ago in prompting this.

• Relationships 101 – The Circle of Life: Death and Birth

  Carole Brody Fleet, author of Widows Wear Stilettos, was widowed at age 40 when her husband’s death from ALS turned her life upside down. We discussed unhelpful ways well-meaning people responded to her, as well as what to expect when grieving. Then I spoke with Patricia Harman about her memoir The Blue Cotton Gown, tales of her exploits as a humanistic nurse midwife, parent, friend, & and wife of husband and business partner, Dr. Tom Harman, who isn’t a typical doctor, either.

• Relationships 101 – Coaches for Kids’ Teams and Looking Good at Any Age

  My first guest was David Salter, author of Final Four Leadership. Having coached youth sports for 13 years, he has worked with some parents who behave more like children than their kids. We discussed strategies for dealing with these bullies. My second guest, Valerie Ramsey, became a runway model at age 63 and at 70 will soon host her own television show called “What’s Next?” She is living proof that beauty is both an inside and an outside job.

• Relationships 101 – Asking “Should I Divorce?” and the Challenges for Professional Women in Finding a Mate

  My first guest is Dr. Beverly Hyman, co-author of  How to Know If It’s Time to Go. The book and our conversation provides a reality check on the implications of their dissatisfaction. My next guest is Dr. Veronica Anderson, M.D. who recently divorced and re-entered the dating game after 22 years of marriage. Although it can be a challenge for anyone to find an appropriate mate, the odds are stacked against well-educated women

• Relationships 101 – Daughters Restructuring Their Relationship and Working with Their Mother

  I spoke with Karel Murray about mother-daughter relationships from the daughter’s perspective that was rocky until she took control of it at 26. Karel wrote Hitting Our Stride: Women, Work and What Matters. Next I spoke with Abby and Cathy Dees about Abby’s coming out as a lesbian. Abby is the author of Queer Questions, Straight Talk: 108 Frank and Provocative Questions It’s Okay to Ask Your Lesbian, Gay or Bi Loved One.

• Relationships 101 – Mothers and Daughters Part II and Rethinking Conception by an Anonymous Sperm Donor

  In the second of a 3-part series, my first guest is Julie Pech. Some people just have a knack for knowing how to parent, and she is one. My second guest, Elsa Prado, discussed some of the moral issues she struggles with now, that she wasn’t aware of when she was artificially inseminated to save her marriage. Although she loves her daughter with all her heart, she wants people to make more informed choices.

• Relationships 101 – Mothers and Daughters Part I On Stage and In Life

  The first of a series of shows about why Mother-Daughter relationships can be so conflictual, I spoke with family therapist Dr. LeslieBeth Wish, to get her perspective on this very important topic. We discussed tips for making this relationship constructive. My next guest was actor, novelist, and playwright, Shane Briant, who talked about his latest novel, Worst Nightmares, about the dangers that lurk on the Internet, and about his acting with 9 Academy Award winners.

• Relationships 101 – The Promise and Perils of Adoption and Internet Dating

  My first guest was Nicole Witt, Executive Director of The Adoption Consultancy. We had an animated conversation about the potential risks and rewards of adopting children. My next guest, Lynne Lorberg, talked with me about her experiences with Internet dating. Specifically, we discussed how to protect yourself, how to present yourself, how to discover what kind of person you really are meeting, and parents’ responsibility to protect their older teens.

• Relationships 101 – Claim New Beginnings From Endings

  My first guest, Len Stauffenger, is the author of Getting Over It! Wisdom for Divorced Parents. He was married 10 years when his wife said she wasn’t happy and wanted a divorce. So Len became the primary parent of his two girls, aged 6 and 8. My next guest is Rev. Dr. Kenneth Patrick, a hospice chaplain, who talked about journeying to the end of life. Baby boomers & their parents can empower themselves to plan where and how they wish to die, not by suicide but by their choices.

• Relationships 101 – Extreme Challenges for Parents and Kids

  Veronica Gillotti discusses the challenges parents of autistic children face. Although her son is 11, he speaks only one syllable words. She writes about coming to terms with his limitations in her novel Crowd Pleasers. Then Betty Hoeffner, Co-Founder of the Hey U.G.L.Y. Foundation to help bullied kids stop the self-bullying in their heads that results and to prevent bullying. With her was an amazing 7th grader named Connor who shared about his becoming empowered.

• Relationships 101 – The Crisis of Black Marriages and Transition Times

  First, Dr. Harold Arnold, Jr., author of Marriage Rocks, discussed Black Marriage Day as one way to address the alarming situation of Blacks having the lowest marriage rate and the highest divorce rate of any group in the country. Then Barbara Penn-Atkins, also an African American, spoke with me about her book 70 Is the New 40. She urged people to make the choice to live vitally, rather than retire, giving up on maximizing the potential in the bonus years from age 70 on.

• Relationships 101 – Special Relationships

  Drs. Charles and Elizabeth Schmitz were my first guests. For 27 years, they have studied the ingredients of successful marriages on 5 continents and over 40 countries. They co-authored of Building a Love That Lasts: The 7 Surprising Secrets of Successful Marriage. Then I spoke with Mary Treacy O’Keefe, author of Thin Places, about soul friends. What makes these relationships so rare and special? How do you find them? Or do they just happen? Does it work to seek them?

• Relationships 101 – Bullies in the Workplace and in Cyberspace

  Roger Hall, author of How Do You Pet a Porcupine: Solutions to Your Prickly Communication Problems, is my first guest. He traveled the world helping companies cope with bullies and other Energy Vampires. My next guest is Danielle Tiano, author of The Temptation Series of books written for “tweens” and their parents to keep kids safe in this technology-driven world. This conversation will be of special interest to parents and other adults who work with “tweens” and teens.

• Relationships 101 – Breaking Addictions to Media, Pornography and Relationships

  People become addicts by attempting to fill a hole inside. My first guest is psychotherapist Jeff Ford who specializes in the treatment of addictions of all kinds. My second guest is Susan Elliott, author of Getting Past Your Breakup: How to Turn a Devastating Loss into the Best Thing That Ever Happened to you. We talk about how to get beyond being addicted to relationships that are harmful and the seeds for these of relationships planted in childhood.

• Relationships 101 – Children Need Both Parents

  Parents Our children live in a completely different world than we did as children. My first guest, K. Sean Buvala, is a professional storyteller who talked with me about how fathers can develop a relationship with their children through telling them stories, and about how children are affected by their father’s absence. Then J.E. Wright, a psychotherapist and the author of The Sexualization of America’s Kids, spoke about the impact of kids being barraged by sexual images and innuendoes in the media.

• Relationships 101 – Marrying a Sports Champion

  Jim Fannin has coached sports champions and titans of industry for over three decades. We discussed their wives’ unique challenges that are inevitable even for those in happy marriages. And even they must wonder, at least part of the time, what they signed on for. Undoubtedly, many must wish their husband were an average Joe who had a “normal” job that brought him home every night, not a guy whose name is a household word. While their rewards can be great, so are their challenges.