Carly's Couch On the Couch with Carly

On the Couch with Carly

Join me On the Couch with Carly, where psychology meets real life. Think of it as sitting down with a friend who happens to be a psychologist - but I'm not your pipe-smoking, tweed-wearing stereotype. This is a safe space to talk about the things that matter: relationships, parenting pressures, setting boundaries, and why we don't have to figure it all out alone. No judgment, just honest conversations about what it means to be human in this complicated, beautiful world.
Weekly English Explicit South Africa Self-Improvement · Relationships
62 Episodes
1 – 20

The art of gifting: How men can do better on special occasions

On behalf of women everywhere, this episode is dedicated to helping men understand why over 90% of women feel dissatisfied on special occasions like Mother's Day, birthdays, and anniversaries. Drawing from my clinical practice and conversations with clients and friends, I break down the five love languages framework as a…
6 Aug 53 min

Not self-abandoning: How motherhood awakened my inner fire with Mayuri Govender-Jonck

I'm joined by Mayuri Govender-Jonck, lawyer, transformation specialist, and creator of Breaking Brown Silence, for a deeply honest conversation about the realities of early motherhood. Eight months into her journey as a mother, Mayuri shares how becoming a parent ignited an unstoppable fire within her to never abandon herself again…
23 Jul 1 hr 10 min

The 3 types of anger every therapist wants you to understand

I need to tell you something that might surprise you - I'm pro-anger. When clients come to therapy saying they felt angry, I get excited because anger is information, and I want to understand what it's trying to tell us. Too many people walk into my office ashamed of their…
25 Jun 41 min

Boundaries as self-care: Why saying no protects everyone

One of the most common struggles in my therapy practice: women who've been conditioned to believe they're responsible for managing everyone's emotions. Using real examples from relationships with new parents, I examine how societal conditioning creates automatic "yes" responses that ultimately harm both ourselves and our relationships. I share practical…
28 May 21 min

The weight of history: How Holocaust trauma shapes Jewish responses to Israel

Disclaimer: This episode contains personal opinions and perspectives on complex geopolitical issues. The views expressed by the host and guest do not represent an official position on the Israel-Palestine conflict and are shared as part of an exploration of psychological and emotional dimensions of identity, trauma, and human connection. This…
14 May 58 min

Mom tribe as hype women: Celebrating the unseen work of motherhood

In this heartfelt solo episode, I explore what we've lost in modern motherhood - the village, the tribe, the collective female support that once surrounded new mothers. Patriarchal systems have stripped value from traditionally feminine roles, leaving mothers isolated in their achievements and struggles. From my therapy practice, I witness…
14 May 38 min

The art of fatherhood: Justice Mukheli on redefining masculinity

In this powerful episode, I sit down with artist, filmmaker and photographer Justice Mukheli, who I've followed for over 12 years. Known for his groundbreaking project "I See A Different You" which beautifully reshapes African narratives, Justice shares his transformative journey into fatherhood with his seven-month-old daughter. We explore how…
14 May 49 min
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Back On the Couch: Meaningful conversations return May 14th, 2025

After a period of reflection and growth, On the Couch with Carly returns on MAY 14, 2025, with fresh perspectives on mental health, relationships, and the messy parts of being human. On the Couch returns with three powerful episodes exploring fatherhood with Justice Mukheli, my solo episode on the collective…
7 May 5 min

Pressures on modern parents

I'm noticing the amount of pressure our parenting generation is under. We are working harder as well as parenting harder than ever before. In addition, we are being expected to "end inter-generational trauma" by giving our children the kinds of emotional attunement many of us never got ourselves. This is…
22 Nov 2024 18 min

Birth preparation: Knowing what can go wrong can be empowering

Birth trauma can occur after baby is born. Nothing is quite as frightening as experiencing your newborn baby going into NICU but knowing the thresholds and protocols around this event will help. In this episode I unpack how I believe we need to educate ourselves in pregnancy for some of…
24 Jun 2024 28 min

Making the invisible visible: How mums do more

In this episode I speak to the pandemic facing most families: the unequal division of labour in the home! Moms are carrying the mental load of parenting in disproportionate amounts. I look at the various factors that contribute to this reality and give some suggestions for how to navigate this…
23 May 2024 51 min

Coaching on the Couch with Carly

Today's episode is a departure from the pregnancy and postpartum theme as I have an exciting announcement. I have just qualified as an integral coach! In this episode I discuss why I have chosen to become a coach, how coaching is different from therapy and what kinds of questions/problems you…
18 Apr 2024 20 min

Why Sleep Training Helped Me with Karlien Terblanche

Sleep training is not for everyone but for this sleep-deprived mom it was the key to surviving postpartum with her mental health intact. In this episode we talk about the need to center the mother's mental health as a necessary means to build secure attachment.
25 Mar 2024 46 min

My take on infant sleep

This is a follow up episode to the sleep training episode. I am 6 months down the line and this is what I have figured out about sleep and I offer my take so that you can feel empowered to make choices for you and your family that take into…
12 Feb 2024 22 min

How Anxiety Tells Us What We Need

What do you do when you feel anxious? In this episode I talk about how we need to not only manage the symptoms of anxiety, we need to understand what our anxiety is telling us and actually make structural changes to bring ease to our lives. In particular, I unpack…
12 Jan 2024 24 min

An intro into sibling rivalry

This is a short episode where I discuss my experience of dealing with sibling rivalry and some advice for helping your children manage their big feelings around their siblings.
20 Oct 2023 20 min

Meg Faure on Infant Sleep

To sleep train or not to sleep train, that is the question? Meg and I unpack the thorny topic of infant sleep. Can babies learn to self soothe? Does this impact attachment to the caregiver? What should you do as a parent to help your baby sleep better so that…
19 Sep 2023 30 min
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