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The focus series with Derek Boylen
At Majellan, because we believe family matters most, we’ve produced several resources to help all families be the best they can be.
We are very pleased to be joined by Derek Boylen, an experienced marriage and relationship councillor and a lecturer in relationships at the University of Notre Dame. We have put together this most valuable series which we are calling the Focus Sessions.
In this short overview we highlight aspects of family relationships and how this series can help in strengthening your family relationships. We hope you’ll find the series beneficial and get some insights on issues you may face in your family.
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 14 September
Setting Goals
The brain loves novelty but what’s novel today is boring tomorrow. Setting goals is a great way to help keep relationships fresh and continue growing. In new or old relationships, goals help families to stay excited about the future and give a sense of purpose and direction.
Goals help us to prioritise the use of our time, money and resources. They give families a common purpose and they become milestones on the journey. In this Focus Session Derek describes how goals work to strengthen families and explores how to set goals as a family.
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 14 September
Dealing with Difficult Family
One of the most common challenges for couples, especially younger couples is where the extended family interferes with relationships and it can feel like you are the ‘meat in the sandwich’ dealing with conflicts between your partner and your extended family.
Derek explores the many reasons for meddling and shares ways to deal with an extended family member who may be causing issues.
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 14 September
Financial Stress
Family finances are one of the most difficult things to talk about and less than 10% of families have a budget. Finances can also be one of the biggest relationship breakers – especially when money gets tight or we get into difficult times.
Derek explains how to have conversations about money, how to be aware of the different views each of us may have about money and describes how we can budget in a positive way. Regardless of your financial position this Focus Session will be of value.
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 3 September
Infidelity
Infidelity is more common than we think and often it is painful and hidden for couples; 25% of couples will experience infidelity and it’s a problem equally for both men and women.
In this Focus Session, Derek covers some basic principles about how to first start talking about it as couples and how they can recover and build an amazingly strong relationship, deeper than they imagined possible, even after infidelity, if they are willing to work on it.
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 25 August
Can a Broken Marriage be Saved?
In this Focus Session of Figuring out Families, marriage counselor Derek Boylen talks about what to do when there appears to be no hope in a relationship.
The types of pressures on families today are far greater than ever before so Derek discusses what can be done to ease the pressures and puts forward a number of suggestions on how to seek professional help if the family situation is deteriorating or has broken beyond repair.
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 18 August
The 12 Pillars of Intimacy
Intimacy plays an important part in all relationships. However, we tend to think of intimacy in terms of an emotional or physical connection. In this session, Derek explains what intimacy means and shows us that there are actually twelve key pillars of intimacy. As you listen, you will discover what these 12 pillars and how we can overcome the vulnerability that we sometimes feel during ‘intimate’ moments.
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 12 August
Work-Life Balance
Continuing our Focus Series of Figuring out Families, Marriage Counselor Derek Boylen speaks about the importance of work/life balance. Never has this been so important, especially due to the difficulties we are experiencing with coronavirus. Work/life balance can lead to all sorts of stresses on families, financial and otherwise.
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 5 August
Community
In the latest focus session of Figuring out Families with Derek Boylen, we explore community. As a Marriage Counsellor, Derek Boylen explains how a strong sense of community is vital for the wellbeing of our relationships with loved ones.
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 28 July
Faith
In this session, we explore how faith and spirituality affect relationships in the pressure of daily life.
Derek and David are joined by special guest Karen (Derek’s wife) to explore the importance of taking time to strengthen our ‘spiritual being’ and how in doing so we build closer more loving relationships.
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 24 July
Love Languages
In this Focus session Derek describes what the five love languages are and shows us how we can express our love more deeply – to our partner and our children in their love language.
If you have or haven’t heard of love languages before you will enjoy the way Derek presents this most interesting topic
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 15 July
Keeping Fun and Romance Alive
When we think about what it takes to build strong lasting family relationships we often focus on trust, honesty, loyalty, etc. However, an essential part of meaningful relationships is also fun, humour and laughter. In this session Derek discusses the importance of planning for fun in the family and explains the concept of love rituals keeping romance alive.
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 10 July
Problem Solving
All relationships are tested at one time or another and there is nothing wrong with a good argument. In fact, it can be healthy. In this session, we explore the steps to help address problems when they arise and how disagreements and arguments can in fact enrich a relationship.
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 6 July
Love Maps
Having a strong loving relationship usually means you have a good understanding of what is important to your family members.
In this Focus Session we explore Love Maps and how they can help to gain a deeper knowledge of the people we care most about and therefore build stronger relationships.
Understanding Love Maps gives us a valuable means of getting to know and appreciate our partners and children better to help avoid conflict, and most importantly build strong, loving bonds.
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 1 July
Communication Part II
In part two of our Communications session, we take a closer look at how emotions impact on our relationships and how we communicate.
We are also joined by some special guests to get children’s perspective on communication.
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 1 July
Communication Part I
Communication is the theme of the second session of our focus series with Marriage Counsellor Derek Boylen.
As much as good communication can build positive bonds and mutual respect, so can poor communication remove trust and break down the foundation of a relationship.
An entire series could be focused on this topic alone. However we have condensed the subject into two incredibly informative sessions, with part I & II.
The focus series with Derek Boylen
Podcast | 23 June
Loving through Lockdown
We are very excited to announce a new series within our Figuring out Families Podcast.
Over the next few months, we will be joined by Marriage counsellor, Sessional Lecturer, and Director of the Centre for Life,Marriage and Family in the Archdiocese of Perth; Derek Boylen, to discuss a variety of issues that are most pressing to families today. This is one way we help you and your family.
Kate Moriarty. Six kids, Coronavirus and Faith!
Podcast | 25 May 2020
In this Figuring Out Families podcast we talk to Kate Moriarty, a freelance writer and mother of six. She speaks about her faith and the issues she and her husband encountered home schooling their children and tuning into live streaming Masses from their TV room during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Kate also passes on some valuable tips for families on ways to better organise your lives and those of your children. This is a fun and entertaining podcast.
Josie Jones – Australian of the Year, Victorian Local Hero
Podcast | 11 May 2020
Each morning, Josie Jones starts her day by collecting rubbish on the beach. A single mum, she has volunteered over 10,000 hours and countless dollars personally collecting over 5.3 tonnes of rubbish from Victoria’s Port Phillip bay.
She spoke to Figuring our Families about the work she does for the environment, how her life was impacted when her mother committed suicide, being a single mum and her faith.
We’re sure you will be inspired by this remarkable woman.
Gary Pinto – Singer/Songwriter, Headlining Walk with me:
Podcast | 30 April 2020
In this podcast we talk to Aria award winner Gary Pinto, an inspirational singer/songwriter, who’s been a mentor to many young Australian artists and friend to such legends as Jimmy Barnes and Guy Sebastian.
……
Gary talks about life with his family at home under coronavirus, his faith, long music career and the online music fundraiser for Caritas.
This is a must listen podcast.
Christine Carolan on modern slavery
Podcast | 17 April 2020
Over 40 million people are believed to be caught up in slavery around the world and in Australia – and unknowingly each of us may be facilitating its continuation.
In this podcast we talk to Christine Carolan, Executive Officer of the Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH), an organisation dedicated to eliminating modern slavery.
Derek Boylen on marriage
Podcast | 04 March 2020
Relationships and marriages are the topics of this episode of Figuring out Families where we welcome Derek Boylen, an experienced marriage councilor and a member of Ministry to Newly Married.
Derek shares what it takes to make a relationship work and speaks about the top three issues that couples face in their first three years.
Kirsty Robertson, CEO of Caritas Australia
Podcast | 20 February 2020
In this episode we caught up with Kirsty Robertson who is the new CEO at Caritas Australia via a phone hook up and talked about the work Caritas does with the most abandoned families in the world and how important Project Compassion is to ensure they can make a real difference in the world.
Enjoy the episode.
Christmas and the Holy Family
Podcast | 11 December 2019
As we approach Christmas, we turn our attention to the holy family.
Mary and Joseph experienced problems as all couples do. We know that their marriage almost didn’t happen because Mary told Joseph she was expecting a child. After God’s intervention in a dream to Joseph, they did marry.
Gerald Bain-King, School principal on families and school
Podcast | 04 December 2019
We talk to Gerald Bain-King, who’s about to retire after many years as a principal and vice-principal in the Catholic school system.
Gerald’s time in education has given him tremendous insights into the types of issues that affect families. In this podcast he gives advice on how parents can help their children get the best from their time at school and talks about the issues affecting students and their families today.
A must listen for parents of school-aged children.
Deacon George Piech Meat on being a refugee
Podcast | 20 November 2019
After fleeing war-torn Sudan and spending two years in Egypt, Deacon George and his young family came to Australia as refugees in 2004. He has since gained a Bachelor of Theology degree and now works as a Sudanese Catholic community pastoral worker in Melbourne.
He speaks about his life in war torn South Sudan with his wife and children, his work with Sudanese youth, and his mission to raise money for a Catholic school in South Sudan.
Bronwyn Melville – Pregnancy Help Australia
Podcast | 07 November 2019
Bronwyn is on the Board of Newcastle Pregnancy Help. She provides advice to women who are pregnant either by choice, or whose pregnancy is unplanned.
Bronwyn, the mother of seven children and five grandchildren, talks about the types of issues affecting pregnant women today: some are from broken families while others have to deal with violent partners.
She also speaks passionately about her presentation before the NSW parliamentary inquiry into the decriminalisation of abortion, prior to the Government passing new legislation.
Dr Robyn Miller CEO of MacKillop Family Services
Podcast | 23 October 2019
In this Figuring Out Families podcast we talk to Dr Robyn Miller, Chief Executive of MacKillop Family Services. Robyn is a social worker and family therapist with more than thirty years’ experience.
She also worked as a consultant with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Her organisation provides numerous services in the areas of Disability, Youth Support, Family, Education and Out of Home care.
In this episode, Robyn, who is the mother of five children, talks about the role that trauma plays in family breakdown and what is being done to better protect children at risk.