We caught up with the brilliant and insightful EJ and Tarah Kerwin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
EJ and Tarah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.
Tarah and I started Relationship Renovation because of our own struggles in our marriage. We were therapists who had worked in the field for a long time, and we loved each other tremendously. But, we found ourselves struggling profoundly in our relationship. We knew that we could take our own personal struggles and use them to help couples understand themselves and each other better and build the loving and lasting relationship that they craved. We also knew that couples often feel like no one else has the struggles that they have. We wanted to create a center that offered consistent quality care to couples but also connect broadly with couples and offer free resources to support them in their relationship.
Our center has grown exponentially, and we have created a structured yet individualized program that helps couples feel united in their struggles. We build the couple’s ethos that they “can become their best selves together.” And that their struggles can become the launching point to growing as individuals and creating a secure, resilient, and loving relationship.
Our podcast has become a labor of love. Hundreds of thousands of couples tune in, learn relationship skills and develop valuable insights. We love to share our struggles while also sharing practical skills and tools that couples can use immediately. We love to interview experts in the wellness field to help individuals and couples broaden their knowledge base.
EJ and Tarah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Tarah and EJ Kerwin founded Relationship Renovation Counseling Center in Tucson, AZ. They have a staff of 15 therapists trained in the Relationship Renovation Program. This 18-22 week program helps couples understand how their childhood and early adulthood adaptive traits created barriers in conflict resolution, intimacy, and healthy communication. Tarah and EJ also host the Relationship Renovation Podcast, a weekly podcast exploring healthy relationship habits and personal growth.
We are most proud of the thousands of couples whose relationships have been positively impacted by their podcast, online, and in-office services.
How’d you meet your business partner?
Tarah and I met as colleagues at a residential treatment center for women suffering from eating disorders. We respected each other as colleagues and clinicians and built a friendship built on mutual respect and admiration. When life circumstances shifted, we went out on a date and have been together ever since. We have a business and a blended family with four children. We are life and business partners and are connected in our love for one another and our mission of supporting hundreds of thousands of couples across the globe.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
The birth of our twins one year into our marriage was a life-shifting event. Tarah went from zero children to four in a 16-month period. We found ourselves overwhelmed and stretched to the limits and saw our relationship struggling profoundly. But, we were dedicated to one another and knew with intentionality, insight, and dedication, we could grow together and create a solid foundation for each other and our family.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.relationhiprenovation.com
- Instagram: @relationship_renovation
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/relationshiprenovationcounseling
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/e-j-kerwin-6b132513/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfb8I3evBi7aZcVnmvN_yPw
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relationship-renovation-couples-love-advice-intimacy/id1452940459 https://open.spotify.com/show/6Op67B2r5YgDOB1qVW5jTI?si=ed24f709051f459e
Image Credits
EJ Kerwin photographer