The holiday season brings some of the most emotionally loaded moments couples and families face — and this year, Jennine Estes Powell, LMFT, founder of Spokane Counseling Hub, brings her clinical expertise directly to the Spokane community through KREM 2 News. In two separate segments, Jennine addresses two of the most common holiday pain points: navigating gift expectations and managing in-law dynamics.
Whether you catch these live or watch online, these segments offer the kind of real, practical insight that Jennine brings to her clients every day — and a window into the work happening here at Spokane Counseling Hub.
Segment 1: Setting Expectations Around Gifts
Gift-giving carries more emotional weight than most people realize — unspoken hopes, mismatched spending habits, the pressure to get it just right. In this segment, Jennine offers warm, grounded guidance on how couples and families can have honest conversations about gifts before the season kicks into high gear.
The core message: when expectations go unspoken, disappointment is almost guaranteed. Jennine walks viewers through how to approach the conversation with their partner — setting realistic limits, clarifying what gifts actually mean to each person, and releasing the need for a perfect reaction on the other side.
These are the kinds of tools that make a real difference, not just during the holidays, but in how couples communicate year-round.
Watch the segment: Setting Expectations Around Gifts — KREM 2 News
Segment 2: Getting Along with In-Laws During the Holidays
Few holiday challenges are more universally relatable than navigating extended family — especially in-laws. In this segment, Jennine speaks candidly about managing tension, honoring different family cultures, and staying emotionally regulated when you are under the same roof with people who know exactly how to push your buttons.
Her approach goes beyond surface-level tips. She grounds the conversation in what actually drives conflict between couples and their families of origin — and what partners can do together to protect their relationship while still showing up fully for the holidays.
If your in-law dynamic has ever been a source of stress during the holidays, this one is worth a watch.
Watch the segment: Getting Along with In-Laws During the Holidays — KREM 2 News
Bringing Expertise to the Spokane Community
At Spokane Counseling Hub, we believe good therapy does not stay behind closed doors. When clinicians like Jennine step into public conversations — whether in the therapy room or on local news — they help normalize the kinds of relationship struggles that so many families quietly carry.
The questions couples and families wrestle with during the holidays — around gifts, boundaries, and belonging — deserve real, compassionate attention. That is exactly the kind of support available here, all year long.
If something in these segments resonates with you, we would love to connect. Reach out to learn more about our services at Spokane Counseling Hub
