Trauma Bonds: Healing from Unhealthy Relationship Dynamics with Dr. Laura Copley
What are trauma bonds and how can we heal from them? Dr. Laura Copley joins the podcast to dive into the sticky dynamics of unhealthy, trauma-bonded relationships. Drawing from personal experiences and her work as a relationship trauma expert, Dr. Laura gives us insight into what she calls "the hero's journey" — a transformative path towards recognizing our origin stories, attachment wounds, and current relationship dynamics so that we can transcend our trauma and form authentic connections.
Relevant links:
Loving You Is Hurting Me: A New Approach to Healing Trauma Bonds and Creating Authentic Connection by Dr. Laura Copley
Learn more about Dr. Laura's work online and on Instagram
Order Dr. Alexandra's new book, Love Every Day
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter
Are You Ready to Date Again?
Thinking about re-entering the dating scene after a breakup or loss? How can you tell if you're truly ready to get back out there? In this solo episode, Dr. Alexandra provides five Relational Self-Awareness-informed indicators that you can use to help you discern whether you’re ready to date again.
Relevant links:
Access this episode's companion worksheet here
Listen to Reimagining Love's "Guidance for the Newly Single" episode
Learn more about Relational Self-Awareness with Dr. Alexandra's books, Loving Bravely and Taking Sexy Back
Order Dr. Alexandra’s new book, Love Every Day
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter
What Role Did You Play in Your Family of Origin?
In this in-depth solo episode, Dr. Alexandra explains the six common roles we played in our original family systems. Way before we ever were involved in a romantic relationship, we were part of a family system, and that system, for better or for worse, shaped our ideas about who we can and cannot be. Through understanding our past, we can see how these roles continue to show up in our relationships today and use that knowledge as a powerful Relational Self-Awareness tool.
Relevant links:
Take the Family of Origin Roles Quiz
Reimagining Love: "Tending to "Little You" & Exploring Your Family of Origin"
Dr. Alexandra's Psychotherapy Networker Article
Order Dr. Alexandra's new book, Love Every Day
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter
Come Together: Cultivating Sexual Connection in Long-term Relationships with Dr. Emily Nagoski
Emily Nagoski joins Reimagining Love for a vulnerable and expansive conversation about nurturing lasting sexual connections in long-term partnerships. As an award-winning sex educator and author, Emily combines groundbreaking research, sex education, and stress education to expand our ideas about women's sexuality. In her new book, Come Together, Emily explores how long-term couples maintain sexual connection over time. Together, Emily and Dr. Alexandra uncover the importance of moving away from the "shoulds" in our sex lives and towards discovering more confidence and joy with our partners.
Relevant links:
Come Together: The Science (and Art!) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connections by Emily Nagoski
Dates for Emily's upcoming book tour
Learn more about Emily's work online and on Instagram
Order Dr. Alexandra's new book, Love Every Day
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter
The D Word: An Empowering Approach to Divorce with Kate Anthony
Renowned divorce coach Kate Anthony sits down with Dr. Alexandra to offer us an empowering approach to divorce that centers accountability and integrity. Sharing wisdom from her own divorce, Kate guides Dr. Alexandra through the experience, from exploring what is embedded within the question ‘should I stay or should I go?’ to all the tricky things that emerge in the aftermath of a separation: parenting decisions, the gender dynamics of divorce, and the heaps of unsolicited advice that’s coming your way.
Relevant links:
The D Word: Making the Ultimate Decision about Your Marriage by Kate Anthony
Listen to The Divorce Survival Guide Podcast
Explore Kate's program Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Order Dr. Alexandra's new book, Love Every Day
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter
The Power of Play: Embodying Sex Positivity with Nicoletta Heidegger
Therapist and sexologist Nicoletta Heidegger joins Reimagining Love for an expansive conversation about all things sexuality. Nicoletta's approach shows the power of sex-positivity — encouraging curiosity about how everyone can learn to have better sex and, in doing so, build deeper connections to our senses, our relationships, and ourselves.
Learn more about Nicoletta's work:
https://www.nicolettavheidegger.com/
Nicoletta's Sex and Scholars Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/sluts-and-scholars/id1223781930
Tickets for Afternoon Delight: A Live Podcast Experience on Feb. 10th, 2024:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/afternoon-delight-a-live-podcast-experience-tickets-767718646137
Order Dr. Alexandra's new book, Love Every Day:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-every-day-365-relational-self-awareness-practices-to-help-your-relationship-heal-grow-and-thrive-alexandra-solomon/19970421?ean=9781683736530
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/
Submit your question to Dr. Alexandra:
Intergenerational Healing: A Holistic Approach to Breaking Cycles with Dr. Mariel Buqué
Dr. Mariel Buqué joins Reimagining Love to discuss her debut book, Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma. As an expert in intergenerational trauma, Dr. Buqué offers wisdom on what gets passed down within families: not only inheritances of pain and trauma but also precious stories and gifts. Dr. Buqué shares her journey of infusing traditional clinical frameworks with holistic healing practices, paving a path through intergenerational wounds and toward emotional liberation.
Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma by Dr. Mariel Buqué:
Learn more about Dr. Buqué's work:
https://www.drmarielbuque.com/
Order Dr. Alexandra's new book, Love Every Day:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-every-day-365-relational-self-awareness-practices-to-help-your-relationship-heal-grow-and-thrive-alexandra-solomon/19970421?ean=9781683736530
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/
Submit your question to Dr. Alexandra:
Reflect With Me: Checking In With Ourselves and Our Relationships in the New Year
In this special mini-solo episode, Dr. Alexandra invites you to join her as she reflects on 2023 and moves into the new year with intentionality. Sharing her perspective on resolutions, Dr. Alexandra encourages listeners to navigate this time with self-compassion and gentleness. Then, Dr. Alexandra guides listeners through two exercises designed to reflect on the lessons and challenges of the past year and find optimism for this upcoming year.
To find this episode's accompanying worksheet, visit:
Order Dr. Alexandra's new book, Love Every Day:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-every-day-365-relational-self-awareness-practices-to-help-your-relationship-heal-grow-and-thrive-alexandra-solomon/19970421?ean=9781683736530
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/
Submit your question to Dr. Alexandra:
"My Partner’s Unhealthy Habit is Driving Me Crazy!" (Part Two)
Whether it's smoking, indulging in less-than-ideal meals or not hitting the gym as often as we desire, it's easy to take our partner's unhealthy habit personally. If you're struggling to cope with a partner's habit, Dr. Alexandra is here to help. In the second episode of this two-part series, Dr. Alexandra introduces the idea of a 'Health Habit Discrepancy' and encourages you to get curious about why you and your partner might think differently about health habits. Then, Dr. Alexandra speaks to both partners, providing guidance on how to navigate this conversation with sensitivity and understanding.
Listen to Part One of this series:
https://pod.link/1588419386/episode/dd33d984d5286c48565c965b7487f1ec
To find the accompanying worksheet, sign up for Dr. Alexandra's weekly newsletter:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/
HOLIDAY SALE: This year, give the gift of Relational Self-Awareness — View Dr. Alexandra's Holiday Gift Guide and get 20% off all online offerings when you give them to a loved one. This discount is valid worldwide until 11:59 CT December 20th:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/giftguide2023
Order Dr. Alexandra's new book, Love Every Day:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-every-day-365-relational-self-awareness-practices-to-help-your-relationship-heal-grow-and-thrive-alexandra-solomon/19970421?ean=9781683736530
Submit your question to Dr. Alexandra:
"My Partner’s Unhealthy Habit is Driving Me Crazy!" (Part One)
Whether it's smoking, indulging in less-than-ideal meals or not hitting the gym as often as we desire, it's easy to take our partner's unhealthy habits personally. If you're struggling to cope with a partner's habit, Dr. Alexandra is here to help. In the first episode of this two-part series, Dr. Alexandra examines what might be lying beneath your concerns and offers strategies for you to explore.
To find the accompanying worksheet, sign up for Dr. Alexandra's weekly newsletter:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/
HOLIDAY SALE: This year, give the gift of Relational Self-Awareness — View Dr. Alexandra's Holiday Gift Guide and get 20% off all online offerings when you give them to a loved one. This discount is valid worldwide until 11:59 CT December 20th:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/giftguide2023
Order Dr. Alexandra's new book, Love Every Day:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-every-day-365-relational-self-awareness-practices-to-help-your-relationship-heal-grow-and-thrive-alexandra-solomon/19970421?ean=9781683736530
Submit your question to Dr. Alexandra:
Guidance for the Newly Single: 5 Strategies for Stability and Healing
Today’s solo episode is geared towards the “newly single,” whether you just got out of a brief situationship or a long-term, serious partnership. Dr. Alexandra breaks down what research tells us about why breakups are so challenging, and then delivers five practical strategies to help you feel more like you in this new era.
HOLIDAY SALE: This year, give the gift of Relational Self-Awareness — View Dr. Alexandra's Holiday Gift Guide and get 20% off all online offerings when you give them to a loved one. This discount is valid worldwide until 11:59 CT December 20th:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/giftguide2023
Order Dr. Alexandra's new book, Love Every Day:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-every-day-365-relational-self-awareness-practices-to-help-your-relationship-heal-grow-and-thrive-alexandra-solomon/19970421?ean=9781683736530
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/
Submit your question to Dr. Alexandra:
Connecting Self-Care to Community Care: Healing Together with Minaa B.
Minaa B. joins Dr. Solomon to discuss healing from trauma and the power of connecting self-care to community care. As a licensed social worker and mental health educator, Minaa's work explores the intersection of mental health and social justice, and uses this understanding to give context to our personal struggles, from our childhoods to the systems of oppression that deeply impact our communities.
Black Friday Sale — Use code FRIDAYLOVE for 20% off Dr. Solomon's e-courses. This discount is valid worldwide until 11:59 CT November 28th:
https://courses.dralexandrasolomon.com/
Owning Our Struggles: A Path to Healing and Finding Community in a Broken World by Minaa B.:
Order Dr. Solomon's new book, Love Every Day:
Register for Dr. Solomon's E-Courses:
https://courses.dralexandrasolomon.com/
Subscribe to Dr. Solomon’s Newsletter:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/
Submit your question to Dr. Solomon:
https://form.jotform.com/21229599593927
Take Dr. Solomon's "Relationship Superpower" Quiz:
100th Episode: Answering Your Questions!
Today's show is the 100th episode of Reimagining Love! Dr. Solomon celebrates this milestone by answering several great listener questions: one from a woman in her 20s who is grappling with stability vs adventure in her love life; one about ambition differences between two partners; and one from a man desiring more affection from his partner. Take a listen to hear from Dr. Solomon on all of these great questions!
Order Dr. Solomon's new book, Love Every Day:
Register for Dr. Solomon's E-Courses:
https://courses.dralexandrasolomon.com/
Subscribe to Dr. Solomon’s Newsletter:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/
Submit your question to Dr. Solomon:
https://form.jotform.com/21229599593927
Take Dr. Solomon's "Relationship Superpower" Quiz:
Healing from Collective Trauma: Marking the Anniversary of the Highland Park Shooting with Audrey Grunst
Dr. Alexandra sits down with Audrey Grunst, a therapist and crisis response expert, to honor the memory of the victims and survivors of the Highland Park Shooting, and to paint a picture of the circles of impact that devastating tragedies such as this one have on communities. Content warning: this episode contains discussions about gun violence, mass shootings, trauma, and recovery. If you're looking for ways to take action, please refer to the resources below as places to start:
Moms Demand Action:
https://momsdemandaction.org/act/
Brady: United Against Gun Violence:
https://www.bradyunited.org/take-action
Everytown:
Learn more about Psychological First Aid:
https://learn.nctsn.org/course/index.php?categoryid=11
Get the brand new REIMAGINING LOVE WORKBOOK:
Register for Dr. Alexandra's E-Courses:
https://courses.dralexandrasolomon.com/
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra's Newsletter:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/
Submit your question to Dr. Alexandra:
https://form.jotform.com/21229599593927
Take Dr. Alexandra's "Relationship Superpower" Quiz:
Embracing the Bittersweet: The Beauty of Longing and Impermanence with Susan Cain
Susan Cain, author of the world-renowned bestsellers "Bittersweet" and "Quiet," joins Dr. Alexandra for a conversation about how to honor the poignancy found in the transitional periods of our lives, whether we're launching our kids off into the world, grieving the end of a relationship, or growing old. They also discuss the ways in which the bittersweet impacts and enhances our intimate relationships.
Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain:
Take the "Bittersweet" Quiz:
Sign up for Susan Cain's "Kindred Letters" newsletter:
"On Children" by Kahlil Gibran (poem)
Get the brand new REIMAGINING LOVE WORKBOOK:
Register for Dr. Alexandra's E-Courses:
https://courses.dralexandrasolomon.com/
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra's Newsletter:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/
Submit your question to Dr. Alexandra:
https://form.jotform.com/21229599593927
Take Dr. Alexandra's "Relationship Superpower" Quiz:
Breaking Patterns & Moving Forward: The Science of Stuck with Britt Frank
Britt Frank joins Dr. Alexandra for a conversation about "stuckness" in all its forms. We're all familiar with this feeling in some way or another, and in this episode, Britt offers listeners tools and takeaways to confront stuckness head on, so that we can face ourselves with honesty and learn the skills to carve healthier paths for ourselves in the future.
The Science of Stuck: Breaking Through Inertia to Find Your Path Forward by Britt Frank:
Get the brand new REIMAGINING LOVE WORKBOOK:
Register for Dr. Alexandra's E-Courses:
https://courses.dralexandrasolomon.com/
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra's Newsletter:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/
Submit your question to Dr. Alexandra:
https://form.jotform.com/21229599593927
Take Dr. Alexandra's "Relationship Superpower" Quiz:
How to Stop Overthinking Your Relationship: Tools for Progress & Peace with Alicia Muñoz
Cycles of rumination and overthinking can be hard to break free from, and they can negatively impact us and our relationships. In this episode, therapist Alicia Muñoz joins Dr. Alexandra to address this common thought pattern and shares tools for how to slow down and release ourselves from this headspace.
Stop Overthinking Your Relationship: Break the Cycle of Anxious Rumination to Nurture Love, Trust, and Connection with Your Partner by Alicia Muñoz:
Alicia's website:
Get the brand new REIMAGINING LOVE WORKBOOK:
Register for Dr. Alexandra's E-Courses:
https://courses.dralexandrasolomon.com/
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra's Newsletter:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/
Submit your question to Dr. Alexandra:
https://form.jotform.com/21229599593927
Take Dr. Alexandra's "Relationship Superpower" Quiz:
Cultivating Contemplation: How Wonder Helps us Heal with Cole Arthur Riley
Dr. Alexandra is joined by the visionary writer and poet Cole Arthur Riley on this episode. They discuss Cole's book, "This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us," and explore topics of wonder, contemplation, disability, childhood, and much more.
This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us by Cole Arthur Riley:
Black Liturgies, a project that integrates spiritual practice with Black emotion, Black literature, and the Black body:
https://www.instagram.com/blackliturgies/
Get the brand new REIMAGINING LOVE WORKBOOK:
Register for Dr. Alexandra's E-Courses:
https://courses.dralexandrasolomon.com/
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra's Newsletter:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/
Submit your question to Dr. Alexandra:
https://form.jotform.com/21229599593927
Take Dr. Alexandra's "Relationship Superpower" Quiz:
Getting Real About Pleasure: Reclaiming Desire with Dr. Laurie Mintz
Dr. Laurie Mintz joins Dr. Alexandra for a conversation about all things pleasure, from the orgasm gap to sexual myths to vibrators, offering inspiration and encouragement to both individuals and couples as they seek to reignite and reconnect with their desire and sexual identity.
Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters--And How to Get It by Dr. Laurie Mintz:
A Tired Woman's Guide to Passionate Sex: Reclaim Your Desire and Reignite Your Relationship by Dr. Laurie Mintz:
She Comes First: The Thinking Man's Guide to Pleasuring a Woman by Dr. Ian Kerner:
Get the brand new REIMAGINING LOVE WORKBOOK:
Register for Dr. Alexandra's E-Courses:
https://courses.dralexandrasolomon.com/
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra's Newsletter:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/
Submit your question to Dr. Alexandra:
https://form.jotform.com/21229599593927
Take Dr. Alexandra's "Relationship Superpower" Quiz:
12 Strategies for Swiping with Relational Self-Awareness
In this episode, Dr. Alexandra offers 12 practical strategies for navigating dating apps with self-compassion and success. These strategies will help you tune into the emotions that are coming up inside you as you swipe so you can bring more Relational Self-Awareness to your dating journey.
Get the brand new REIMAGINING LOVE WORKBOOK:
Register for Dr. Alexandra's E-Courses:
https://courses.dralexandrasolomon.com/
Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra's Newsletter:
https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/
Submit your question to Dr. Alexandra:
https://form.jotform.com/21229599593927
Take Dr. Alexandra's "Relationship Superpower" Quiz: