Why Love Feels Addictive: Enneagram Insights with Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

What if the ways we keep getting stuck in relationships aren’t just bad habits, but the natural outworking of how we’re wired to bond—and to protect ourselves from pain?

In this episode of Typology, I sit down with psychologist and couples counselor Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby (a freshly discovered Seven with an Eight wing) to talk about the intersection of attachment, addiction to love, and the Enneagram.

We explore why love itself can feel addictive, how that longing for connection sometimes binds us to the wrong person or pattern, and why recovery communities often work—they help us reattach to what’s good, true, and life-giving. Along the way we dig into common Enneagram pairings, the myth of perfect compatibility, and the real gift of learning to honor differences, see blind spots, and practice repair.

If you’ve ever wondered why you tend to chase, withdraw, fix, or move on too quickly—and how to love with more courage and steadiness—you’ll find this conversation both practical and deeply hopeful.

 

ABOUT DR. LISA MARIE BOBBY

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby is a licensed marriage and family therapist, psychologist, board certified coach and author of Exaholics: Breaking Your Addiction to an Ex Love.  She is the founder of Growing Self Counseling and Coaching, an internationally recognized practice focused on love, happiness, and success.

With over 120K monthly podcast downloads on Love, Happiness, and Success, she offers expert advice on relationships, personal development, and professional growth. Dr. Bobby has been featured in Oprahdaily.com, The New York Times, CNBC, Women’s Health, and Real Simple, making her a trusted authority in the media on all things love, life design, and self-improvement.